Employment Opportunities
Thank you for your interest in working on our team! There are currently no positions available at this time. If you are interested in being considered for seasonal positions in the future, please submit a resume and cover letter to info@vanburencd.org.
For additional Natural Resources career opportunities, please also continue to visit Michigan Association of Conservation Districts to see about Districts across Michigan.
Volunteer Opportunities – For more information or to get on our general volunteer list, email Emilly Hickmott at deputy@vanburencd.org.
Volunteer Appreciation Night – Date TBA
Past, present, and interested Volunteers are invited and welcome to join us for drinks and appetizers! The VBCD could not do what we do without you and we would like to thank you for your time, dedication, and support for all of our programs.
We’ll have a night of food, drinks, and conversation starting at 5:30 pm. A short PowerPoint highlighting our Volunteers and Volunteer Programs will begin at 6:00 pm.
Location: Old Town Hall, 122 W. St. Joseph St., Lawrence 49064
RSVP to Emilly Hickmott at deputy@vanburencd.org.
Tree Seedling Wrapping – 2022 Dates TBA
Volunteers are needed prior to Tree Seedling Sale to help separate and wrap tree seedlings and prepare pre-orders for day-of-sale pick up. Let us know you are planning on attending as we provide lunch!
Location: TBD
To sign-up, email Emilly Hickmott at deputy@vanburencd.org.
Tree Seedling Sales – 2022 Dates TBA
Volunteers are needed to help set up/tear down tables, organize trees, talk to customers about tree species, and assist with handing out pre-orders.
Locations: Paw Paw and South Haven
To sign-up, email Emilly Hickmott at deputy@vanburencd.org.
Stream Monitoring/Insect Collections – Sunday, October 3, 2021 | Time TBA
Volunteers are needed to help collect aquatic insects in local waterways. Volunteers have the opportunity to be a “Collector” and wear waders to go into the water to collect insects with nets, a “Runner” that stays bank side and take nets and buckets from the “Collectors”, or a “Picker” who picks out any insects that is found in the river/stream and places them into a jar for later identification. Each role is important and volunteers have the option of what they would like to do at the collection site. No prior knowledge or experience is necessary, Team Leaders are there at each site to assist volunteers. All materials and equipment necessary are provided.
Location: Volunteers meet at the Lawrence River Park off of Paw Paw St., Lawrence on the Paw Paw River.
To sign-up, email Abbie Bristol at deputy@vanburencd.org.
Insect Id/Sort/Count & Stream Evaluation – Monday, October 4, 2021 | Time TBA
Volunteers are needed to help identify, sort, and count collected insects from prior Stream Monitoring/Insect Collection earlier that week. The identification/sort/count will be scheduled the following afternoon the day after the Stream Monitoring/Insect Collection.
Location: VBCD office, 1035 E. Michigan Ave., Paw Paw 49079
To sign-up, email Abbie Bristol at deputy@vanburencd.org.
Recycle Roundup: Household Recycling Collections – 2022 Dates TBA
Volunteers are needed for set up, directing traffic, and check-in to participating residents and clean up (Volunteers will NOT be working with hazardous materials.). Volunteers who cannot do the whole event (7:00 AM – 3:00 PM) can sign-up for shifts.
Locations: TBA
To sign-up, email resourcerecovery@vanburencd.org.
Well-water Screening Week – Monday, August 2 – Friday, August 6, 2021 from 8:00am-4:30pm
Volunteers are needed to help screen well-water samples with a simple dip test strip, hand out educational materials and VBCD program information, and help direct questions to VBCD staff. Shifts can vary depending on volunteers’ schedule.
To sign-up, email Kyle Mead at maeap@vanburencd.org.
River Rescue
Report a site that needs River Rescue to the VBCD by calling 269-657-4030 x5!
Volunteer River/Stream Trash Clean Up – Volunteers are needed for a fun community clean-up (non-organic materials, trash/debris) from in and along local rivers, streams and creeks.
Additional opportunities to canoe/kayak local waterways and clean up please check out Two Rivers Coalition and Bangor South Haven Heritage Water Trail Association
To sign-up, email Emilly Hickmott at deputy@vanburencd.org.
VBCD Native Plant Garden – A volunteer(s) is needed to tend our native plant garden in front of the district office – an hour or two a week should do the trick! Knowledge of native plants and grasses or an interest in learning native plant identification is required.
To sign-up, email Emilly Hickmott at deputy@vanburencd.org.
Office Duties – Volunteers are needed throughout the year to help with mailings, phone calls, filing, updating informational binders, etc.
To sign-up, email Emilly Hickmott at deputy@vanburencd.org.
