One-Day Projects + Events:
Long-term Opportunities:
Cornell Cooperative Extension Ulster County
The Ulster County 4-H Youth Development Program is always looking for committed adults interested in starting a 4-H club in their area. For more details on how you can become a 4-H Club Leader call Melanie, Extension Educator for Cornell Cooperative Extension Ulster County 4-H Youth Development Program at 845-340-3990 or email maf357@cornell.edu. More Info
Plant a Row for the Hungry
A people-helping-people program assisting the hungry in Ulster County
A program of the Cornell Cooperative Extension
With the start of the growing and planting season we’re looking for gardeners like you to help feed the hungry in Ulster County by planting an extra row in your garden this summer and signing up to take the excess produce to our office. If you don’t have room to plant an extra row – sign up to donate the excess produce nearly all gardens produce.
We are asking vegetable gardeners to grow a little extra this season, or bring their excess produce to Cornell Cooperative Extension of Ulster County, 10 Westbrook Lane, in Kingston, NY or Family of New Paltz 51 North Chestnut Street, New Paltz.
More info or call (845) 340-3478 (DIRT).
Do You Enjoy Gardening and Sharing Your Knowledge With Others? Become a Volunteer Master Gardener.
Master Gardeners are trained volunteers who provide the public with gardening programs and activities that convey horticulture research and experience. Volunteers are selected and trained in all aspects of horticulture from taxonomy and plant pathology to organic gardening. Each Master Gardener must complete an initial 100 hours of research based instruction from Cornell Cooperative Extension of Ulster County and will continue to be exposed to the latest developments through a variety of educational training methods and state of the art gardening techniques. More info.
Master Gardeners to Offer Walk-In Services in Phoenicia. More info.
Healthy Kingston for Kids
Cornell Cooperative Extension Ulster County (CCEUC) and several partners are leading an initiative funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation to reverse the childhood obesity epidemic in Kingston, NY through environmental and policy change. Four committees are charged with seeing out the work plan of the grant, and partners are looking for Kingston residents and interested parties to become volunteer members of the committees. You can become involved in the committees in the following ways! More info.
Esopus Creek Conservancy
Volunteers needed to assist with trail maintenance and wood construction projects on Esopus Bend Nature Preserve in Saugerties. Short one/two hour work sessions, or four-six hour work parties. Weekends and weekdays, times and dates flexible, please indicate your interests and when you are typically available to volunteer. Contact Steve Chorvas at 845-246-5900 or schorvas@verizon.net (email is preferable).
Esopus Bend Nature Preserve is a unique 161-acre preserve located partially within both the village and town of Saugerties along a dramatic bend in the Esopus Creek less than a mile from the Hudson River. We are an all-volunteer organization, and volunteers are essential to achieve our goals. Volunteers have worked to restore the meadow area where visitors can now observe a wide variety of wildflowers, birds and butterflies. Environmental education walks are scheduled throughout the year. Partnering with the Catskill Center and the Saugerties school district, we opened up Esopus Bend as an outdoor classroom for local schools. Whether you would like to be called for a special task, serve on a committee, work outdoors on the preserve, or help in some other way, we would like to hear about you and your interests.
Please contact Rita Galchus, Volunteer Coordinator eccrita@gmail.com 845-246-6875
www.esopuscreekconservancy.org/
Hudson River Sloop Clearwater
Hudson River Sloop Clearwater, Inc., is a not for profit, membership-supported, environmental education and action organization working towards the restoration and protection of the Hudson River and adjoining waterways. Each week of the sailing season (generally early April to late October), four to six volunteers augment the Clearwater’s permanent crew. During their weeklong stay, volunteer crewmembers live aboard the sloop. Prior experience in sailing or teaching is helpful, but not required, since we provide training. However, a love for the Hudson and a commitment to cleaner waterways and a more environmentally aware public are a must!
Kingston Farmers Market
We are in need of volunteers to help us run the Market this year. In general extra hands are needed for set up and break down of our special events. We also need help in taking customer counts and market surveys. For the customer counts a total of four counters are needed for 2 1/2 hour shifts. More info or call 853-8512.
Frost Valley YMCA
Melissa Pauls, Alumni and Volunteer Coordinator
Frost Valley YMCA, Claryville, NY 12725
845.985.2291 x 208
Frost Valley is looking for volunteers to help keep the Catskills beautiful. Tasks will include trail maintenance, gardening, general upkeep of property, and more! For more information, please email volunteer@FrostValley.org.
www.FrostValley.org
Kingston Land Trust
kingstonlandtrust.org
We depend on the community to join us in our stewardship of the land we protect on behalf of the community. The purpose of this group is to increase urban food production and public access to green space, improve ecosystem functions, beautify spaces in and around the city, and to foster a more harmonious relationship with our natural systems. Also, it provides an opportunity for sharing of knowledge and practical community-based education on the topics that the group’s projects cover, including the following:
– Landscaping, gardening, and farming
– Permaculture and edible forest gardens
– Ecological land management
– Green infrastructure
If you are interested in volunteering on the land, please fill out this volunteer form and/or email landstewardship@kingstonlandtrust.org or visit www.kingstonlandtrust.org for more information.
