Volunteer

We are so appreciative of our volunteers at the Howell Nature Center! More than 150 volunteers donate 25,000 hours of their time every year — an invaluable service to the many lives we touch daily.

Available Volunteer Opportunities

  • Corporate Volunteer Program: Make a positive impact on the environment and your local community while connecting with nature & your employees. Find more information on our program and it’s offerings here. 
  • Garden Volunteer: Help to cultivate the many on-site gardens by planting, watering and weeding. (age: 18+; commitment: 4 hours/week seasonally)
  • Special Events:  HNC hosts numerous special events and fundraisers throughout the year. Volunteers may assist with event set-up, registration, parking, and much more. Many of these events are ideal for high school students seeking community service hours. (age:  14+; commitment: varies by event)
  • Wildlife Rehabilitation Volunteers: Help our rehab team care for injured and orphaned birds and mammals in our Wildlife Rehabilitation Clinic. Tasks include preparing meals, cleaning enclosures, cleaning dishes, washing laundry, sweeping and mopping, and other housekeeping duties. Please note that animal interaction is minimal in order to reduce stress and keep animals wild. (age: 18+; commitment: 3-hour shift, one assigned day weekly. Currently seeking coverage for Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays)
  • Junior Volunteers: In this summer program, students ages 13-17 help in the wildlife rehabilitation clinic with tasks such as preparing meals, light cleaning, laundry, and other projects. This is a great opportunity for students who want to get their feet wet in the wildlife rehabilitation field. Please note that junior volunteers will not work directly with animals, but support the clinic as a whole. (age: 13-17; commitment: 3-hour shift, one assigned day weekly, summer only)

*Volunteers must be 18+ to work with wildlife

*All Wild Wonders Wildlife Park positions are currently full

We are currently not accepting Wildlife Volunteers at this time.
VOLUNTEER APPLICATION

Due to the long-term nature of our volunteer positions, we are unable to accommodate court-ordered volunteer requests at this time.

If you have questions regarding the application, please reach out info@howellnaturecenter.org.

Become a Wildlife Foster

If you’re interested in being a foster to young wildlife in 2024, click below to sign up for one of our upcoming Wildlife Foster Information Sessions:

Wednesday, March 13th · 5:30 pm – 7:30 pmSunday, March 17th · 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm
Foster volunteer requirements include:

  • Feeding and cleaning 4-5 times daily
  • 18+ years of age
  • Wildlife must have no exposure to children or pets
  • Formulas and supplies (Volunteer’s expense)
  • 3-6 month commitment: April-September
  • Minimal handling to keep the animals wild
  • Must live within one hour from the Howell Nature Center