Thank you for your interest in volunteering with the Estuary Partnership. Throughout the year, we appreciate help from volunteers in multiple capacities. If you are interested in any of the volunteer positions describe below, please submit a volunteer application and resume (optional). After receiving your application, we will be in touch. If you have any questions regarding the volunteer application process, please contact Samantha Dumont at 503-226-1565 ext. 245 or sdumont@estuarypartnership.org and I will be happy to assist you.
Current Opportunities:
Volunteer Riparian Planting Team Leader-Volunteer Team Leaders play an important role in making the weekend volunteer events fun and productive! Our community volunteers work to protect and preserve the lower Columbia River by planting native trees and shrubs or removing invasive plants. Events take place on Saturdays from 9am-12pm between October and March. Each event is staffed by at least one Estuary Partnership staff member. Activities include:
· Setting up the work site with tools and plants
· Greeting and checking in community volunteers
· Providing tree planting guidance to small groups of volunteers
Volunteer Planting Team Leaders will receive all necessary training, tools and an awesome Estuary Partnership hat! Some of our current volunteer sites include Steigerwald Lake National Wildlife Refuge, Benson State Park, Salmon Creek Greenway, Meldrum Bar Park and La Center Bottoms.
Volunteer Environmental Education Assistant-Help build environmental curiosity and knowledge while connecting kids to the lower Columbia River. Volunteer Environmental Educator Assistants help us lead exciting outdoor field experiences for students (grades 3-6) in natural areas throughout the lower Columbia River region. Field trips and activities are staffed and led by at least one Estuary Partnership Environmental Educator. Activities include:
· Planting native trees or removing invasive plants
· Investigating water quality through macroinvertebrate collection or water quality testing
· Exploring nature through birding, plant identification or other naturalist activities
We provide our Volunteer Environmental Educators with training, educational materials and field supplies. The Estuary Partnership’s student field trips occur September-November and March-June, are typically three- four hours long and take place Monday-Friday during the school day. Current field trip sites include Steigerwald Lake National Wildlife Refuge, Benson State Park, Salmon Creek Greenway, Meldrum Bar Park, Scappoose Bay, Oxbow Regional Park and La Center Bottoms.
Volunteer Scientist-The Volunteer Research Scientist is part of the team that implements components of Comprehensive Conservation Management Plan, biennial workplans and six-year implementation strategies for technical programs, including restoration, monitoring and data. This position works with Science Team staff to implement the ecosystem condition status and trends, and restoration action effectiveness monitoring programs. The position helps collect field data; provide quality assurance of the data collected; manage and analyze field data. Activities include:
· Assist in collecting and analyzing data and providing quality assurance of the data.
· Use GIS to develop map products; enter, manage and make data available; and provide assistance to Estuary Partnership staff and partners through a variety of GIS based projects.
· Assist in writing project reports and make presentations on project.
What a volunteer can expect from the Estuary Partnership:
- Opportunities to learn, develope new skills
- Networking
- The opportunity to make a difference in the local community and be engaged in education and/or science.
Who can Volunteer? Adults 18 years and older
Desired Qualities:
- Flexible
- Represents the Estuary Partnerships appropriately
- Is able to make a commitment of time
Volunteer Responsibilities:
- Meet the qualifications and time commitment for the volunteer position
- Participate in an interview and training
- Submit a criminal background check (Environmental Education Assistant only)
- Communicate regularly with the Estuary Partnership staff leading their work and adhere to applicable state and federal laws, organization policies and procedures.