Volunteering Opportunities

Thank you for your interest in volunteering with us! We are looking forward to getting to know you and working with you on wilderness conservations issues and campaigns. If you are interested in any of the below opportunities, please check the table of current opportunities at the bottom of the page, then fill out an application form available here. Please direct questions to the Outreach Manager at sferguson@cpawscalgary.org or 403-232-6686.

For more info: Specialized Positions Events Special Programs/Projects Other Ways to Help Detailed Table of Current Opportunities

Specialized Positions – These positions require only one or two people and require a regular commitment. These roles are fun, full of variety and are at the heart of the organization. Some examples include Facebook coordinator, Green Notes editors and staff assistants. These are great opportunities if you: have free time Monday to Friday, 9 to 5, or know you can work from home independently; want to improve a wide range of skills or build up your resume; or want to work directly with staff while learning the “behind the scenes” operations of CPAWS.

Events – We have three types of regular events; the Wild Gala, CPAWS Casino, and Outreach Events. New special events may also arise depending on national and local campaign goals. These are great opportunities for those desiring a lower level of commitment. You can sign up for positions as you go, one shift at a time and usually up to a couple of months in advance. Events are always fun and pack a lot of action into a short amount of time.

There are several kinds of positions for the Gala and the Casino for which you are trained at the beginning of your shift. Outreach events require staff for CPAWS booths at community events such as the EcoLiving Fair, Banff Film Festival or Canmore Folk Festival. These events are ideal if you are interested in working with people and engaging the public on conservation issues and CPAWS. If you live outside of Calgary, such as in Banff or Canmore, outreach events are also a great way to volunteer with CPAWS. In addition, CPAWS will soon be offering presentations on wilderness topics and CPAWS for community groups as part of its outreach events.

Special Programs/Projects – These are typically seasonal or temporary opportunities and require a large number of volunteers to complete a particular program or project, described below. These programs exist only because of volunteers; they are completely people-driven. If you want to get your hands dirty (sometimes literally!) and have fun while getting big results, one of these programs may be for you.

• Volunteer Leaders Program – Ten to 15 applicants are selected every spring to participate in this 10-month program. The participants receive extensive training on advocacy, leadership and fundraising. They are guided by the CPAWS Calgary/Banff Executive Director and Outreach Manager to, in groups, develop their own conservation campaigns and eventually, lead other volunteers. For detailed information about the program and application process, please see the Volunteer Leaders page.

• The Big Wild – The Big Wild is a joint program by Mountain Equipment Coop (MEC) and CPAWS to save at least 50% of Canada’s remaining wilderness. It includes the Big Wild Challenge, where volunteers agree to document their wilderness adventures through blogs, pictures, and/or video, while raising money for CPAWS initiatives. If you are interested in getting involved with one of the biggest wilderness movements in Canadian history, this is for you. The program was launched in late March 2008, and volunteer positions are now available in the table below. Go to www.bigwild.ca for more information, too.

• Stewardship – Even protected areas sometimes need a hand! Volunteers can sign up for stewardship events held in the spring, summer and fall months, located in Calgary, Banff National Park, or Kananaskis Country. The tasks given to CPAWS volunteers vary by event and may include garbage pick-ups, weed pulls, and trail maintenance. These are great ways to get outside with friends and family, and have a direct, positive impact on our wilderness areas. Event details are now available in the table below.

• Wilderness Warriors – These volunteers are guided by one or more of our graduated Volunteer Leaders in the execution of one of our wilderness campaigns. Dependent on the nature of the particular campaign, common activities you may be engaged in include collecting letters, writing for local papers, and planning/participating in awareness events. This is an excellent way to get activism and advocacy experience. If you want to be on the front lines of our wilderness campaigns, this program is for you.

Other Ways to Help

Quick Opportunities – These are extra opportunities for current CPAWS volunteers on our email listserv. Some opportunities for volunteers emerge very quickly and may require some level of expertise in a certain field or familiarity with CPAWS. The only way to complete these jobs in time is to contact and recruit current volunteers through email. Some opportunities from the past have included commenting on environmental impact assessments, developing props for education programs and calling monthly donors before the holiday season. Click here for more information on our email listservs.

Got an Idea? – You might have a great idea or talent to contribute CPAWS, like documentary filmmaking skills, graphic design, or know of an issue we should get involved with. CPAWS has limited resources, staff and volunteers; we are looking for well developed ideas and a plan on how you specifically can help, not just complaints! Contact us to discuss the possibilities.

Donate – If you support the volunteer program, but just don’t have the time to get involved right now, you can still help CPAWS by becoming a member.

Details

Please contact the Outreach Manager if you have any questions. If you would like to apply, please go here.