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 programs in ecological, education, and support services.
The Division is responsible for the management of Brooker
Creek, Weedon Island, Shell Key, and Mobbly Bayou
Preserves as well as a 15 other environmental lands.
These lands comprise over 15,000 acres of wild lands and waterways
that provide refuge for a wide diversity of wildlife.
Education Centers at both Brooker Creek and Weedon Island
Preserves provide a variety of educational opportunities.
Trails for hiking, canoeing, and horseback riding offer
the public unique opportunities to explore and experience
natural Florida.
Volunteer activities span the county
from the northern woods of Brooker Creek
Preserve
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.
We offer 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 will also expand to fill the demand for creative and
enthusiastic energy. Our volunteers enable us to maximize services
to Pinellas County's citizens and visitors,accomplishing
goals that would not be possible without this valuable
support and dedication.
To
volunteer, please contact the ELD Volunteer
Site Coordinator at
(727) 453-6900
or
ELD@pinellascounty.org
Recognition and Awards
During the past decade, the Division's volunteer program has earned numerous local, regional, and national awards and recognitions for the quality of its dedicated service to the environment.
For example, in 2008, the National Association of Counties bestowed its top award to the Division's volunteers for communities in the United States greater than 500,000 people. Similarly, the Tampa Bay Regional Planning Council gave a first-place award to the Division for its volunteer program along with monetary support from the Community Foundation of Tampa Bay.
The Division is proud of its adult and youth volunteers and invites other to join us to protect and promote Pinellas County's wild lands and waterways.
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