Hotline: (707) 526-WILD(9453) ~ Bussiness Office: (707) 992-0274 ~ Exclusion Service/Fax: (707) 992-0276
Location: 403 Mecham Rd, Petaluma Ca 94952
Mailing Address: PO Box 448, Cotati Ca 94931
Junior Volunteer Program
Please read below about our Junior Volunteer Program and the volunteer process.
We are always looking for new committed junior volunteers!
Volunteer Opportunities
Sonoma County Wildlife Rescue has many volunteer opportunities, please check them out below or call our office for more information, 707-992-0274.
- New Volunteer Process
- Volunteer Orientation and IWR class
- Junior Volunteer Programs
- School Service Hours
- Commitment is Number One
New Volunteer Process
Because this is a very specialized volunteer commitment, all new volunteers must take part the Volunteer Orientation and the Introduction to Wildlife Rehabilitation class provided by SCWR every three months. These classes allow us to explain the commitment requirements and the training process for new volunteers. It gives you a chance to consider if Sonoma County Wildlife Rescue is the right organization for you and for you to decide if you would like to become a commited volunteer and attend the many other trainings we provide. Depending on your level of commitment, there is specific training required and we are looking for long term volunteers willing to undergo all the necessary training. To make an appointment to begin volunteering, please call our office at 707-992-0274.
Volunteer Orientation and IWR Class
The Volunteer Orientation and the Introduction to Wildlife Rehabilitation class run every three months on the second and third Saturday of the month.
Months offered: January, April, July and October
Volunteer Orientations are always the second Saturday of the month
IWR class is always the third Saturday of the month
*Please note, you do not need to take the orientation or the IWR class to volunteer, but you must take both the orientation and the Introduction to Wildlife Rehab before you handle any wildlife. If you do not take the classes, you will not be permitted to perform any wildlife care.
Thank you for your interest in Sonoma County Wildlife Rescue’s Junior Volunteer Program. This program is designed as an education experience for children and their parents to learn more about wildlife and the environment .We offer many opportunities for families to share in this experience. The junior volunteer program of age 13 and above to work around wildlife.
Foster Care: Children and their parents work together to care for selected species by feeding and learning about their wild diets, preparing a natural habitat for their enclosures, maintaining safety and sanitation, and keeping charts of the animals progress in a foster care setting.
Community Events: Several times a year SCWR participates in fairs throughout Sonoma County. This is an excellent opportunity for Junior Volunteers to get involved in the community by helping at our education booths passing out fliers, signing up new volunteers and school presentations, and talking to the public about what we do.
Education Team: Junior Volunteers play an important role as part of our Education Team. Children learn from children. Our Junior Volunteers help to educate their peers in the classroom where we offer a slide show and hands on experience to explore our Sonoma County Wildlife Exhibit, bones, skulls and furs.
Wildlife Community: Junior Volunteers help feed and create a natural environment for the wildlife that temporarily stay in the Wildlife Community during their rehabilitation process. They learn through books and from our volunteers where particular species live in the environment and then try to duplicate that so the animals are more comfortable and less stressed. Junior Volunteers also work with our residents in the Education Exhibit area. This gives them a chance to help the animals in the Wildlife Community, while learning more about the wildlife in Sonoma County.
Enrichment Program: You will learn how to provide stimulating activities for wildlife in their enclosures. This helps get wildlife better prepared for return to the wild, or keeps the permanent residents happy and healthy.
Other: Junior Volunteers also help with some administrative duties such as mail outs, and computer activities, spring-cleaning parties, The Human Race, and artwork for the organization’s marketing department.
Membership Information: Families that choose to participate in our Junior Volunteer Program are required to sign up for a membership. Our membership dues are $50.00 per year. This is used to help pay for administrative costs and operating expenses of the Junior Volunteer Program. Your membership will include a membership card to Sonoma County Wildlife Rescue and our quarterly newsletters when available.
General Policies
1. Children must be 13 years of age and older to participate in this program. There is a certain level of responsibility and developmental readiness that is required for most of the activities that are offered.2. If you are doing foster care of wildlife, parents are ultimately responsible for the health, safety, care and well being of the animal. You must also check in on a weekly basis with our animal care director.3. Because of the advanced training required to work with rehabilitating wildlife, there will be no hands on contact with wildlife at the Center. Children and parents are expected to do all of the required training together. This includes the Volunteer Orientation, Introduction to Wildlife Rehabilitation, and the Education Training. Some classes may not apply, depending on the activities you choose to participate in.5. There will be no rescues of wildlife permitted for Junior Volunteers. This is a liability issue and is strictly enforced. Your interest in our Junior Volunteer Program is greatly appreciated. This can be a very rewarding experience for your family working and learning together for the well being of wildlife and its environment.
School Service Hours
Many schools around the community require their students to fullfill volunteer hours. Sonoma County Wildlife Rescue allows students 13 years and up to complete their hours at the center.
Students who choose to do their hours at SCWR will perform tasks such as laundry, watering, pulling weeds, stocking wood and other facility maintenance projects. The students will not work directly with the wildlife, but will be able to work around the animals on site.
They are not required to take the Volunteer Orientation, but can if they desire.
Please call for more information and to schedule a time for your first visit. 707-992-0274
Commitment is Number One
S.C.W.R. has many different programs for volunteers to choose from, where they can contribute their time, talent and experience. We require a minimum of 8 hours a month of commitment from our volunteers. We are very flexible and accommodating to our volunteer’s schedules, and can work with you to find a place in the organization that is appropriate and convenient for you.The main requirement for a S.C.W.R. volunteer is to follow through with your commitment to the organization. The animals and people in our organization, are dependent upon volunteers scheduled for their agreed upon commitments. Again, we require 8 hours a month minimum unless you have made prior arrangements with the staff. We look forward to meeting you at a volunteer orientation and hopefully working with you in the future! Please call us at 707-992-0274 should you have further questions or would like to schedule a time to start volunteering.
Hotline: (707) 526-WILD(9453) ~ Bussiness Office: (707) 992-0274 ~ Exclusion Service/Fax: (707) 992-0276
Location: 403 Mecham Rd, Petaluma Ca 94952
Mailing Address: PO Box 448, Cotati Ca 94931
