VOLUNTEER
OPPORTUNITIES
All
volunteers must register with the County's
Volunteer Service Program. This entitles volunteers to certain benefits
and protections. An orientation class is required for all
volunteers except those involved in short-term projects. Youths under
the age of 18 can volunteer with their parent's involvement. Contact us
directly and we will work with you to place you in a position that will
be rewarding to you and to get you registered into one of the many orientation
classes offered by the County Volunteer Service Program.
Mission
The mission of the volunteer program is to partner with the staff to support and enhance our education, research, land
management, and public use programs.
The Division is responsible for the management of Brooker Creek, Weedon
Island, Shell Key, and Mobbly Bayou Wilderness Preserves; as well as a ten other environmental
lands. These lands comprise over 14,000 acres of protected habitat that
provide refuge for a wide diversity of wildlife. Education Centers at
both Brooker Creek and Weedon Island Preserves will provide a variety
of educational opportunities. Trails for hiking, canoeing, and horseback
riding provide the public with unique opportunities to explore and experience
natural Florida. County-wide
volunteer activities span the county from the northern woods of Brooker
Creek Preserve and the Ozona Management Area to the southern barrier island
beaches of Shell Key Preserve in the Gulf of Mexico, encompassing Weedon
Island Preserve at the edge of Tampa Bay and Joe's Creek at the mouth
of the Cross Bayou Canal. Volunteers
participate in every aspect of the programs of the division. They add to our programs and bring a diversity of their own
of backgrounds, skills, and educations.What do volunteers have in common?
They care about our natural resources and are willing to be active participants.
Most of these programs could not operate without the help of volunteers.
Volunteers can and do make a difference. There are many opportunities
where you can help with these important programs.
Typical
Volunteer Opportunities
- hike
guides
- canoe/kayak
guides
- field
research assistants
- large-mammal
tracking monitors
- shore
bird monitors
- horse
trail monitors
- fence
line monitors
- trail
maintenance (hiking and canoe)
- clerical
help
- community
speakers
- Education
Center positions
- plant
and wildlife species surveyors
- educational
camps
- other
opportunities
- Special
One-Day Volunteer Events include cleanups, annual bird counts, butterfly
counts, exotic plant removal and restoration plantings.
How Does
Volunteering Help You?
- provides
training for special interests
- helps
you learn new skills
- develops
goals based on your skills and interests
- provides
opportunities to meet people with similar interests
- allows
you to participate at a time that is convenient for your schedule
- helps
meet community needs
- provides
references for future employment
- helps
your natural environment
Whether
you can give one day a week,
a month or a year, get involved -
we need you!
As the Division's programs continue to grow, our volunteer corps expand
to fill the demand for creative and enthusiastic energy and enable us
to maximize services to Pinellas County's citizens and visitors and accomplish
goals that would not be possible without this valuable support and dedication.
For
more information on the Division's volunteer program, please call 727-453-6900.
Recognition and Awards
Brooker
Creek Preserve Trail Guides were awarded the prestigious Partners in Public
Service Award by Pinellas County for their dedication and outstanding
service during the year as they lead members of the public on guided hikes
each Saturday. Over the course of the program, volunteer trail guides
have made it possible for over 2,500+ public participants to enjoy and
experience Brooker Creek Preserve while learning about the County's preservation
efforts and the value of our natural environmental resources. Shell
Key Preserve volunteers were nationally recognized for their efforts at
Shell Key Preserve by the Coastal Corps Program, a project of the Clean
Beaches Council. This outstanding group busily built and maintained fencing,
posted signage, removed trash, conducted bird surveys, and accumulated
an impressive amount of volunteer hours. Most of these hours were spent
documenting bird species, number of birds, and which habitats were used
by birds during the migrating and wintering periods. This information
is vital for our understanding of how to manage this barrier island and
could not have been accomplished without the dedication of volunteers.The
entire staff of the extends their thanks
to all the volunteers for their significant impact on the preservation
of Pinellas County's natural resources and improving the quality of life
for Pinellas County residents and guests.
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