Volunteer opportunities are available at the ANS headquarters at Woodend in Chevy Chase, MD and at the Rust Sanctuary in Leesburg, VA.
Click here for an application (18 years and older) Click here for a student application
Volunteer Outdoors
Grounds Assistants: Help with the stewardship of ANS sanctuaries at Woodend, Chevy Chase MD, or the Rust Sanctuary in Leesburg, VA. Assist with trail upkeep, tree work, weeding, control of invasive non-native plants and general maintenance. Weekday hours are flexible with some opportunities to work on the weekend.
ANS Summer Nature Camps: Volunteers assist in camps for children in Pre-K – 4th grade. Camps run for one or two weeks and may be half-day or full-day. Volunteers must be entering 9th grade or above in the fall and must commit to a minimum of one full camp. An application and reference form should be submitted to the Volunteer Office. A brief interview and orientation are also required. Click here for the schedule of camps. For further description of the camps, see the 2007 Summer Camp Catalog. ANS is approved for Student Service Learning hours.
Water Quality Monitoring: Monitor the health of our region’s streams with a team of volunteers. After completing introductory training in the field and classroom, monitors commit to a half-day of monitoring three – four times per year.
Beginning Bird Walks: Volunteers knowledgeable about birds are needed to lead beginner bird walks at Woodend. Bird walks are 8-9 a.m. every Saturday, September through June.
Volunteer Indoors
ANS Sanctuary Shop: Answer the phone, ring up sales, stock shelves, and advise customers on books, gifts, and bird feeding. Time commitment is three and one-half hours once a week Monday through Friday, or once a month on weekends. The ANS Sanctuary Shop is located at Woodend. Training provided.
Office Assistants: Help with data entry, filing, mailings, and a variety of office tasks. Hours are flexible. Woodend and Rust Sanctuary.
Writers and Graphic Artists: Volunteers with editing, writing, photography, artistic or desktop publishing skills are needed. Hours are flexible. Woodend and Rust Sanctuary.
Speakers Bureau: Present slide shows on natural history topics to garden clubs, retirement homes, and other community groups at evening or daytime events. Experience in public speaking and background in natural history preferred.
Outreach: Represent ANS at information fairs and other outreach events. Volunteer should be outgoing and familiar with ANS programs. Occasional weekends and evenings.
Special Events
Nature Fair: Join over 100 volunteers who help during the fair held the first weekend in May at Woodend. Opportunities include working with children on nature programs and crafts as well as admissions, traffic, set-up and more.
Bloomin’ Birdathon: If you are a birder or wildflower enthusiast, join our annual fund-raising event in early May. Solicit pledges for the number of species you identify in a 24-hour period, or sponsor other birders or bloomers.
