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Help us continue to educate and promote urban ecological conservation and stewardship.
Volunteering With SPES
You may have asked yourself the question: "What can one person do to help the environment?" Here's your answer... The Stanley Park Ecology Society offers you the chance to connect yourself and others with nature. As a Volunteer with our education and stewardship programs you will help to awaken and enrich appreciation of the species that we live with and the spaces that we share.
If you were to volunteer with us you would be joining a team of approximately 60 other Volunteers and helping to accomplish our mission of encouraging people to become stewards of the natural world. This means that our environmental education and stewardship programs are aimed at inviting the public to become more aware of, appreciative of, and responsible for the condition of the natural world around us.
Our Volunteers are an energetic, dynamic, and diverse crew of dedicated individuals who provide indispensable ongoing support for the Staff and Programs of the Society. With a wide variety of exciting and fulfilling opportunities to choose from, Volunteers enjoy a multitude of challenging and fun learning experiences.
The SPES Volunteer Program is really dedicated to giving our Volunteers a quality experience. Currently, our Volunteers enjoy:
- Training sessions, featuring expert walks, talks or workshops at low cost or no cost
- Free admission to guided nature walks offered from SPES's Lost Lagoon Nature House
- A reduced membership fee
It is our hope that SPES Volunteers continue to learn, enrich and develop their skill sets and knowledge through these ongoing learning opportunities, their Volunteer positions, and the chance to work with like-minded and knowledgeable people.
We welcome persons with diverse backgrounds and life experiences. Join the team that is dedicated to making a difference to your ecological community.
- [ E-mail ] (vols@stanleyparkecology.ca)
- Phone: 604-681-7099
Being a Volunteer with the Stanley Park Ecology Society is an excellent way to indulge your passion for nature, spend time outdoors, or learn about our environment in a productive and satisfying manner. In addition to the tremendous rewards of Volunteer service, you will have the opportunity to enhance your knowledge and develop workplace skills while enjoying the awesome beauty of Stanley Park.
If you are interested in, or curious about volunteering with SPES, you are on the right page. After viewing the content in this section, learning about the types of volunteer positions available and when they are available (note: here is a link to inactive opportunities, ones which don't currently need volunteers, but may become active in the future) please contact our volunteer coordinator. E-mail is the preferable method:
- [ E-mail ] (vols@stanleyparkecology.ca)
- Phone: 604-681-7099
more SPES volunteer opportunities (especially short-term positions) are listed at www.govolunteer.ca.
Cookie Baking Volunteer
The Stanley Park Ecology Society's Conservation Department regularly provides snacks for volunteers who work outdoors. In an effort to provide environmentally sustainable snacks, we no longer wish to use ready-made store bought cookies. Therefore we are looking for a volunteer who will come into our office in Stanley Park once a month and bake approximately 200 cookies. All kitchen facilities, supplies, ingredients and recipes will be provided. Recipe suggestions are always welcome.
The Stanley Park Ecology Society (SPES) promotes awareness of and respect for the natural world and plays a leadership role in the stewardship of Stanley Park through collaborative initiatives in education, research and conservation.
Duties:
- Bake approximately 200 cookies on a monthly basis on site (all ingredients provided)
- Clean cooking area and wash dishes once baking is complete
- Store and freeze cookies as needed
- Commit to a regular schedule for a minimum of 3 months
Qualifications:
- Must be 18 years or older
- Must enjoy baking and have some experience baking cookies
- Food preparation and/or cooking experience preferred
- Food safe level 1 certification preferred
- Flexible and easy going
Benefits:
- Get to know the Stanley Park Ecology Society
- Opportunities to volunteer with other programs as desired
- Contribute to our efforts to provide healthy and environmentally sustainable snacks
- Reference letter available after a minimum 30 hours of volunteer service
Position: One or two shifts per month (on a weekday of your choice) for approximately 3 hrs/shift
Location: Stanley Park Dining Pavilion, 2nd floor, Vancouver, BC
Posting date: January 31, 2012
Posted: until filled
Start Date: As soon as possible
How to apply:
Please express interest in this position by email or mail.
Include:
- a short cover letter outlining why you think this is a good opportunity for you and any relevant experience you may have
- Your resume (encouraged but not required)
Apply to: Julie Sabau, Volunteer Coordinator
vols@stanleyparkecology.ca
Stanley Park Ecology Society
PO Box 5167 Vancouver, BC V6B 4B2
www.stanleyparkecology.ca
For email applications, use title - "Cookie Baking Volunteer" - and your name" in Subject Heading.
Send one Word or PDF file as an attachment containing both your cover letter and resume (if including) - the file must be named using your first and last name only (e.g. SandySmith.doc)
We thank all applicants but only those receiving an interview will be contacted.
Ivy Busters
Status:
Program is currently active.
Purpose:
Ivy Busters is a conservation program developed by the Stanley Park Ecology Society (SPES) that works with the community to remove a destructive invasive species, English Ivy from Stanley Park, and eventually to restore reclaimed areas with native vegetation.
Enthusiastic volunteers gather for a fun-filled morning to manually remove ivy from the forest ecosystem where it is most needed. Our studies show that ivy can spread at a rate of one metre per year, and without further intervention it could one day take over all of the vegetation in Stanley Park! There is hope however�with concerned volunteers like yourself willing to work to preserve the natural diversity of such a unique urban forest, we can make a difference and preserve our native species diversity.
Ivy Busters Schedule:
Ivy Busters community events are held twice per month, on the second Saturday and fourth Sunday of each month, with the exception of holidays. Contact the Stewardship Coordinator at stewardship@stanleyparkecology.ca or call 604-718-6547 for further information on how to join our upcoming Ivy Busters events.
Bird Monitor
Status:
Program is currently active.
Purpose:
To collect data about waterfowl on Lost Lagoon and Beaver Lake.
Duties:
- To walk around Lost Lagoon counting the number of each waterfowl species with binoculars and/or scope
- To walk around Beaver Lake and identify waterfowl and perching bird species observed
- To input data on the computer at Lost Lagoon Nature House and display
Time Commitment:
- 3 hours/week
- 3 month commitment
Requirements:
- Strong knowledge of local waterfowl
- Reliable, with the ability to work independently
- 18 years or older
- High commitment level
Training:
- Guided counts with the current Volunteer
- Counting format and techniques reviewed
- Some species identification
- Nature House training
- Data entry on Excel
Benefits:
- Free Sunday discovery walks and a reduced membership fee
- Learn more about local birds
- Meet new people with an interest in the birds of Stanley Park
