Volunteer
Looking for a fun way to give back and make a difference? Join Ijams' team of dedicated volunteers! From removing invasive species and restoring native landscapes to helping with special events or assisting visitors, there are many ways to get involved at Ijams!
Volunteer Opportunities
Ijams would not be Ijams without the hundreds of volunteers who contribute their time and talents to this nonprofit nature center. "Occasional" volunteers may just come once, while "Regular" volunteers make Ijams a serious habit, volunteering 20 hours or more per year! All volunteers are issued a free, daily parking pass or annual pass, dependent on their length of service. ​​
​
***Community Science opportunities are located directly on this page. Scroll down for details
Volunteer opportunities are broken into several specific areas:
LITTER PICKUP
If you love nature and hate trash, you can help with litter pickup anytime during the Visitor Center's regular business hours. Ijams has seven parking lots and 12+ miles of trails. Just check in at the front desk, and the staff will supply you with tools and help you choose a location. When you finish, just return your supplies to the front desk and check out. As a volunteer, you'll be issued a free day parking pass and can stay as long as you like. ***Walk-ins for litter pickup are not currently being accepted. Please email Brandy at bcox@ijams.org to learn about other volunteer opportunities!***
NATURAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT
Wrangle weeds! With more than 318 acres to care for, Ijams needs folks who are ready to roll up their sleeves and get dirty! Trail volunteers help maintain 12+ miles of trails throughout the grounds by mulching, weeding, and removing invasive species. View Upcoming Events
SPECIAL EVENTS
Host a great party! Volunteers are essential in helping Ijams with some of the biggest and best events in the region. From the Hummingbird Festival: A Celebration of Wings and the Ijams River Rescue to the nature center's largest fundraiser, Twilight at Ijams, volunteers assist in every aspect of Ijams events. View Upcoming Events
BEHIND THE SCENES
Get in on the action! In every nonprofit organization, “behind the scenes” volunteers are unsung heroes. They answer phones, help visitors navigate the trails, assist with office work, take care of the bird feeders, and generally keep the place running smoothly!
COMMUNITY SCIENCE
Community Science is collaborative research that provides everyone with the opportunity to participate, make observations, and contribute data to important scientific projects - regardless of their education or background.
​​
At Ijams Nature Center, volunteers and staff members contribute to 5 different projects that - while seemingly different - help shape a picture of how the timing of natural, periodic events shifts over time. ​These projects include: Bird Banding, Phenology Plots, Caterpillars Count!, NestWatch, and Avian Point Counts
​
The application window for 2026 community science volunteer opportunities opens at 8AM on January 24, 2026 and closes on February 7, 2026. To learn more about each opportunity and submit an interest form, visit the links below:
​​
Bird Banding - Interest Form (opens 1/24)
Avian Point Counts - Interest Form (opens 1/24)
Caterpillars Count! - Interest Form (opens 1/24)
NestWatch - Interest Form (opens 1/24)
​
If you have any questions on community science, email publicprograms@ijams.org.
​
FIELD TRIPS
Leading field trips is a fun way to spend time outdoors, share a love of nature with curious kids, and earn volunteer hours. Ijams educators work with students from PreK through 12th grade, guiding hikes and hands-on activities along our trails. No prior teaching or outdoor education experience is required. We’re especially excited to hear from people who are enthusiastic about nature and teaching, eager to learn, and interested in volunteering on a regular, long-term basis.
​
The application window for field trips will remain open, but if you would like to volunteer with Spring 2026 field trip, please apply via the google form by February 13th. To learn more about field trips at Ijams, visit the Field Trips Page. To submit an interest form, visit the link below:
​​​
Field Trip Volunteer Interest Form
​
If you have any questions on volunteering with field trips, email kpreston@ijams.org.
​
Want to Volunteer?
To get started, please fill out this simple online survey. Once you have completed the survey, someone (maybe a volunteer!) will contact you about open volunteer positions.
If you have any questions, email bcox@ijams.org.
If you're interested in becoming a "Regular" Volunteer, here are some helpful resources:
​
Looking for Online Volunteer Orientation? Click here
​
​