Employment/Volunteer Opportunities | Van Buren Conservation District

Position Openings

Thank you for your interest in the VBCD! We are not hiring at this time.

Please check out Michigan Association of Conservation Districts to see about Districts across Michigan.

Volunteer Opportunities for 2019

Volunteer Appreciation Night – Wednesday, March 27 (6:00pm-8:00pm)

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 6pm. A short PowerPoint highlighting our Volunteers and Volunteer Programs will begin at 6:30pm.

Location: Old Town Hall, 122 W. St. Joseph St., Lawrence 49064

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Tree Seedling Wrapping – Saturday, April 13 (9:00am-2:00pm) and Monday-Wednesday April 15-17 (9:00am-4:00pm)

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.

Location: Cronenwett Farms, 70121 28th St., Lawton 49065

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Tree Seedling Sales – Thursday, April 18 (Noon-6:00pm), Friday, April 19 (Noon-6:00pm), and Saturday, April 20 (9:00am-2:00pm).

TWO LOCATIONS – Same Dates, Same Times!!

Paw Paw – Van Buren Conservation District: 1035 E. Michigan Ave. Paw Paw, 49079
South Haven – The Bailey Museum: 903 S. Bailey Ave. South Haven, 49090

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.

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Stream Monitoring/Insect Collections – Sunday, May 5 (9:00am-1:00pm) and Sunday, October 6 (9:00am-1:00pm).

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.

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Insect Id/Sort/Count & Stream Evaluation – Monday, May 6 (9:00am-Noon) and Monday, October 7 (9:00am-Noon).

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

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Household Chemicals Recycling Collections – Saturday, June 15 (8:00am-2:00pm) and Saturday, September 21 (8:00am-2:00pm)

Volunteers are needed for set up, directing traffic and handing out brochures/surveys to participating residents and clean up (Volunteers will NOT be working with hazardous materials). Usually an hour prior to the event and an hour after the event for set up and clean up.

Locations:

June Collection: Van Buren County Human Services Building, 801 Hazen St., Paw Paw 49079

September Collection: South Haven Public Works Bld. 1199 8th Ave., South Haven, 49090

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River Rescue – Saturday, August 3 (9:00am)
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

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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.

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Office Duties – Volunteers are needed throughout the year to help with mailings, phone calls, filing, updating informational binders, etc.

Please call the Conservation District, 269-657-4030 x5, or email AJ at alison.brucks@mi.nacdnet.net if you are interested.