Volunteering Outdoors

Volunteering Basics

Equipment:

None for most volunteering.  You may choose to volunteer in areas of your experience that require equipment of your choice. 

Licenses:

None

Who Needs Your Help:

Volunteer organizations such as Justserve.org will try to match you with organizations that mirror your background and interest.  Use the internet to locate this type of organization if you need assistance finding interesting volunteer positions.  If you have special skills, many organizations probably can use your help but you must reach out to them directly.

• Example: I enjoy teaching so I contacted Parks & Rec of several cities to offer classes featuring my hobbies such as gathering shellfish, foraging, basic dock fishing techniques.  I also contacted Issaquah hatchery and asked to be a docent teaching grade school children about the salmon life cycle. 

Use Your Imagination:

I enjoy and appreciate my neighborhood.  On my walks I take clippers to keep blackberry vines trimmed and driving bike riders and pedestrians into the street to avoid them.  I pick up trash and even plant a few flowers along the road on city property for locals to enjoy plus even remove downed branches from walkways. Call organizations you enjoy to ask about volunteering with them. Let them know what type of volunteering you have in mind and what skills you have otherwise they will probably assign you jobs anyone can do.