Volunteering at the Nature Center - Nature Center at Shaker Lakes

THE NATURE CENTER AT SHAKER LAKES

VOLUNTEER WITH US

Volunteers play a vital role here, helping us to achieve our goals of conserving the land, connecting people to nature and inspiring environmental stewardship.

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CONSERVE. CONNECT. INSPIRE.

BECOMING A VOLUNTEER

While our building remains closed to the public, we are offering many opportunities outside!

Thank you for your interest in volunteering! We appreciate those who dedicate their time, energy and skills to our mission. Without their generosity, achieving our goals wouldn't be possible.

As a Nature Center volunteer, you will enjoy connecting with the community, making a positive impact on the environment, meeting new people, expanding your wealth of knowledge and inspiring an appreciation for nature and the environment in others. Volunteers 13 years of age or older are welcome at all levels of participation. Group volunteers are also welcome and should click below to get started.

The first step to becoming a volunteer is to complete the volunteer application followed by an interview and background check. We strive to help you find the right volunteer placement to fit your interests and availability. The application and interview help us get to know you better and highlight possibilities that are present at a given time.

Approved volunteers active within our program are able to sign-up for upcoming opportunities by clicking on an event below. You will be asked to complete a profile with contact information in Volunteer Hub in order to directly sign-up for those opportunities.

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VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES

SUMMER YOUTH VOLUNTEERING

JUNE - AUGUST

Teens are invited to join the Nature Center at Shaker Lakes for a summer of camaraderie. Make an impact as an Outdoor Adventure Camp Assistant or Stewardship Assistant.

GROUP VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES

YEAR - ROUND OPPORTUNITIES

Typical projects include habitat restoration, facilities improvements, and routine trail and parkland maintenance. Together we will determine a date, time and project that works for you and the Nature Center.

PLANT SALE

ORDER PICK DAYS: Weds & Thurs MAY 5 & 6
PLANT SALE DAY: SATURDAY MAY 8

Join us for this long-standing volunteer tradition offering tasks for everyone's interest and bringing you a burst of spring color!

STEWARDSHIP SATURDAYS

APRIL 17, MAY 22, JUNE 26 | 10AM-12 NOON

Join our Natural Resources Specialist in completing Land Management and Trail Maintenance tasks at the Nature Center. Be sure to wear boots if you have them, or old shoes and borrow our boots! Groups and families with school-aged children are welcome.

To sign up for any of these opportunities, please email volunteer@shakerlakes.org.

ADDITIONAL OPPORTUNITIES

2020 VOLUNTEERS OF THE YEAR

This year, we honor volunteers Clovis Westlund and Dick Obermanns

DICK OBERMANNS

Dick, a Nature Center member since 2002, has volunteered as a member of the Annual Plant Sale Committee. In 2014, he took over as Homegrown Chair of our Annual Plant Sale, leading a team of volunteer local plant experts growing and organizing donations of several hundred plants over the years. We are thankful for his service and green thumb!

CLOVIS WESTLUND

Clovis, now a senior at Shaker Heights High School, began volunteering at the Nature Center at age 13. This summer Clovis proved incredibly helpful as a volunteer with our Virtual Outdoor Adventure Camp by editing camp worksheets, showing new volunteers around, and reminding campers to be gentle with the bugs they observed in nature.

Thank you to the many volunteers who gave their time and energy in support of our mission. We are extremely appreciative of your service!