Volunteer Opportunities
for Master Naturalists in New York
Some of the opportunities provided on this page may not qualify 100% for credit for Master Naturalist certification, but they are all sure to be interesting and informative! Please contact Kristi Sullivan at kls20@cornell.edu prior to attending one of these events for credit pre-approval if you would like to apply your effort towards certification.
Featured Opportunity:
EC is looking for a few more volunteers to conduct driving acoustical surveys for bats this summer. It's a fun activity and a worthwhile cause. They need volunteers for Elmira, Utica, and a few routes in far western NY. If you live in any of these areas and are interested, please contact Kathleen O'Connor (information below).
Here is a bit about the surveys…..
The plan calls for attaching bat detector equipment to the roof of a car and driving pre-planned routes, recording the bat calls we encounter. Each car requires two people, a driver and a navigator/equipment operator. Use of the equipment requires some basic knowledge of Windows-based computers: following software installation instructions, saving and copying files, etc. The equipment itself is pretty easy to operate and we can teach willing participants all of the details. We supply all of the specialized equipment and software, of course, but we are hoping that most of the volunteer teams already have access to a laptop computer that can be used.
This year's sampling period starts on May 25 and runs through July 8. The plan is mostly the same as last year in that we are going to try to cover each of the routes twice, on different nights. Note that this does not mean that YOU have to do the survey twice. If that's more than you are willing to commit to, just let me know. I'm sure we can find someone else who can assist.
Opportunities throughout New York State
Cornell's Arnot Teaching and Research Forest (Van Etten, NY)
Invasive species control
Wildflower area restoration – invasive/vegetation management
Wildflower inventory
Conduct amphibian survey
Monitor for Hemlock Woolly Adelgid
Collect harvest data at the deer check station
Contact: Kristi Sullivan, Cornell Dept. of Natural Resources kls20@cornell.edu
Cornell Department of Natural Resources
Participate in Citizen Science Efforts – Project Budbreak
Cornell Department of Entomology
Monitor invasive crane flies Contact: Matthew Petersen - mjp266@cornell.edu OR Daniel Peck - dp25@cornell.edu
Finger Lakes Land Trust
News, events, and volunteer opportunities at the Finger Lakes Land Trust
Cornell Natural Areas
Hydrilla Info, ID, Monitoring Events FREE for the Public
Please sign up to attend the May 3, 6 and 9 workshops/trainings!
Thursday May 3, 9 am – noon: Free public information workshop, Ithaca: Thursday May 3, 9 am – noon. Merrill Family Sailing Center, 1000 East Shore Drive. Same presentation as May 6: How to identify hydrilla, eradication planning information, and how you can help by monitoring and reporting.
Sunday May 6, 3-6 pm: Free public information workshop, Ithaca: Sunday May 6, 3-6 pm. Merrill Family Sailing Center, 1000 East Shore Drive. Same presentation as May 3: How to identify hydrilla, eradication planning information, and how you can help by monitoring and reporting. This FREE training with Scott Kishbaugh, NYSDEC Division of Water, Roxy Johnston and Bob Johnson, is open to the public, all Lake Association members, boaters, fishermen and others who are interested in helping to monitor for this highly invasive plant recently found in the Cayuga Inlet. Participants will be encouraged to monitor for/report on hydrilla off docks and beaches, or as hydrilla survey team members aboard the Floating Classroom's MV Haendel in mid-late June and beyond. High school and older. For more information/to sign up, contact Hilary Lambert, steward@cayugalake.org (607) 319-0475. Sponsored by: Cayuga Lake Watershed Network and the Cayuga Inlet Hydrilla Task Force which includes CCE-Tompkins.