Minnewaska State Park Preserve is seeking volunteers to help staff the Nature Center on weekends from Memorial Day through Columbus Day. Volunteers would assist visitors with general information about the Park, help interpret displays in the nature center, and assist with hands-on interpretive displays. If you are interested or would like to learn more information, please contact Renee Jones at renee.jones@oprhp.state.ny.us or by phone at 845-255-0752.
Mohonk Preserve
Whether you can volunteer weekly, or for just a few hours …
the only requirement is a desire to learn and a willingness to contribute your time and talents to the Preserve.
Join the nearly 400 volunteers who perform a wide variety of services and contribute over 13,000 hours of their energy and skills annually.
As a Mohonk Preserve volunteer, you will receive Ridgelines e-News, enjoy a summer volunteer picnic, and celebrate at our end-of-season Volunteer Appreciation Party. We also offer special tours and other “perks” to our volunteers.
Whether you maintain trails, lead hikes, or share the love of the outdoors with visitors, you will contribute to the protection of this magnificent landscape for future generations. Find out more about the volunteer opportunities at the Preserve.
Each spring we hold training sessions designed to teach you whatever you need to know as a Mohonk Preserve volunteer. If you want to get involved but missed these sessions, our program coordinators can train you individually.
For more information on our volunteer programs and training, contact Volunteer Programs Manager Andy Reynolds at (845) 255-0919 ext. 1269.
https://www.mohonkpreserve.org/how-to-help/volunteer/volunteer.html
New Digital Volunteer Opportunity with Mohonk Preserve
Volunteer to help Mohonk Preserve bring its extensive archive collection into the digital age. This is a digital volunteer opportunity that you can do from the comfort of your own home.
For over a century, the team at Mohonk Preserve has been diligently collecting data on all aspects of the natural life in the Shawangunk Mountains region. Everything from weather patterns to the phenology of local species is carefully monitored and catalogued each year, creating a treasure trove of data for anyone who wants to know more about the phenology of the “Gunks.” Today we use technology to store and track our data, but this was not always the case. Daniel Smiley, the creator of this project, originally would walk the Shawangunk Ridge lands with notecards in hand, writing down whatever he saw. Over the course of his lifetime, he and other researchers with whom he worked created over 10,000 notecards.
These notecards are rich with detailed information that is useful in a multitude of research projects in areas like ecology, land-use change, animal migration, and species’ range changes. Rather than keeping this important research tool tucked away in file cabinets, we want to make these cards digitally available to scientists, students and all who want to use them. Through a generous grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services through the Museums for America program, we’ve been able to establish a project protocol and create digital images of over 9,000 Dan’s note cards. Now we’re asking you for help making this information fully searchable by looking at individual cards and transcribing the information on them. Thank you for helping us share and expand access to this remarkable natural history resource!
Learn more about how you can get involved in this exciting digital volunteer project:
https://www.zooniverse.org/projects/mohonkpreservedsrc/a-century-of-natural-history-observations
Join Mohonk Preserve’s Trailhead Ambassadors
Become a volunteer Trailhead Ambassador and play a vital role in welcoming new and returning visitors to the Preserve during the busy summer and fall seasons. Share your love of the land by meeting and greeting the visiting public, suggesting hikes, and answering questions. Shifts are on Saturdays and Sundays from 9:30am to 12:30pm and 12:00pm to 3:00pm. This is an outdoor volunteer position located at the Mohonk Preserve Visitor Center. In accordance with state and CDC guidelines, we have instituted new safety standards, including requiring masks and social distancing at the trailheads. Training, snacks, and refreshments provided. Active volunteers receive perks for serving, including access to the land to recreate.
To volunteer or for more information, contact Andy Reynolds, Volunteer Programs Manager, at volunteers@mohonkpreserve.org.
Phillies Bridge Farm Project
Phillies Bridge Farm Project is looking for junior counselors/camp assistants to help out at our farm based day camp. This opportunity will allow you to gain experience working with children in the outdoors. Must be 14+ and LOVE working with kids! No prior experience is needed. You can volunteer for as little as 4 days or as long as 7 weeks this summer. The camp runs Monday-Thursday from 9am-2pm. More info or call 256-9308.
