Volunteer Programs

The Farmstead Museum is dedicated to the people of Bays Mountain and their way of life in the late 1800’s and early 1900’s. Items in the Farmstead Museum include genealogy studies, farm tools, and household items necessary for everyday settler living. Volunteers will greet visitors, answer questions, and assist in the general maintenance of the facility. Volunteers are asked to work one weekend day per month from 2:00-5:00 p.m.

Volunteers will be asked to assist with a number of general tasks including, but not limited to, exhibit maintenance, brush removal, painting, cleaning, and other duties that may need to be met. Scheduling is on an as-needed basis.

Volunteers will receive training working with live turtles, snakes and amphibians such as frogs and salamanders. Training will focus on cleaning and handling such animals. Volunteers may be asked to present programs (public, school groups, and/or special events). Volunteers should become proficient in the natural history of the residents found in the Herpetarium and be able to answer visitor questions. Volunteers are asked to work one day a month between the hours of 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Volunteers selected for this position will receive intensive training concerning all aspects of bird care – handling, feeding and record keeping. Volunteers will be asked to present programs (public, school groups, and/or special events). Raptor volunteers are required to provide a solid commitment of one day per week (3-4 hours per day worked) for a minimum of one year. Some weekend work may be required.

Astronomy enthusiasts can provide help by joining the Bays Mountain Astronomy Club. The club provides volunteers to assist with special events and astronomical programs for the public at the park observatory and around the community.

Meet the public, answer questions about the fresh-water pool and fresh-water aquariums, and explain the other live and freeze-dried specimens in the room. Feed the fish and clean the outside of aquaria. A minimum commitment of two work days per month is required.

There are two options available for trail maintenance. For those who enjoy the trails but do not want extensive volunteer duties we offer a checklist that allows volunteers to review a specific trail(s) and note any issues found while also removing litter from the trail(s) being surveyed. For those who desire to participate in more extensive trail maintenance we offer specific training that will allow volunteers to help with brush removal, mulching, digging, trimming, and more detailed trail maintenance efforts. Trail workdays are scheduled per trail priority and need.

The Park offers school, public and special event/request programs. Interpretive/Educational volunteers may choose one or all and will be provided study materials and training. Prior knowledge of plants, wildlife, ecology, geography, and/or general biology is a plus but not essential. Volunteers must be comfortable speaking to groups of all age groups and sizes (a typical public program may contain around 30 attendees of varying ages, for example). Programs are presented year-round. Interpretive/Educational Volunteers are asked to commit to providing assistance as needed with programs during the warm season (March thru October). Ideally, at minimum, volunteers in this field will be able to provide weekly assistance to Park naturalists in the presenting of school programs during the months of September and October in the Fall and March, April and May in the Spring.

The primary goal of the Pavilion Host is to help visitors enjoy the Pavilion by welcoming them and providing historical information about the Park and the Pavilion itself, and helping with events hosted there. Pavilion Hosts would serve primarily on the weekends, either Saturday or Sunday, from 1:00-4:00 p.m., but may be asked to assist at other times and/or events. A commitment of two days per month is requested.