Blogging 24+ Ways to Make a Difference - LOCAL OPPORTUNITIES @ Beczak Environmental Education Center is part of a series entitled: "Blogging 24+ ways to make a difference on Make A Difference Day and year-round." The local and international volunteer opportunities included in this series were compiled by:
Shannon Cobb, Deputy Director, The Volunteer Center of United W ay
280 N. Central Avenue, Hartsdale, NY 10530 USA
TEL (01) 914-227-9313 / FAX (01) 914-948-3032
www.volunteer-center.org/
Agency Information:
- Agency Name: Beczak Environmental Education Center
- Agency Address: 35 Alexander Street, Yonkers, NY 10701 USA
- Mission: Beczak’s mission is to educate people about the ecology, culture and history of the Hudson River by providing interactive educational experiences focused on the River. We do this so that everyone we reach can become better stewards of the Hudson and better citizens of their community.
Contact Information:
- Contact Name: Sarah Macdonald
- Contact Title: Outreach & Volunteer Coordinator
- Contact Email: smacdAT beczak DOT org
- Contact Phone: (01) 914-377-1900 x11
- Web Site: www.beczak.org
Jobs Listed By Above Agency:
1) Job Title: Marsh Steward
- Job Location: Yonkers
- Job Description: Our Environmental Education Center has redeveloped a wetland on the shore of the Hudson River. This Tidal Marsh needs daily upkeep to help keep the soil, plants, and animals within it healthy. A Marsh Steward would be a volunteer who enjoys working outdoors and is comfortable working alone or with a group of people. Each Marsh Steward would visit the marsh on a regularly scheduled basis (probably one hour, once a week for each marsh steward) and perform routine maintenance and upkeep of the marsh. This will include, but is not limited to, maintaining the fences that keep the geese out of the marsh, picking up trash carried in daily by the tide, and hauling drift wood out of the marsh into designated areas in the park. The Marsh Steward will help us keep this Marsh healthy, making it a better tool to use to teach the public about the special role it plays in the Hudson River Estuary.
- Minimum Age for Volunteer: 16
- Minimum Age for youth accompanied by a parent or chaperone: 12
- Other Qualifications: *Reliability and responsibility. *Ability to make a 1 hr/week commitment for at least 6 months. *Ability to lift at least 20 pounds. *Transportation to the site (this could include access to the Yonker's public transit system). *Share Beczak's mission to protect and educate about the Hudson.
- Training Provided: Marsh Stewards will be trained by Beczak staff how to maintain the fencing in the marsh. Marsh stewards will be given all equipment needed to perform the job adequately. Once training in complete, volunteer must feel comfortable working independently.
- Time Range of Job: Ongoing
- Days Available: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday
- Times Available: All
2) Job Title: Park and Garden Beds Crew
- Job Location: Yonkers
Job Description: Our Environmental Education Center is located on a Westchester county park that is directly on the shores of the Hudson River, and helps to maintain and improve this park land. The park and the garden beds within it need regular upkeep. In addition, volunteers can have a lot of input in some gardening projects in the spring and summer of 2006, where they will work with master gardeners and learn to: plant native plants, weed non-native and invasive species, help develop educational gardens, and make the space more welcoming to the public. All training is provided – just bring your hands! - Minimum Age for Volunteer: 16
- Minimum Age for youth accompanied by a parent or chaperone: 9
- Other Qualifications: *Reliability and responsibility. *Like working outdoors. *The ability to make a 2 hour per week commitment for at least 6 months. *Transportation to the site (this could include access to the Yonker's public transit system). *Share Beczak's mission to protect and educate about the Hudson.
- Training Provided: Volunteers will work with master gardeners from the Cornell Cooperative Extension in Westchester County to plan, develop, and maintain a vibrant park and garden.
- Time Range of Job: Ongoing
- Days Available: All Days
- Times Available: All
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