Wednesday, November 28, 2012

Green Teen Program

Green Teen Program
The Green Teen Program engages teens to become stewards of their local parks and recreation centers. Green Teens learn how to make a “green” positive impact in their local community and encourage the public to recycle. If you are interested in being a "Green Teen," please email us at Green.Teens@parks.nyc.gov.

Urban Park Rangers! Volunteer with the Rangers!

Urban Park Rangers

Volunteer with the Rangers

http://www.nycgovparks.org/programs/rangers/volunteer

The Urban Park Ranger Volunteer Program is conducted in all five boroughs and is based out of our nature centers. Volunteers serve as much-needed supplements to our surprisingly small staff numbers, aiding Rangers and Nature Center Coordinators in their many duties. In turn, volunteers gain the opportunity to positively contribute to the development of their community while learning new skills and knowledge in beautiful parkland environments
Some of your opportunities as a Volunteer include:

Research local history for a Ranger program
Greet visitors at the reception desk
Design fliers for upcoming lectures or programs

In order to volunteer you must meet the following requirements:

Be at least 18 years old
Have a valid picture ID
Attend one Volunteer Orientation session
Be able to give 2-3 checkable references

As an Urban Park Ranger volunteer, you will receive the following benefits:

Invitations to volunteer-only workshops, such as Birding Identification or Aquatic Ecology
A sense of satisfaction!

To receive an invitation to the next volunteer orientation, either call or stop in to your local Nature Center.

Urban Park Rangers: The Ranger Conservation Corps

http://www.nycgovparks.org/programs/rangers/conservation-corps

Urban Park Rangers

The Ranger Conservation Corps

The Ranger Conservation Corps (RCC) is an urban environmental internship for high school students. RCC participants work on environmental restoration in Forever Wild sites located in our flagship parks. There are two RCC sessions each year (fall and spring), and each session lasts a total of 10 weeks. The program is offered every school day afternoon from 4-6 p.m. Students attend one day a week. There are openings for 900 students each year.
RCC participants receive community service hours, and the experience looks great on a college application. They also go on exciting field trips, such as trips on the Clearwater Sloop.
For more information, call 311 (or 212-NEW-YORK outside of NYC) and ask for the Urban Park Rangers.
Information for RCC Members and Parents
RCC Contract

(PDF, 30 KB)RCC Student Application Form

(PDF, 305 KB)

“In the beginning of the year, I wasn’t doing so well in Biology, and Mr. Young encouraged me to join the program. Ever since then my grade point average has risen to 90%. Working with the Rangers has really, really showed me the dedication some people have for the environment, and it has inspired me to aspire for a career as a Ranger. Also, because of the program, I had one of the best Regent’s scores in my class; 84%!!”
Edwin, RCC participant, Urban Park Rangers
“It’s hard for me to write about one thing I enjoyed about RCC. I liked so many things that I did. I especially liked all the turtles. The best part of that is coming back every week and seeing all the different kinds of turtles we found. The BIG snapper was awesome. It was interesting to learn how turtles live, swim, hibernate, and eat.”
James, RCC participant, Urban Park Rangers

Central Park Zoo Volunteer Program

William Holmstrom ©WCS

Become a volunteer Zoo Guide at one of the nation's greatest institutions. You'll assist the Education Department at the Central Park Zoo in delivering wildlife and environmental conservation information to zoo visitors, leading tours, supporting zoo school programs, participating in a variety of events, and offering administrative support.
Zoo Guide Responsibilities Volunteers must be flexible and prepared to serve in any of the capacities listed below.

Engaging public visitors in interactive discussions about selected animals, their exhibits, and environmental conservation. A volunteer should initiate conversations with visitors to make them feel welcome, as well as, share information.
Conducting guided tours for the casual visitor and selected organized groups, including school groups and adult groups. These tours can encompass multiple exhibits, focus on a specific region and its wildlife, or concentrate on a specific topic, such as animal adaptations or behavior.
Delivering amplified sea lion narration at feeding times. Narrators use a microphone to speak to large audiences.
Reading to children during summer story time activities.
Participating in a variety of promotional, corporate, private, and special events.
Helping our youngest visitors explore the wonders of the Tisch Children's Zoo.
Helping the Education Department with administrative duties such as record keeping, light administrative duties and preparation of arts and crafts for special events and educational programs.
Attending additional trainings following the initial 9-session Zoo Guide training program. Opportunities for continuing education will be available for guides to attend to further their knowledge of wildlife and environmental conservation. Volunteers are required to attend a minimum of three continuing education programs per year.
Presenting live animal encounters to zoo visitors. Note that you must complete one year of volunteer service to be eligible to apply for the animal handling program. You must also successfully complete the animal handling training course in order to work with the education animals.

Time Commitment Requirements
After acceptance into the Zoo Guide program, each volunteer is required to complete a 9-session training course, occurring from January through March, followed by a 3-month probationary period. Volunteers are expected to make a minimum 1-year commitment of service to the Central Park Zoo upon successful completion of the training course. Weekday volunteers must commit to working one full day per week; a minimum of 175 hours of annual service. Weekend volunteers must commit to working one full day every other weekend; a minimum of 108 hours of annual service. Arrangements may be made with the Coordinator of Volunteers to work additional days, if desired.
The Zoo is open every day of the year, including all holidays. Volunteers are needed 365 days a year.
Training Program
All volunteers are required to complete a multi-week training course taught by zoo staff. The 9-session training course will take place from January through March. The cost of training is $100. This includes fees for training refreshments, materials, uniform shirt and explorer vest. Final acceptance of a volunteer into the program is contingent on successful completion of the training course and a 3-month probationary period.

We are no longer accepting applications for new volunteers at this time. We will resume accepting applications in Fall 2012. Please check our website for an application and information at that time.