Roundout Valley Growers Association
info@rondoutvalleygrowers.org or call 845-657-5701
http://www.rondoutvalleygrowers.org/
Volunteers needed for Community Gleaning Days & more. The Rondout Valley Growers Association is a non-profit community organization comprised of local farmers, residents, and businesses that are committed to strengthening the region’s family farms and preserving open space for future generations.
Community Gleaning Days– August, September & October. Volunteers will work in the fields harvesting produce or work in a processing kitchen to prepare food for the soup kitchens and food pantries. Volunteers will also be able to take home some produce.
More info.
Sustainable Hudson Valley/Repair Cafe Hudson Valley
PO Box 145
Rhinebeck NY 12572
Phone: (845) 514-8567
http://www.sustainhv.org/
Volunteers needed to help SHV with communications and outreach, research support, office help or fundraising, contact Melissa directly at (845) 514-8567 or at melissa.a.everett@icloud.com. Volunteers also needed at our free Repair Cafes which are held throughout Ulster County; see the calendar at http://www.repaircafehv.org/calendar or email fromer@sustainhv.org for more info.
NYSDEC Recruiting Citizen Scientists for the Volunteer River Herring Monitoring Season
The NYSDEC Hudson River Estuary Program and Hudson Rivers Fisheries Unit are continuing a volunteer-based River Herring monitoring program this spring. Monitoring will take place between April and May each year during the annual migration of river herring from the ocean into freshwater tributaries to spawn. Each volunteer will conduct visual observations for signs of herring, at least twice a week for 15 minutes at a site close to his or her town. Training is provided and begins in March, no experience necessary. We need at least ten volunteers per site. More info.
Walkway Over the Hudson
Walkway Over the Hudson, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit group, works to support and improve Walkway Over the Hudson State Historic Park by raising funds to improve amenities and provide long-term stewardship to the park. Our critical mission depends upon engaged members, volunteers and donors who share our vision for the park. Learn about specific volunteer opportunities here. http://www.walkway.org
Wallkill Valley Land Trust
is looking for volunteers in the following areas:
(1) Newsletter writing or
(2) Assisting in setting up spring “walks and talks” or
(3) Volunteering for the June House Tour, which includes a pre-tour orientation and other opportunities to assist in organizing the event
To help out please email info@WallkillvalleyLT.org
http://www.wallkillvalleylt.org/
We are also seeking volunteers to be part of the Education Committee of the Wallkill Valley Land Trust.
Your willingness to help, share your ideas and pitch in are all that is needed. Some education or interpretation background, formal or informal, is helpful but not required. The committee meets monthly, virtually for now. A one year commitment is suggested.
Some ways that committee members participate: program research, write or edit articles for our newsletter, plan events, conduct workshops, support or lead our educational programs. We typically host a number of events such as natural history walks, writing workshops, and historic tours. We are hoping to expand the variety of programs that we offer and increase participation by underrepresented groups. We especially welcome new members with experience in outreach through online platforms.
Help us fulfill our mission “to enhance the quality of life in Ulster County by conserving lands of scenic, agricultural, ecological, recreational, and cultural significance.” Our organization is based in New Paltz, but our events and conservation lands are throughout Ulster County.
Interested or have questions? Please contact us at info@WallkillvalleyLT.org
Wallkill Valley Rail Trail Association
Do you enjoy walking along the Rail Trail? Want to help keep our Rail Trail beautiful? Are you willing to lend a hand? As you may know the Wallkill Valley Rail Trail was extended in 2013. It is now a beautiful 24 mile linear park stretching from Gardiner, through the Town and Village of New Paltz and Rosendale to the Town of Ulster. In order to help us maintain the trail we are looking for a few volunteers to either Adopt a section of the trail or to be a Trail Engineer. A description of each is below. If you are interested or would like additional information please email info@wvrta.org.
Woodstock Farm Festival
The Woodstock Farm Festival is a weekly community event organized and operated by a group of volunteers to bring a farmers market, outdoor dining, free live music, special events and kids activites to the Woodstock community. Volunteers are needed for: traffic and safety patrol, working the information booth, working in our grill booth, selling raffle tickets, distributing information about our community, etc. Contact Cheryl 679-7618.
Woodstock Land Conservancy
Some of the many areas we need the help of volunteers are:
Trail Monitoring / Stewardship
Help with Land Protection – Easement Monitoring
Administrative Assistance
Photography / Videography
Assistance with Special Events
Assistance with Monthly First Saturday On the Trail hikes
Help with mass mailings 2x a year
Tabling in the community – Farmer’s Market, Woodstock Nights, Library Fair, other events.
Leading a hike or event – sharing an area of expertise
Graphic Design
Many of these are on-going needs.
Visit: www.woodstocklandconservancy.org for more info or to volunteer.
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