Volunteer Opportunities

This is where you can help

Carpentry/Maintenance 

Volunteers with carpentry skills are needed to assist with a variety of projects. Some of the assignments include; building or repairing travel boxes or cages, re-wrapping perches, and fixing outdoors mews. Most projects must be completed at TRC. The time commitment varies per the project and season.

Clinic crew 

Work with clinic staff, veterinarians from around the world, and other volunteers, assisting in the medicating and feeding of recuperating eagles, owls, hawks, and falcons. Volunteers often work independently with fellow volunteers to provide treatments and prepare food. (This means chopping up mice, rats, etc!) In addition, they help maintain a healthy environment by cleaning cages, washing floors, and doing laundry. Volunteers learn how to grab birds and restrain them safely during exams and treatments. Hours: Volunteers commit to one four-hour shift per week (same day and same time each week) for one year. Shifts typically run 8:30 a.m. to noon and 4 to 8 p.m.

Development/office assistant 

Help the eagles, owls, hawks, and falcons treated by TRC by doing clerical and administrative tasks. Basic computer skills and good organizational ability is required. Not glamorous, but a great help! Hours: Volunteers commit to four hours per week, Monday through Friday, mornings or afternoons.

Education 

Present the mission of TRC to the public and play a vital role in teaching visitors about raptors, their place in the environment, their biology, and how humans impact them. General crew functions include greeting the public, informal "walk-through" tours, light maintenance of bird areas, food preparation, and keeping public areas orderly and presentable. Educators receive ongoing education to improve their knowledge (seasonal info, new studies, and regional updates), and attend a monthly education meeting. Promotion to bird handler is achieved as skills are developed and when a defined need for a handler arises. Hours: Volunteers commit to one four-hour shift per week for one year (same day and same time each week). Shifts typically run Tuesdays through Fridays from 8:30 a.m. to noon and noon to 4 p.m. and on Saturdays and Sundays from noon to 4 p.m.

Flight crew 

Help with the physical conditioning of recovering raptors, exercising the birds and assessing their abilities as they regain their flight skills. Volunteers often work independently with fellow volunteers to exercise birds on the "flight list." The goal is to exercise the birds in the halls or outside a minimum of three times each week to enhance their recovery and speed their release. When not exercising the birds, volunteers help maintain a healthy environment by cleaning cages and washing floors. Hours: Volunteers commit to one four-hour shift per week (same day and same time each week). Shifts typically run 8 a.m. to noon.

Hospitality crew 

Volunteers meet and greet visitors traveling from other states and countries to spend time at The Raptor Center. Responsibilities include picking up visitors from the airport, transporting them to their lodging, and familiarizing them with local amenities (grocery store, bus line, etc.). Hours: As needed, generally not more than three or four times a year.

Lobby assistant 

Play a vital role in making The Raptor Center an inviting place to visit. Greet the public and provide information about The Raptor Center. When visitors come in for tours, programs, or meetings, direct them to the appropriate staff. Additional tasks include assisting with small administrative projects and merchandise sales. Hours: Volunteers commit to one four-hour shift per week (same day and time each week), for a minimum of three months. Shifts typically run 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and 12:30 p.m. to 4 p.m. on Tuesday through Friday and noon to 4 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays.

Special events crew

Volunteers are responsible for transporting, setting up and taking down displays (with staff help), and staffing membership tables, merchandise tables, and program information booths at public events and on-site events. Scheduled programs include two annual public bird releases, annual open houses, a fundraiser event, and a variety of public exhibits throughout the year. Hours: This position requires commitment to working on one or more special events during the year. Hours to be determined by the event.

Spic and span crew

Volunteers help keep the clinic areas, halls, and steps tidied up with a mop, broom, and dust cloth. No necessary skills other than a desire to improve the appearance of the area and the ability to wield cleaning implements. Hours: Volunteers commit to three hours a week, preferably early evenings and weekends.

Transport 

Transport caged or contained raptors to and from TRC. Trips are typically to and from the airport, special events, or private homes where injured birds have been found. Hours: on-call, as arranged through direct contact with TRC staff.

General requirements for TRC volunteers

• Must be 18 years of age or older. (Some event volunteers may be 14-17 years old, if supervised.)
• Must be willing to commit to a regular schedule for a minimum of one year.
• Most crews require health insurance, an insurance waiver, and an up-to-date tetanus vaccination.
• Some tasks may require valid driver's license with a good driving record and proof of car insurance.

For more information about volunteer opportunities, please contact Vivian Neiger, volunteer manager, at neige001@umn.edu.