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Volunteer Opportunities
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.
Creatures of the Night
Status:
Program is currently active.
Actors, stagehands, set and costume designers and nature buffs! Bring your skills and enthusiasm to help connect people with nature!
Purpose:
To help the Stanley Park Ecology Society (SPES) mount a fully scripted, theatrical walk in the woods during the Halloween Ghost Train.
For 2010, this exciting and popular event runs October 7 to November 1. Training will take place the last week of September. The theatrical walks will run Tuesdays through Sunday, with Bio Fact and Info tables staffed seven nights a week.
Volunteers must be able to commit to at least 1 shift per week for a total of 4 shifts of 4 hours each (5:00 to 9:00PM). Volunteers who can commit to more shifts are especially welcome. There will be several different types of positions:
- Actors
- Sets & Costumes (Mid-September to October)
- Lighting crew
- Walk assistants (Helping to shepherd the audience along the trail)
- Ticket takers
- Bio Fact & Info Table Hosts
Training:
Volunteers will be required to attend training sessions during the last week of September and first week of October.
Benefits:
- Participate in a fully scripted show, utilizing any and all theatre talents
- Improve communication skills while developing customer service skills
- Explore a career in Nature Interpretation or fulfill student volunteer hours
Duties:
- Dress in animal costumes and perform as night creatures of Stanley Park
- Dress in Hallowe'en costumes, sell tickets, promote the walks and the Stanley Park Ecology Society or maintain Bio Fact & Info Table
- Help the walk leader gather participants
- Hand out and help to light lanterns at the beginning of the walk and collect them at the end of the walk
- Help to keep the walk together and answer questions from the public
Requirements:
- 14 years old or over
- Lots of enthusiasm and a sense of fun!
- Willingness to commit to the event and be reliable
- Good command of English
- Interested in learning about the night creatures of the Park
Contact:
Koren Johnstone, Volunteer Coordinator, Stanley Park Ecology Society
E-mail: vols@stanleyparkecology.ca Phone: 604-681-7099
Nature House Host
Status:
Program is currently active.
Purpose
To welcome visitors to the Lost Lagoon Nature House and provide information about Stanley Park.
Duties:
- Welcome visitors to the Nature House and sharing information about Stanley Park's natural and cultural history in a friendly and engaging manner
- Create, maintain and explain educational displays in the Nature House
- Promote other Stanley Park Ecology programs and special events
- Organize resource materials such as books, photos, and articles
- Record statistics on the number of daily visitors
May Include:
- Assisting with bird counts
- Recording statistics on the number of daily visitors
- Helping with the opening and closing of the Nature House
- Assisting with special events and fundraising activities
Time Commitment:
- 3-4 hours on a Saturday or a Sunday between 10:00 am - 4:00 pm
- 3 month commitment
Requirements:
- A keen interest in nature and Stanley Park
- A background in biology, ecology, or natural history highly desirable
- Knowledge of local natural history very important
- Friendly, outgoing and enthusiastic
- Excellent communication skills, strong English speaking and comprehension skills are mandatory
- A high level of commitment
- 18 years or older
- Reliable team player with the ability and initiative to work independently
- Display design and computer/desktop publishing skills are definite assets
Training:
- Nature House training related to the ecology and history of Stanley Park
Benefits:
- Free Sunday Discovery Walks and a reduced membership fee
- Organised trips
- Develop interpretation skills while meeting people with an interest in nature
Nature House Carpenter
Status:
Program is currently active.
Purpose:
Are you a handy person wanting to help nature? Consider volunteering as the Nature House Carpenter! SPES is in need of an individual with building experience who can help with projects such as a counter for the Stanley Park Nature House on Lost Lagoon. Other projects might include shelving, display cases and supporting structures for new exhibits, nesting boxes, etc.
Benefits:
- By helping the Nature House you play an important part in helping connect the community with nature!
- Use your experience in building projects at our interpretive centre in beautiful Stanley Park
- Work with a fun-loving and inspiring group of people
Required:
- Experienced in building and safe use of power tools
- Must have own tools and use of a workshop (although some of the building can be done at the Nature House on weekdays when it is not open). Cost of building materials will be covered by the Nature House Manager
- Organised and attention to detail
- Able and willing to receive directions
- Self-directed yet able to work with the Public Programs Manager
- Interest in nature a definite plus
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) 718-6522 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
Co-existing with Coyotes Assistant
Status:
Program is currently active.
Number of volunteers required:
1
Day(s):
1 day every 2 weeks
Time of Day:
Morning; afternoon; flexible
Can Volunteer Work From Home?:
Potentially
Description of Duties:
The volunteer conservation assistant will be entering data from our phone records into our xls database. Volunteers will then transfer data into Google Earth for mapping purposes. The volunteer's role will be guided by the Co-existing with Coyotes Coordinator. Depending on the experience and comfort level, volunteers may be selected to check answering machine messages and return basic calls re coyotes.
Benefits:
- Skills learned: Google Earth inputting and Map info; GIS software
Training:
- Introduction to the CwC program
- Orientation to SPES office
- Basic training on our databases and Google Earth
- Co-existing with Coyotes assistant training
- Other training as required
Requirements:
- Knowledge of databases, familiarity with Excel and desirable
- Excellent organizational skills, methodical, and detail-oriented
- Able to follow instructions
- Excellent English skills
Contact:
Please contact Phil Dubrulle, Co-existing with Coyotes Coordinator at SPES for further information and to obtain an application form:E-mail: coyotes@stanleyparkecology.ca,
Phone: 604-681 9453. Call me!
