Volunteer Opportunities at the Kalamazoo Nature Center
Creatures of the Night: Mythbusters!
Be a part of our non-scary Halloween event! Volunteers are needed to be characters, tour guides, serve refreshments, help with crafts, and light pumpkins along the trail.
Commitment: Creatures of the Night: Friday, October 29 AND Saturday, October 30, 4 – 7 pm
Contact: Meghan Kline, (269) 381-1574 ext. 29 or by email.
Holidays at the Homestead
Join in the holiday spirit by celebrating the old-fashioned way. Volunteers are needed to greet visitors to the historic homestead, assist with wagon rides or crafts.
Commitment: Sunday, December 5 OR Sunday, December 12, 1-4 pm
Contact: Meghan Kline (269) 381-1574 ext. 23 or by email.
Cookie BakersDo you love the smell of gingerbread cookies baking in the oven? Help create the wonders of the holidays for our visiting school children. During November and December, nearly 1,000 children and adults visit the DeLano Homestead to learn about life in the old days. Every child enjoys making and sampling a gingerbread boy or girl cookie. Our old wood stove cannot keep up with the demand so we need help.
We supply the ingredients, the cookie cutters, and the recipe in a traveling bin. You have the fun of rolling out the dough, cutting 100-200 cookies, and bringing back the finished product.
Commitment: One time only, during November and early December
Contact: Sarah Hopkins, (269) 381-1574 ext. 23
Pick up the traveling cookie bin from the Guest Services desk.
Education Assistants at the DeLano Homestead
Do you enjoy sharing history with children? Assist staff members with program activities at the DeLano Homestead. Duties could include helping kids milk a “cow”, cut out cookies, and tend the garden.
Commitment: One half-day per week, if possible
Contact: Sarah Hopkins, (269) 381-1574 ext. 23
Training: Monday, November 1, 10:00 am – 12:00 pm, afterwards stay for Stone Soup lunch with the staff.
Volunteer Stewardship Days at the Kalamazoo Nature Center
What: Adopt a garden or a trail
Work with a group or on your own. We’ll supply the tools, you supply the time. For details and training dates contact Katy Bonjour at (269) 381-1574 ext. 45 or by email.
Summer Opportunities
Commitment: 1-2 hours/ week
Minimum age: 14
Match your gardening interests with one of our special gardens!
Hummingbird/Butterfly Garden:
Adopt one of the 12 different beds in the Hummingbird/Butterfly Garden! Each bed has a different theme. Match your gardening interests with one of the various beds in this wonderful garden.
Exhibit Gardens:
Adopt one of our several Exhibit Gardens planted just around the main building. Choose from the bridge entrance garden, roof garden, fern garden, rain garden, deck plantings, DeLano Homestead herb garden, and Camp garden.
Contact Katy Bonjour, Exhibits Coordinator, at (269) 381-1574 ext. 45 or by email for more details.