Individual Volunteer Opportunities
Irvine Nature Center relies on hundreds of volunteers every year in an effort to provide high quality opportunities for our members and visitors. Whether you are interested in helping maintain our grounds, lending a hand in our classrooms, or leading nature-based programs, we have a space for you!
Review open positions below and complete our ONLINE APPLICATION. Please contact Rebecca Sparks, Manager of Volunteer Services with any questions.
Explore volunteer roles below
- Volunteer Naturalist- Field Trips/ Nature in the Classroom: Assist Irvine Educators as they deliver hands-on environmental education programs to local schools (field trips= on site, Nature in the Classroom= off site).
- Eco- Explorers Afterschool Programs: Assist with hands-on, environmental programs at local elementary schools (off-site, evenings)
- The Nature Preschool: Help facilitate outdoor, nature-based play for children ages 3-5. (M-F, half-day and full-day classes)
- Homeschool Programs: Assist with Irvine’s Bauer Explorers program, a drop-in nature exploration and play-based class for homeschool children in two age groups: 5-10 and 11-14.
- Tales & Tails : Help set up chairs, welcome visitors to story time locations, offer support during the program, and assist with clean up.
- Spanish Interpreter & Translator: Attend Irvine’s field trip programs and serve as a Spanish Interpreter for ESL students. Review lesson plans with Irvine’s Environmental Educators to identify key vocabulary and create written translations for Educators to practice with and use during programming.
- Land Stewardship: Assist the Nature Resources Manager with the care and upkeep of our 211 acres. Includes invasive species removal, fostering native species, and daily maintenance.
- Native Plants: Assist the Public Programs Manager with year-round caretaking of the woodland garden and other native plant gardens. Includes gathering native seeds, germinating and planting the, assisting with the annual Native Plant Sale.
- Native American Site: Assist the Public Programs Manager with maintenance of the Native American Site. Includes smoking wigwams, maintaining fire circles, and mulching.
- Carpentry: Help build perches, perch boxes, bluebird boxes, semi-permanent structures, and other miscellaneous projects.
- Animal Care (Exhibit Hall): MUST BE 18+, Assist the Animal Care Manager and Coordinator with the daily care and maintenance of Irvine’s Animal Ambassadors and the exhibits they inhabit.
- Aviary: MUST BE 18+ RAPTOR EXPERIENCE STRONGLY PREFERRED, Assist the Animal Care Manager and Coordinator with the daily care and maintenance of the raptors and their mews.
- FeederWatch/ Nest Watch: Participatory Science initiative, observe and track biodiversity at Irvine’s bird feeders on a weekly basis; Observe and track nesting data in Irvine’s bluebird boxes.
- Docent: Act as a guide for Irvine’s Exhibit Hall and outdoor spaces.
- Volunteer Naturalist- Guided Hikes: Give guided tours of Irvine’s trails (basic Irvine history and facts about the land, not a Naturalist-led hike).
- Workshops & Events: Assist with set-up, facilitate crafts and activities, orient guests, and assist with clean up.
- Tabling Events: Assist Irvine staff during community outreach tabling events.
- Admin: Aid with office tasks, supporting our admin team.
- Maintenance: Assist with repairs and upkeep around the nature center.
- IT Services: Maintain Irvine’s computer systems
- Mailings: Prepare and organize mailing materials to be sent out to the community.
- Rentals & Parties: Help set up tables and chairs before rental events, help visitors navigate the Center, and assist with clean-up or rental spaces.
- Internships: Gain early work experience with a welcoming, creative, and passionate team (UNPAID, FOR ACADEMIC CREDIT).
- Scouts: Participate in group volunteer events, obtain service hours, complete Scouting Milestone projects (Gold Awards , Eagle Scouts).
- Counselor in Training (Summer Nature Camp): Learn the ins and outs of what it means to be a counselor at Summer Nature Camp (UNPAID, FOR VOLUNTEER HOURS)
- Counselor in Training (Day Off Camps): Learn the ins and outs of what it means to be a counselor with Irvine’s Day Off Camps (UNPAID, FOR VOLUNTEER HOURS).
- Senior Projects: Gain experience in the Environmental workforce through 2-3 weeks assisting various programs (UNPAID, SCHOOL MUST SUPPORT PROGRAM).