Wednesday May 9, 1 – 4 pm: Free iMAP workshop, Ithaca: Learn how to enter invasive species locations into an online statewide map database. Help track the Hydrilla Godzilla! Free of charge, seating very limited. This training is geared towards those actively participating in ID'ing or tracking hydrilla and other invasive species. Register in advance only: www.imapinvasives.org/nytraining and click on the "Hydrilla Hunters iMAP Training" link. This session will be held at the Ithaca Computer Room, 5th floor Tioga Place Building, Ithaca Commons, 118 N. Tioga St. (Bank Alley). Co-sponsors: New York Natural Heritage Program, City of Ithaca and the Cayuga Lake Watershed Network.
Volunteers sought for Ithaca Farmers Market tabling this summer: Seeking volunteers to sign up for 2 hour shifts at the hydrilla information table from April - October, on Saturdays and Sundays, 10 am – 3pm. Contact steward@cayugalake.org (607) 319-0475 to sign up. One hour advance training required; high school and older.
Hydrilla Information Sources
Learn more at the web pages provided by Tompkins County Cornell Cooperative Extension, sign up for regular email updates, and attend upcoming events.
New York State Dept. of Environmental Conservation
Other volunteer opportunities with the NYSDEC
Frogwatch USA
FrogWatch USA is AZA's(Association of Zoos and Aquariums) flagship citizen science program that allows individuals and families to learn about the wetlands in their communities and help conserve amphibians by reporting the calls of local frogs and toads. For over ten years, volunteers have been trained to enter their FrogWatch USA information and ongoing analyses of these data have been used to help develop practical strategies for the conservation of these important species.
County Extension Offices
Broome County
Volunteer at local nature center and land trust
Contact: Kevin Mathers - kjm8@cornell.edu or visit Cornell Cooperative Extension of Broome CountyCayuga County
Answer calls from hotline about trees, birds, etc.
Outreach programs in the community
Chenango County
Help deliver outreach classes
4H and after school outreach
Set up local demonstration and research projects
Volunteer at Rogers Environmental Center
Conduct summer camp programs
Contact: Rebecca Hargrave at jrh45@cornell.edu or visit Cornell Cooperative Extension of Chenango County
Greene County
Riparian forest and street tree inventories of ash trees growing in the areas where Emerald Ash Borer has been discovered
Bird and amphibian monitoring
Damselfly/dragonfly inventory
Install Best Management Practices at Siuslaw Model Forest
Contact: Marilyn Wyman, at mfw10@cornell.edu or visit Cornell Cooperative Extension of Greene and Columbia CountiesOneida County
Wildlife Habitat Showcase Project: A group of Master Gardeners at CCE of Oneida County have been in the planning stages of developing a Wildlife Habitat Showcase for local schools and the community. The goal of the project is to develop a Wildlife Habitat area that can be duplicated or to develop a similar area in their schoolyards. The concept comes on the heels of the importance of and the need for bringing the classroom outdoors. The research is very prevalent on the impact of educating our students with outdoor and hands on activities.The Wildlife Habitat Showcase will feature a small area that will incorporate the existing lands with highlighting the ability to providing food, water, shelter and a place to raise young. The area will also incorporate pathways allowing accessibility for wheelchairs and a location for class presentations. The need of volunteers is great to lay pathways, plant a few small native trees, and participate in program presentations. Contact: Bonnie Collins (315) 736-3394 x104. Bonnie is a Master Gardener and employee of Cornell Cooperative Extension of Oneida County as a Farm Business Community Educator.
Schuyler County
Documenting special designation areas for protection
Contact: Brett Chedzoy at bjc226@cornell.edu or visit Cornell Cooperative Extension of Schuyler County
Suffolk County
Invasive species pulls/monitoring
Warren County
Invasive species outreach
Bat monitoring
School programs
Woods walks
Invasive species monitoring
Provide programs at county environmental education center
Contact: Laurel Gailor at lrg6@cornell.edu or visit Cornell Cooperative Extension of Warren County
Wyoming County
Nature center and land trust volunteers
Click here for 2012 Master Naturalist training and workshop opportunities.
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