Volunteers Needed: Audubon in the Schools, Binoculars Needed, Booth Staffing Scheduler, and more

Audubon in the Schools

The Audubon in the Schools team has been doing a wonderful job bringing this educational program into our schools. Volunteer instructors have also presented some beginning birding classes for the Outdoor Schools Program. In 2019 the overall number of students who enjoyed these sessions was 1,286! We gave 48 presentations in 23 schools. 

Schools are requesting more AITS classroom visits than ever, so we need more volunteers to help out! If you are interested in helping and being a part of this talented group, please contact Maeve Sowles at audubon@laneaudubon.org.

Binoculars Needed

The AITS team has also led beginning birding sessions for kids at the Outdoor School’s Forest Field Day. They loan them binoculars and use bird silhouettes in trees to practice focusing, then they do a brief walk to look for birds in the forest. The AITS team would like to have more binoculars for the kids, so they can each practice using them.

To donate used, but working, binoculars, please call Maeve Sowles at 541.343.8664 or bring them to an LCAS Program Meeting

AITS Scheduler 

The Audubon in the Schools team would like a volunteer to help with the scheduling of classroom visits. It usually takes 5-6 emails between the teacher and scheduler to schedule an AITS visit. This volunteer needs to be organized and attentive to the teachers’ requests as well as work with the AITS instructors and their schedules. It is a critical piece of keeping this program running and helping everyone succeed in their mission to bring the AITS program into classrooms, where the kids can learn about drawing birds, feathers, and ecosystems!!

FMI: please contact Maeve Sowles at audubon@laneaudubon.org or 541.343.8664 

Bird Display Volunteer

Lane County Audubon Society has a nice collection of encased taxidermied birds, bird nests, feathers, and eggs which are used for educational display at various locations around town (schools, libraries, etc.). If you’re interested in identifying locations and setting up and monitoring the displays, this could be an ideal volunteer position for you. 

Since exhibits are usually scheduled to be on display for a full month or two, this volunteer position doesn’t require a tremendous amount of time. After a display location is identified and dates are set, the volunteer transports the display to the site, and sets it up. Then the volunteer inventories and monitors the exhibit until it is taken down. Only one or two displays are typically up at any one time. 

Some basic organizational skills are useful, as is e-mail access (although this is not required). 

FMI: please contact Ron Renchler at christyandron2@gmail.com or 541.345.0834.

Administrative Assistant

Lane Audubon would like a volunteer who could serve as an Administrative Assistant for Board responsibilities. Requisite skills include the ability to use typical word processing, Excel spreadsheets, and PowerPoint. Since we do not have a physical office, working from home would be required.

FMI: please contact Maeve Sowles at audubon@laneaudubon.org or 541.343.8664

Booth Staffing Scheduler Sought

The booth staffing scheduler position requires only a few hours of time two or three times each year, when booth events are scheduled. Some basic computer and organizational skills, such as sending group e-mail messages and putting together staffing schedules, are needed. The process begins by sending out announcements to an email list of potential volunteers, alerting them to a booth staffing opportunity. After volunteers respond, the scheduler puts together staffing schedules and distributes them to booth staffers. 

Orientation and training will be provided, and the work can be done from your home. It can be rewarding to work behind the scenes to help Lane Audubon spread the word about the importance of birds and their habitats. 

FMI: please contact Ron Renchler at christyandron2@gmail.com or 541.345.0834