Volunteer

Volunteers in this role help lead hands-on educational activities during youth programs hosted by the Kalamazoo River Watershed Council. Activities may include a range of things from water quality testing, crafts, macroinvertebrate exploration, watershed models, or simple environmental education games. This will be decided based on the interest of the volunteer. 

All materials and instructions will be provided. The volunteer will always be at programming with a KRWC staff member but will be leading a station alone. 

Prior to the program, volunteers will receive training and guidance on the activity, including background information, how to facilitate it with youth, and key talking points. 

Programs take place at local parks, lakes, or along the Kalamazoo River, depending on the activity. Volunteers can expect to engage directly with small groups of youth, helping guide them through the activity and encouraging curiosity, exploration, and connection to the river.

This is a great opportunity for individuals who enjoy working with youth, teaching about the environment, and supporting hands-on outdoor education in a welcoming, team-based setting.

Table at community events to further KRWC’s mission to restore and protect the Kalamazoo River Watershed. Here you will represent KRWC and create awareness about our efforts. This can look like conversations about the watershed and its boundaries, creating awareness of the history and work KRWC and its Kanoe the Kazoo, Krazy for the Kazoo, Kalamazoo River Watershed Classroom, and Kalamazoo River Youth Experience programs. This also includes people of MDHHS Eat Safe Fish program, and about the progress being made on the Superfund remediation. 

This will involve picking up supplies, setting up at the event, tearing down, and returning supplies.

If you love to paddle, can think quickly on your feet (or in your boat), are comfortable navigating the Kalamazoo River, and want to encourage people to gain confidence in paddling, this is for you!  This can look like leading a group on a Kanoe the Kazoo, or Krazy for the Kazoo Clean-up Paddle. This can also look like teaching kids to paddle during one of our youth programs. This requires patience, clear direction, and a good attitude for fun!

Help us gain support for our programs, by communicating our story and actively seeking funding! If you have a knack for research, writing, and copy editing this could be a great way to help support KRWC programs. This could look like researching grants that we qualify for and writing grants.