Program Organization The Coordinator of Volunteers and the Manager of Education are responsible for selecting, supervising, and evaluating volunteers. For each day of the week, a Day Captain will be elected by the day's members or appointed by the Coordinator of Volunteers. The Day Captain is directly responsible for assigning jobs to that day's volunteers, making up a schedule, supervising volunteers, and maintaining records for the day. If a problem arises that the Day Captain cannot handle, he/she will contact the Coordinator of Volunteers.

http://www.bronxzoo.com/help-wildlife/volunteer/central-park-zoo-volunteer.aspx

Bronx Zoo Volunteer Program

Bronx Zoo Education Docents

Become a member of the Friends of the Zoo, the docent organization based in the Education Department at the Bronx Zoo. Enthusiastic adults 18 or older, who can serve weekdays or weekends for a minimum period of two years, are prime candidates for the program. Weekday docents serve one day per week; weekend docents serve one day every other weekend. Docents enjoy free admission to the Wildlife Conservation Society’s four zoos and aquarium in New York. They receive continuing education courses on wildlife and biology, and discounts at WCS gift shops.

As part of the Education department, docents:

Offer guided tours of zoo exhibits to schoolchildren, organized groups, and families.
Work as exhibit interpreters in the Children’s Zoo, Africa Plaza, Wild Asia Plaza, and more.
Deliver interpretive talks about specific exhibits and provide visitors with valuable lessons that promote wildlife conservation.
Assist the Education Dept. with their environmental education programs.
Assist at special events.

To become a Friend of the Zoo, candidates need to pass an interview and successfully complete a 3 month training course.

The Training Program
The staff of the Education Department and the members of the Friends of the Zoo will mentor trainees. Trainees will also attend 7 days of classes and exhibit tours led by Education Department staff and veteran docents. The goals of the 3 month training program are:

To acquaint the trainee with the mission of the Wildlife Conservation Society and the Friends of the Zoo.
To orient the trainee to the facilities and policies of the Bronx Zoo.
To help the trainee learn about the animals and exhibits.
To allow the trainee to feel comfortable as a member of the volunteer organization.
To provide the skills necessary for interacting with the visitors to the Zoo.

Training Program Schedule
The Friends of the Zoo will provide the components of the training program, including opportunities for observation, exhibit visits, classes, and mentoring, according to the following schedule:
Class Days
All class days for both weekday and weekend trainees will be on Sundays from 9:45 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. There will be 7 class days between February and April.
Service Days
Immediately following the completion of classes’ trainees will participate in a service day schedule. With input from the trainee, the Coordinator will assign each trainee to a service day. For six weeks the trainee will work on a probationary basis. Full status will be awarded after successful completion of this period.

Volunteer Application Form

For further information contact the docent office at the Bronx Zoo at (718) 220-5141 or foz@wcs.org.

Bronx Zoo Volunteer Ambassadors

The Bronx Zoo is now accepting applications for Volunteer Ambassadors. Ambassadors are members of the Guest Relations Department, which is responsible for providing the best possible guest experience and service to our visitors. Ambassadors perform a variety of jobs, including the following:

Acting as an information resource for guests by providing directions, answering questions, and aiding in complaint resolution at key positions throughout the Zoo
Aiding in the efficient entrance of school groups on days of high group attendance
Offering paid non-educational tours via golf cart for guests requiring mobility assistance
Assisting with administrative office functions for all areas of the Guest Relations Department

Time Commitment
Volunteers must work one day per week from April–October. Volunteer opportunities will also be available during the winter months for those who wish to commit to additional time.

Requirements
Applicants to our program must be 18 years of age or older. An enthusiastic, friendly attitude and the ability to work well with a diverse audience are also required. All applicants must be cleared by a background check before they begin training.

Additionally, we are looking for applicants with some of the following skills for specific assignments:

Valid driver’s license
Ability to work in a busy, fast-paced, outdoor environment in a variety of weather conditions and to stand/walk for long periods of time (2 hrs.+)
Experience working in an administrative or office environment

Training and Application Process
Volunteer Ambassador applicants must successfully complete a five-day training program. To apply, please email a statement of interest and your resume to SeasonalRecruitment@wcs.org with “Volunteer Ambassador” in the subject line.

For more information, please call (718) 220-5103.

http://www.bronxzoo.com/help-wildlife/volunteer/bronx-zoo-volunteer.aspx

New York Aquarium Volunteer Opportunities

New York Aquarium Volunteer Programs

The New York Aquarium offers three volunteer programs. Our docent program is designed for those interested in volunteering with our Education Department. Volunteers with our Animal Exhibits Department help behind-the-scenes with animal care. Finally, our Volunteer Dive program is made up of certified SCUBA divers who help maintain our tanks—and don’t mind getting wet!

Docent Opportunities

Become an aquarium docent and help staff exhibits, teach visitors about marine conservation, and assist at events and education programs. You'll meet individuals from around the world and join a family of fellow volunteers, staff, and wildlife experts who share a passion for our natural world.

Animal Exhibits Department Volunteers

Volunteers with the aquarium's Animal Exhibits Department gain hands-on experience working with sea lions and seals alongside the trainers, fish and aquatic invertebrates in Conservation Hall or Explore the Shore, or a wide variety of marine creatures at Sea Cliffs.

Aquatic Animal Health Center Volunteers

The Aquatic Animal Health Center offers a great opportunity for volunteers to gain experience in both the laboratory and veterinary fields. Responsibilities include water quality testing, medical procedures, and maintenance and administrative work in our lab and surgical suite.

Volunteer Dive Program

The experienced scuba divers that make up the aquarium’s 50-person dive team are trained to do a range of tasks, including cleaning and maintaining the underwater exhibits and teaching visitors about our animals and their habitats.