EWRC is an all-volunteer, nonprofit organization. We work regular jobs in addition to caring for animals and operating programs at the Center. Each and every dedicated volunteer makes a big difference at EWRC, whether it’s an hour here and there or entire days spent helping out. EWRC depends on reliable, trustworthy, caring individuals to do the work that benefits the people and the native wildlife of Colorado. EWRC volunteers are also Colorado Division of Wildlife volunteers.
To become an EWRC volunteer you must complete and return the EWRC volunteer application and waiver/release of liability as well as the CDOW application and attachments before beginning volunteering. Volunteers must attend training sessions at EWRC and CDOW. Volunteers must be 18 years of age or older. You may access the CDOW volunteer application at http://wildlife.state.co.us/volunteer. Our projects are preapproved, so please complete the DOW application online and notify us when you have completed DOW and EWRC forms.
Volunteer guidelines:
- Guests and visitors: please do not bring friends/kids/family members when volunteering.
- Professionalism: volunteers represent EWRC and the CDOW. Volunteers are expected to interact with the rehabbers, each other, and the public with professionalism and courtesy at all times.
- Reliability: the animals rely on you and so do we. We are flexible when it comes to scheduling and are happy to accommodate special requests and schedule changes. If you are scheduled for a day/time/project and cannot make it, please let us know at least 24 hours in advance so we can make other arrangements.
- Animal-handling at EWRC. There is very minimal hands-on opportunity at EWRC. The animals that come to EWRC for care are WILD and will be returned to the wild. We strive to maintain a quiet and stress-free environment, and require volunteers to respect the animals by not handling animals unless specifically requested to do so by an EWRC rehabilitator. Minimal handling and exposure to humans is necessary to ensure success upon release back to the wild.
Volunteer Needs At EWRC:
- Feeding/watering/husbandry. This is not busywork! This is vital day-to-day work that must be completed. This work involves cleaning and filling water dishes, sometimes involves food prep, and of course, feeding. Cleaning is not anyone’s favorite chore but this is absolutely a priority and is done before any other chores. We need volunteers who will commit to at least one day (an hour or two) per week to help with this work.
- Cage cleaning. Sometimes this is done on a rotating basis; sometimes it can be several cages a day, depending on circumstances. This work can take anywhere from an hour to four or five hours.
- Transport. Volunteer may be asked to pick up an animal from vet or citizen to bring to EWRC. CDOW transport and raptor handling training required.
- Telephone triage. Volunteer will answer the phone at EWRC and appropriately triage the calls. Sometimes volunteers will retrieve EWRC messages and triage the calls from their own personal phone. This work needs to be done daily, and messages retrieved every hour or so.
- Intake triage. Volunteer will meet and greet visitors bringing wildlife to triage and ensure the intake paperwork is properly completed and documented. Volunteers will be needed when triage clinic is completed.
- Baby bird NICU. Volunteer will feed and change (clean) baby birds as trained to do so. Volunteers needed daily, beginning at 6 a.m. and ending at 8 p.m. Please let me know what days and what hours of the above mentioned times you are available.
- Maintaining/Landscaping the “Friends of Wildlife Garden“. This will be weeding, watering, and maintaining the Friends garden.
- Outreach and education. Volunteer assists with conducting off-site and on-site education programs.
- Fundraising. Volunteer assists with fundraising events such as donation drives, yard sales, bake sales, etc.
- Events. Volunteer sets up and distributes printed information from EWRC table at events such as Earth Day, Springs Spree, County Fair, etc.
- Computer. Volunteer will create educational material for web site.
- Projects. Volunteer assists with cage building and other projects to be announced.
Please Note. The quickest way for me to send out a request for help, usually transport, is by email. It’s been working GREAT for the last year or so. If you’d like to be on this email list, please email me at donnaj@elpasotel.net
Thank you for helping wildlife. Each of us helping when we can makes a HUGE difference to the animals and the people who care about them.
