Volunteer with Wye Marsh

Do you want to help preserve our wetlands? Or assist with educating our youth about the environment? Do you love to interact with nature and wildlife?

Become a Wye Marsh Volunteer!

As a non-profit, charitable organization, the Friends of the Wye Marsh Inc. relies on volunteers to provide many of the services that make a visit to the marsh such an enjoyable and educational experience. We truly could not operate without our dedicated volunteers!

Volunteers work either with the public or behind the scenes while gaining experience and knowledge about wetlands, woodlands and wildlife. If you would like to become a volunteer, please fill out our Volunteer Application (pdf format) and submit to info@wyemarsh.com or drop off to Wye Marsh Wildlife Centre.

Please email info@wyemarsh.com with any questions you may have.

---

Volunteer Opportunities:

Canoe Tour Assistant

There is nothing like experiencing the marsh from canoe. Share magical moments with visitors, as a Wye Marsh Canoe Tour Assistant. Training provided. Responsibilities include: Providing group safety instructions, steering a large voyageur style canoe that holds up to 9 people, pointing out marsh wildlife and plants, safely returning to the dock after a 1-hour excursion. Tours offered from May-October. Depending on bookings and your availability, you might be paddling people around the marsh 1-6 times a month. 

 

Bannock Roasting/ Fire Keeper

If you love hanging out by the campfire, this is the role for you. In addition to building a fire, and enjoying the crackling sound logs make, you will get to introduce visitors to a century’s old tradition: roasting Bannock over an open fire. This activity can take place any day of the year, as long as wind speeds are less than 20 km/hour, and shifts are usually from 2-3 hours long. This is an occasional position. Training is provided.

 

Board of Directors

Friends of Wye Marsh Inc. is a not-for-profit charitable organization taking care of 3,000 acres of provincially significant wetlands and a designated National Wildlife Area. Our Board Members meet once a month to provide the Executive Director with advice and guidance; shape policies; raise our community profile; build relationships; help fundraise and support Wye Marsh events. 

 

Bingo Hall Representative

It’s pretty amazing: One bingo shift per month can raise a lot of money to support our Animal Ambassadors at Wye Marsh. All funds raised are used to buy food, upgrade enclosures, pay for trips to the veterinarian and provide “enrichment” opportunities for our reptiles and raptors.  Online training is provided, in addition to an onsite session at Angel Gate Plaza in Penetanguishene. Commitment: one or two shifts per month, each lasting 2.25 hours.

 

Front Desk Representative

As the first person everyone sees when visiting Wye Marsh, your role is to create an inviting space for people to ask questions and get answers. In addition to processing admissions and gift shop sales, you will be handing out maps, letting people know of the day’s fun sightings, and directing phone calls to staff. Best suited to those who love to be in the thick of things and enjoy customer service. Commitment of 4 hours per week.

 

Fundraising - Raffle Tickets, Auctions and More!

If you love sales, selling tickets, collecting prizes from our generous donors and networking in the community - this is for you! Pick a campaign. Set your own hours. Know we appreciate your help reaching our goals!  

 

Pollinator Patch Steward

Empowering others to make healthy choices in private green spaces can be very satisfying. As a Wildflower Gardener at Wye Marsh, you would be taking care of our “Pollinator Patch” along the front path and supporting ongoing education on the importance of native species and biodiversity.  Commitment: 2-4 hours/ week through the Spring, Summer and Fall

 

Habitat Restoration

As pretty as some exotic plants look, they can have devastating impacts on our local environment!

Help restore wildlife habitat at Wye Marsh. Join our Stewardship Team and learn how to safely remove invasive plants from the area. Just two hours a day, a few times in the spring and summer can make a huge difference.

 

Trail Maintenance/ Odd Jobs

It takes a lot of work to take care of 3,000 acres of Provincially Significant Wetlands and Federal Forests. Our Trail Maintenance Team gets together a few times each year to help clear paths of low branches and fallen debris. Plus we have picnic tables paint, loose nails on the boardwalk to hammer down, gravel to spread along the trails… Commitment: 2-4 hours, a few times per season.

 

Trail Ambassador

Connect people with nature - and help foster environmental stewardship at a grass roots level as a Wye Marsh Trail Ambassador. Wander the trails. Chat with visitors. Point out seasonal variations Share exciting observations. Introduce visitors to iNaturalist and other fun tools to identify species. Have fun while raising awareness on the importance of wetlands while building your natural history knowledge from May-October, once a week, for 2-3 hours per shift. 

 

Wildlife Monitor

Join our Stewardship Team to collect data on a wide variety of species at Wye Marsh. From turtles to snakes, Trumpeter Swans and frogs, our Wildlife Monitors provide valuable scientific data to local, provincial and national organizations. Some surveys take place over a few months, while others are just one or two days (or nights) per year. And many surveys are weather dependant. As a result, this role is best suited to those who are patient, have great attention to detail and have flexible schedules.

 

 

 

Youth Volunteers

Summer Camp Counselor in Training (CIT)

Are you between the ages of 13 to 17?  Do you like working with children or plan to have a career that helps children? Apply for our Summer Camp Counselor in Training Program.

Our CIT program is a great way for youth to become involved or to continue their involvement with camp.  The youth will be able to receive volunteer hours, and experience working at camp that will strengthen their resumes for becoming a Camp Counsellor in the years to come.

Wye Marsh Volunteer Resources