Become a Volunteer!

Volunteer Opportunities & Information

1. Complete a volunteer form click here then print, sign, and submit via email or fax.
2. After your form is received, email volunteer@calusanature.org and put in the subject line your full name, type of work desired and days available. Please be sure to read the descriptions for each volunteer opportunity to make sure it is something you are interested in doing.Wait for a response with available dates for the type of volunteer work you requested.
3. Confirm that you will or will not be available on the dates offered.
4. Wait for a response confirming you are added to the volunteer schedule.
5. Show up on time and in appropriate clothing for each day you have been scheduled.

Regular weekly volunteer opportunities:

• 9:00am-12:00pm – Animal Care
• 10:00am-1:00pm – Field Trips
• 9:00am-5:00pm – Office Work
• 10:00am-2:00pm – Donation Pick-ups
• 9:00am-5:00pm – Front Desk – Long-term volunteers ONLY!

Special Event volunteer opportunities:

• 7:30pm-1:30am – Rocky Horror Picture Show – Once a Month
• 10:00am-12:00pm – Planetarium clean-up 
• 7:00am-5:00pm - Work Day - Last Saturday of each month

We also host Annual Special Events, so please ask what event we are currently planning for to see if you are interested in volunteering for a Special Events.

Things to remember when volunteering:

Always wear closed toed shoes, clothing that is appropriate for being around young children (nothing vulgar or offensive), and always be on time.

Animal care is from 10:00am-1:00pm. Please arrive promptly at 10:00am downstairs in the commissary, as the gates are not always open earlier than that and if you show up late, the assignments will have already been distributed. The duties include food preparation, food distribution, and entering a variety of wildlife cages while under supervision to clean them out. Clothing that can get dirty is highly recommended.

Field trips are from 9:00am-1:00pm with. Please arrive at 9:00am at the front desk and state that you are scheduled to volunteer with the field trip for the day. Field trips generally start at 10:00am, so if it is your first time volunteering it is recommended that you walk the trail to familiarize yourself with it and to take notes on what you see. Duties include assisting in directing and guiding the field trip through their planetarium show, trail walk, museum time, and animal talk. Be extra cautious of what you wear to make sure its appropriate for being around elementary school aged children.

Office work can be from 9:00am-5:00pm. The hours depend on what is needed at the time of your request, so please arrive at the time you are scheduled, go to the front desk and state that you are scheduled to volunteer with office work. Duties include filing, marketing, press releases, various phone related tasks, and many more miscellaneous items.

Special Event times, dates, and contact person varies depending on the event. For Rocky Horror Picture Show you will go to the Planetarium and state that you are scheduled to volunteer for the special event. The duties may include preparation and operation of the event as well as helping with fundraising for the event. FYI – checking the calendar on our site will also give you insight to when our upcoming special events are scheduled.

Donation Pick-Up is from 10:00am-2:00pm days of the week vary and contact person will vary depending on the donation. The duties include contacting possible donors to make the initial request and then traveling to their location to pick-up the donation to bring back to the center.

Front Desk is from 9:00am-5:00pm with another front desk volunteer. The duties include filing, marketing, press releases, various phone related tasks, and many more miscellaneous items. Front desk volunteer work is only for volunteers who intend on staying with us for 6 months or more.

Work Day is from 7:00am-5:00pm with the staff member on site. The duties include general maintenance of the facility and any event preparation that may be needed. Please feel free to bring along any shovels, rakes, wheel barrels, or construction tools for you to work with.

We look forward to having you at the Calusa Nature Center & Planetarium, to help us with our mission and for us to help you complete your goals. 

Volunteer Application Form