Volunteer Opportunities
All the activities and programs offered by Nature Vancouver are made possible by a large group of dedicated volunteers. There are many opportunities for new volunteers to get involved.
Volunteers are always needed to lead field trips, organize evening programs and other events such as the Summer Camp or multi day tours.
For more information, please EMAIL us or use CONTACT US FORM. Or better still, talk to a board member or section committee member at one of our EVENING PROGRAMS.
Current Volunteer Opportunities
NV Scholarship Committee Member
Every year Nature Vancouver awards scholarships to undergraduate and graduate students who are studying at an accredited post-secondary B.C. institution, in a discipline that advances the objectives of Nature Vancouver. Please see https://naturevancouver.ca/scholarships/
The Scholarship Committee is active from February to the Nature Vancouver AGM (usually end of April) promoting the scholarships (contacting various post secondary institutions), reading over the applications to select those who will receive a scholarship,contacting successful applicants and finally, at the AGM, conducting the scholarship presentation ceremony.
Approximately 20 volunteer hours are required in the specific February to April/May time period. Reading of the applications is the most time-consuming part but hours are flexible within a ~3 week period. The Committee itself meets ~3 times in this same period for ~1 hour.
As a member of this Committee for the past 5 years, what I especially like about this volunteering is the opportunity to meet some amazing students and learn about their incredible commitments to volunteering and studying within the discipline of “nature”. Every year I’m so impressed by the students and it feels so great to give them a bit of money to help them towards their goals!
If you are interested, please contact Laura at laura@naturevancouver.ca
City Nature Challenge
Nature Vancouver needs volunteers who can host a walk on any of the 4 days of the City Nature Challenge. This year is the 10th anniversary of this global challenge and runs from April 25th to April 28th. You need to use iNaturalist to log all observations and it would be helpful if you could provide assistance to participants on how to use iNaturalist. You can pick any area within the Metro Vancouver Regional District. If you are interested, please contact our Nature Vancouver administrator of this iNaturalist project: John.Martin@naturevancouver.ca.
Communications Volunteer
We are looking to create a new role that will focus on a broad range of communications strategies to support the major objectives of Nature Vancouver. It can start out as one person but likely evolve to a committee of several volunteers. Bring you passion and commitment and help us create and mold this new support role. The following are the general goals:
- Goal 1: Share the findings and excitement of natural history as well as Nature Vancouver.
- Goal 2: Support the primary objectives of Nature Vancouver through communications.
- Goal 3: Understand and navigate the modern world of communications.
For more details of the expected roles and responsibilities please contact: Kelvin Yip at kelvin@naturevancouver.ca
Board of Directors
At present there are four vacancies on the Nature Vancouver Board of Directors. If you, or someone you know, would like to volunteer for this role, please contact John Martin at President@naturevancouver.ca
New Brighton Park Biodiversity Enhancement Project
Since January 2022, the Nature Vancouver led effort has been working to enhance the biodiversity at the park in Vancouver’s northeast corner. On what was an industrial fill site crowded with scotch broom, himalayan blackberry and other invasive plants, over 300 volunteers have worked to remove the invasive plants. We have also planted around 3000 native perennial flowers and shrubs to provide a better habitat for insects, birds and animals. You can read more about the history of the project and the reports of the past work parties from https://naturevancouver.ca/category/new-brighton-park-restoration/.
We can use your help! In order to volunteer for future work parties, please see the Events Calendar at https://naturevancouver.ca/events/ or contact newbrighton@naturevancouver.ca.
Forage Fish Egg Survey
November 2024 – January 2025
Update: we have filled all 20 volunteer positions, with 20 more volunteers on the waiting list. We’re grateful to everyone who responded and will consider how to involve more people in future surveys.
Nature Vancouver will be partaking for the first time in a Forage Fish Egg survey under the supervision of the Coastal Forage Fish Network. We are looking for potential volunteers interested in taking part in this project. Forage fish play a vital role in the food chain and there is a paucity of information about their distribution. The intent of this survey is to understand the critical habitat (nurseries) and to account for and protect these nurseries. The survey will examine surf smelt and Pacific sand lance eggs, the latter which spawn November – January.
There will be two components:
- Collection of eggs. This is done at high tide, ideal being 2 – 4 metres. The exact place will be determined later, but it will be either Ambleside, Stanley Park or Spanish Banks area.
- Identification, number and quality of the eggs. This involves examining the samples under a microscope and documenting the findings.
There will be a training workshop some time in October 2024. For more details, please refer to:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RrTld1hM9_0
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1HDiz8zp1ow
https://wwf.ca/habitat/oceans/forage-fish/
Response has been great, with more than 20 volunteers signing up. Due to limited space and equipment there is now a waiting list for further volunteer slots. Please contact Naomi Ross naomi.x.ross@gmail.com if you are interested and would like to be added to the waiting list.
