Current volunteers
volunteer opportunities
Thank you for your interest in volunteering at Acorn Acres Wildlife Rehabilitation. We are currently in the process of defining our Volunteer Program and will eventually be providing an automated way of applying. For now though, please send us an email (address is below) stating your interest. We look forward to hearing from you.
The requirements of our Animal Care Assistants are as follows:
- Minimum of 25 years of age*
- Minimum of one 4-hour shift per week on the same day each week, minimum of 6 months
- Agree to utilize our electronic calendar for all shifts and events you are volunteering for
- Agree to find replacement volunteer if you are unable to volunteer on predetermined shift
- Agree to communicate (and participate) on our private social media page, which is solely for our volunteers (we utilize Facebook)
We take our work very seriously, but we also enjoy it immensely and we have a lot of fun as a group. We are extremely small and pride ourselves on efficiency. While we certainly understand that “life” continuously interrupts the best laid plans, our volunteers understand that if they suddenly do not show up there are animals that do not get to eat. We do our very best to accommodate last minute schedule changes, well, because life happens. However, we do ask that it is reciprocated.
NEW VOLUNTEERING OPPORTUNITIES
Intake Assistant
Answer phone
Provide general information about AAWR
Advise finder on whether they have a wildlife emergency
Provide options/methods of containing animal
Provide guidance over phone of how to prepare animal for transport
Greet incoming finders and obtain intake information
Obtain animal from finder and place in quarantine room
Accept and track in kind and monetary donations in spreadsheet
Write thank you cards to donors and finders
Help prepare education room for programs/events
Maintain brochures in lobby
Fold tissues
Separate newspapers
Vegetable/Meal Specialists
Prepare/chop/mince/dice/cut food items in preparation for distribution to food bowls
Assemble meals for rehabs and residents
Load and unload the dishwashers
Wash/dry dishes by hand as needed
Maintain orderly prep/kitchen area
Update shopping list
Mop floors in kitchen area
Wipe cabinets/appliances
Inventory Count/Countess
Maintain inventory lists on medications
Maintain inventory lists on rehab supplies
Maintain inventory lists on cleaning supplies
Order items as needed to maintain the build to levels
Accept and put away supply orders
Make and maintain “juice” jugs
Maintain stock of items in each exam room
Folding tissues
Resident Care Specialist
Maintain resident cages (cleaning fleece, wiping cage bars)
Weigh residents on a regular schedule - update animal database
Provide different enrichment items on a rotating schedule
Keep the visual resident charts accurate and sharp in appearance
Know each resident’s story and be prepared to share with the public that may ask.
Maintain water bottles (cleanliness and water levels)
General Maintenance
Assist with overall cleaning of common areas
Mopping/sweeping throughout as needed to help specialists
Assist with overflow of bin cleaning/sanitization
Assist with laundry as needed to help with overflow
Assist with all tasks as it relates to keeping the building operating
Change light bulbs
Wash windows as needed
Assist Inventory Count/Countess with stocking items
Laundry Extraordinaire
Wash/Dry/Fold our animal laundry
Maintain a neat and orderly laundry area
Ensure each exam room is fully stocked with clean linens daily
Ensure residents have clean fleeces on cage cleaning day
Maintain inventory of laundry supplies
Other responsibilities may arise when you discover your extraordinary expertise!
The general responsibilities of Animal Care Assistants at Acorn Acres Wildlife Rehabilitation may include:
- Cleaning indoor and outdoor enclosures, washing dishes or loading/unloading
dishwasher, and laundry
- Ensuring cages and enclosures remain safe for patients and residents
- Preparing daily diets; both solid and formula
- Hand feeding infant and juvenile patients
- Providing enrichment activities to patients and permanent residents
- Assisting with patient intakes and initial assessments
- Preparing activities for our public outreach programs (after the animal care is
completed)
This is not a comprehensive list, but it a great starting point. As you spend more time with us your responsibilities will grow, if you want them too.
* we do offer college internships to individuals that are less than 25 years of age