Volunteer
Commitment to Conservation
Connect your community to Nature
Volunteers are at the core of our Conservation Education efforts in the Borderplex region. They not only dedicate their time and talent to our mission, but are a bridge for our community to engage in environmental stewardship. Our volunteer program aims to inspire and support individuals with the tools needed to build a conservation conscious community through hands-on experiences, impactful projects, and personal drive.
Why Volunteer?
🌱 Support local environmental education initiatives.
🐾 Gain opportunities to work one-on-one with our animal ambassadors.
👩🌾 Earn volunteer hours through our unique community events.
🤝 Become a part of a greater mission, aimed to inform and connect people to nature.
🐰 Learn about exciting community partnerships and visit local places around the Borderplex all aiming to create a Conservation Community.
Interested Volunteers can contact Mariana Hernandez at mahernandez@conservationep.org or call (915)353-9820
Volunteer Core
We welcome volunteers from all walks of life to join our volunteer core. Being a part of Conservation Community means you are ready to engage, inspire, and make an impact. Our volunteer core is the center of our program, and will include volunteers that are still gaining experience and developing their skills, as well as all of our specialized volunteer roles! Start here, and grow with us!
Adventure Assistants
Facilitate Conservation Guardian Camp sessions, provide critical support to Camp Teachers, provide safe environment and guidance to campers in the classroom and on excursions. Provide support to Program Workshops, including hands on activities with youth, engaging education activities, and create a conservation education foundation for our community programs.
Husbandry Heroes
Provide important animal care to our ambassador and community partner animals. This includes aiding in animal training sessions, creating and setting out healthy enrichment, managing clean enclosures, and assisting with necessary medical upkeep and procedures guided by a health professional or animal care specialist. This role provides hands on experience with animal husbandry practices imperative to becoming an animal care professional.
Nature Nurture Naturalists
Create an engaging learning space alongside Education Staff to provide biofacts at community outreach events, learn how to present and engage classrooms, businesses, conventions, and guests with conservation information in an accessible way. Hands-on experience with ambassador animals, handling them in a manner that both inspires community members and informs them of the roles these creatures play.
Special Events
Primarily community members that are invited to join our Conservation Community for the first time, or that have limited commitment compared to our long term volunteers. These will be community members that are invited to engage in projects on location for volunteer days, staff events where long term volunteers need aid, engage in guest experience events, provide support to fundraising events, and manage on-site clean up and recycling after events.
Community Connections
Corporate teams, school groups, and community organizations are invited to join us in creating a project perfect for their skills. Our team will connect you with opportunities for your group to give back, and make an impact. These project based volunteer days will be on location at one of our community partner sites, and will directly address a need that can only be met by large, energetic, and motivated groups! Connect with us and reach out to us at mahernandez@conservationep.org or (915)353-9820 to inquire about one of our amazing volunteer days!
How to become a Volunteer
Inquiry
Reach out to our Volunteer Department Staff and express your interest. Let us know how you found out about us! You can call us at (915) 353-9820, email mahernandez@conservationep.org.
Interviews
Once we contact you after your inquiry, we will set up an interview time so that we can speak with you about your interest and assess what roles fit you best! This phase requires a complete application, vaccination records, a background check, and either an in-person or facetime interview. Once all the documents are turned in and your interview is complete we will contact you for the next phase.
Placement
Once we’ve assessed your strengths and find a perfect role for you we will notify you about your placement! This phase encompasses your onboarding to our volunteer team where we will provide you with information about your role placement and give you details as to what the role responsibilities entail, as well as work with you on your schedule to determine what days you can volunteer.
Orientation and Training
Once you’ve received your placement we will hold an orientation for you to make sure you’re fully prepared for your new volunteer role! If you are placed in a role with education, animal care, or animal handling we will provide additional training to make sure you have all the tools you need for these engaging volunteer positions! You may start as a probationary volunteer before being transitioned to an ongoing role.
Volunteer Perks
Volunteers are at the heart of everything we do.
We welcome passionate individuals from all backgrounds to become part of our Conservation Community—a vibrant network where your time, talent, and dedication are truly valued. As a volunteer, you’ll gain meaningful experiences, make lasting connections, and enjoy a variety of exclusive benefits, including:
- Service Learning Hours for students and community members
- Hands-on educational experiences ideal for aspiring youth educators and animal care professionals
- A dynamic volunteer network filled with passionate, like-minded individuals
- “Wild Spaces, Local Places” meetups—explore nature, build community, and learn together
- Annual Volunteer Luncheon & Recognition Awards to celebrate your contributions
- Opportunities to assist animal care specialists and gain real-world experience
- Professional referrals—we’re proud to recommend our volunteers for schools, jobs, or internships
- Networking with local conservation leaders and experts
- Valuable experience to enhance your résumé and demonstrate your commitment to community and sustainability