Volunteer

There is always work to be done. Volunteers are the backbone of Shaver's Creek Environmental Center. We rely heavily on the skills and labor of volunteers for a wide variety of tasks.

You may choose from:

Animal Care
Contact: Doug Steigerwalt (dxs135@psu.edu or 814-863-2000)

• Feeding, watering, and cleaning enclosures for outdoor and indoor animals
• Work with owls, hawks, eagles, vultures, snakes, turtles, song birds, and/or frogs
• Maintain bird-feeding area for resident and migrating wild birds
• Create new perches and structures for the animals
• Prepare for animal programs, handle the raptors, and provide public educational opportunities

Grounds, Trails, and Facilities
Contact: Brian Sedgwick (bjs192@outreach.psu.edu or 814-863-2000)

• Maintaining and beautifying the center and grounds
• Landscaping gardens, planting, trimming, weeding, soil preparation, etc.
• Physical work on trails, including trimming vegetations, removing fallen trees, picking up trash, and making repairs
• Monitor and repair bird boxes
• Check accuracy of maps and interpretive trails
• General "handyman" duties

Programs

    Outdoor School
    Contact: Ellen Will (eeb11@psu.edu) or Paul Brigman (pgb120@psu.edu)

• An unforgettable week as a school counselor for fifth graders
• Leading environmental education programs
• Be a role model

    School Visits
    Contact: Jennifer Brackbill (jab56@psu.edu or 814-863-2000)

• Lead or assist school groups through our daily programs
• Leading environmental education programs
• Lead Discovery Walks and Guided Nature Center Visits
• Available in spring and fall semesters

    Youth/Scouting Programs
    Contact: Allison D'Ambrosia (aed175@psu.edu or 814-863-2000)

• Gain leadership experience
• Learn outdoor skills
• Lead programs that can be counted toward Boy Scout, Girl Scout, and related levels of achievement

    Summer Camps
    Contact: Doug Wentzel (djw105@psu.edu) or Paul Brigman (pgb120@psu.edu)

• Be a counselor or group leader for kids ages 4–14
• Lead environmental education programs
• Create and lead games and creativity stations

Special Events
Contact: Jennifer Brackbill (jab56@psu.edu or 814-863-2000)
For Children's Halloween Trail, send e-mail to: chtvolunteers@outreach.psu.edu

• Children's Halloween Trail and Festival in October
• Maple Harvest Festival in March
• The Birding Cup, annual fundraiser and bird identification competition, first weekend in May
• Project Feeder Watch, an ongoing monitoring by volunteers at their home bird feeders

Please help us make Shaver's Creek the best nature center we can be!