Volunteer for SVCA

SVCA depends on volunteers to continue our mission of protecting the Sheepscot watershed. There are many opportunities to volunteer, and the time commitment can be as much or as little as you want.

Outreach Program Coordinator

SVCA is looking for one person to help coordinate our expanded outreach program. As you already know we are making an effort to get out in the community with our display board and educate folks about what SVCA is all about. It can be really fun to talk about our beautiful watershed and the work that we do to protect it! In addition to community events we would like to sit at various business locations in the watershed.

Duties of this temporary, part-time scheduling guru include:

Contacting 3-5 area businesses to determine if and at what dates and times SVCA could have an information table set up to meet the public and sell items that benefit SVCA.
Contacting volunteers to coordinate times and places that work for them.
Scheduling the logistics to get a table, chairs and SVCA materials to the location.

If you think you might be the perfect person for this great opportunity or if you have any questions, please contact Kristin Pennock at 586-5616.

Events Planning and Assistance

SVCA holds a number of annual events for the community from educational walks and talks, to workshops and family events, to our annual fundraisers. We welcome volunteers to join in the fun to help us organize, publicize and set up for these events. Publicity and mailings, gathering business support, cooking food, and helping to set up or clean up are just a few of the many ways you can help! Your creative ideas are also welcome in the planning of new events and workshops.

Commitment: One or two events a year, or many, it’s up to you!

Publicity and Business relationships

We rely on local businesses and friends to help sponsor many of our annual events and activities. If you enjoy getting out into the community and building relationships with people and businesses, this could be your niche.Finding and developing business sponsors, gift solicitations, writing press releases etc. are just a few examples of how you might be involved.

Commitment: Ongoing, or just several times a year.

Office Work and mailings

With only three staff members, SVCA welcomes volunteers to help with mailings, photocopying, newsletter development, updating membership lists, and answering phones. Your assistance with this type of work whether for a morning a week, or several times a year for mailing, frees up staff to focus on other ongoing land projects.

Commitment: This may be a weekly office visit for a few hours, several times a month, or just a few times a year for mailings.

Stewardship

SVCA volunteer property monitors help us to keep track of our protected lands throughout the watershed. Preserve stewards check in monthly to be sure the kiosks are stocked with maps and information, and keep an eye open for any needed work at their preserve. The once a month visit by a volunteer is a valuable service and a wonderful way to get to know a small piece of the Sheepscot watershed!

Easement monitors visit their properties once per year to report their findings to the Stewardship Committee. Just another great excuse to get out into the fields and forests of the watershed and meet your neighbors!

Commitment: Preserve stewards visit once per month; Easement monitors once per year. One or two trainings per year.

Trails

For volunteers looking for more physical work in the outdoors, and a way to share skills, trail building and maintenance may be your cup of tea! Trail crews meet periodically throughout the spring, summer and fall to tackle new or old projects with the help of SVCA staff. Brush cutting, trail blazing or trail clearing often fall into this category, with work days listed in our calendar as they develop.

Commitment: As many or few trail days as you are interested in!

Dates for 2013: It's time once again for some Green Workouts on the SVCA trails. Lynne and I picked some dates for the early part of the summer to get our trails spruced up for the summer. We want to take care of some things on the existing trails before getting into the major fun of creating a new trail at the Stetser preserve.

We've tried to schedule a variety of days (weekend versus midweek) and times so that something will fit for most people. We say "work day", but figure 3 hours a session. Whatever time you can give will be appreciated. We'll send out a reminder for each day as it approaches. If you can, drop an email to Lynne or myself to let us know how many people will show up. That will allow us to plan work and have enough tools on hand. The notes below show our initial list of things to address. If trail stewards or anyone else has spotted additional problems that should be addressed by a work crew, please let us know.

Friday, May 24, 9 am, Griggs Preserve. - Re-blaze white trail. Better indication of red/white trail connections. General cleanup and clipping.

Monday, June 3, 1 pm, Palermo Preserve - Re-blaze white trail. General cleanup and clipping. Check on interpretive signs and make repairs. Chainsaw work.

Saturday, June 15, 9 am, March River Preserve - Reblaze. Clear new growth on overlook spots. Reroute wet spot on trail. Cleanup

Monday, June 20, 1 pm, Whitefield Salmon Preserve - Paint kiosk. Clear growth on overlook spots. Possible bridge improvement project. Cleanup.

And save these dates for clearing new Stetser trail - July 13, July 19.

Community Events

Each year SVCA has a presence at local community events, sharing information about our work throughout the Sheepscot watershed. Your help with staffing an informational table helps us to get the word out, and allows us to attend more of these events. We’ll provide training so you’ll feel comfortable with the knowledge you’ll share. If you enjoy meeting people and sharing your enthusiasm for the SVCA this is the job for you!

Commitment: One event of your choice, a season, or as many as you like! Watch the SVCA website for upcoming trainings.

Buildings and Grounds

Have some carpentry skills you’d like to share? Or passions for gardening? How about some winterization projects? The building at 624 Sheepscot Road in Sheepscot Village was once the site of the Sheepscot post office and later a general store. Donated to SVCA in 2002, it now serves as a place where board, staff and SVCA members can meet and take pride in their work.We would welcome help with any maintenance or cleaning projects inside or out that helps to free staff to continue their work on watershed projects.

Commitment: Come by weekly in the summer for gardening, or periodically throughout the year for other projects. Perhaps form your own “work crew” to help with spring cleaning!

Water Quality Monitoring

SVCA has been actively monitoring the quality of the water in the Sheepscot since 1992, primarily through the help of many dedicated volunteers. If you are a morning person and would love the opportunity to be out collecting water samples early knowing that your efforts are part of a long running database, this is your job!

Commitment: Once per week, May through September , and one training per year in April.

SVCA Committee work

Serve on a committee of your choice where your talents, creativity and skills can help us with our mission! Click here to see a list of our ongoing committees