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Junior Rangers

These Rangers will help the education staff facilitate public and private programming including field trips, weekend public programs, and birthday parties. Please note that most of our public programming occurs on Sunday afternoons. Experienced Jr. Rangers will also be permitted to conduct storytimes and small craft projects if they feel comfortable doing so.

Jr. Rangers will be required to attend an Educational Training Day in April. Staff will always be present and available while these young volunteers are present and they are not to leave the Nature Center alone without permission from a staff member first.

Benefits:

  • Great opportunity for first time volunteers

  • Giving back to the community

  • Volunteer experience with children and members of the public

  • On the fast track for Ranger subcategories as they enter high school

Requirements:

  • Age 12-14

  • Volunteer for a minimum of 2 hours per season (spring, summer, fall) for a minimum total of 6 hours per calendar year.

  • Attend the Educational Training Day in April

Land Rangers

Those with an interest in Environmental Studies and Forestry may find an interest in being a Land Ranger. Land Rangers will help our Land Management Department with trail clean up, minor trail maintenance, and the control of invasive plant species here at Flat Rock Brook.

Land Rangers will be required to attend a Land Training Day in April. They will be trained on the proper identification of invasive species and the proper techniques to remove these plants. After this training date, Land Rangers will be required to take a short quiz on the information they learned to ensure they are prepared to start volunteering in this position.

Benefits:

  • Giving back to the community while working out in nature

  • Learn proper forestry techniques

  • Experience with plant identification

  • Experience working with our Land Management Staff

Requirements:

  • Age 15-17

  • Volunteer for a minimum of 4 hours per season (spring, summer, fall) for a minimum total of 12 hours per calendar year

  • Willing to get dirty

  • Able to bend over and/or kneel on the ground

  • Good balance and able to walk up hill

  • Attend the Land Training Day in April

  • Pass the post training quiz

Ranger Program

New applications will be accepted starting February of 2023.

The Ranger Program is a volunteer opportunity designed for students ages 12-17. These volunteers will have the opportunity to help Flat Rock Brook in a variety of ways depending on their age and particular interests. Those who are ages 12-14 will start as Jr. Rangers. Those who are ages 15-17 will have a few subcategories to choose from in terms of volunteering.

Education Rangers

Those with an interest in Education and Environmental Science may find an interest in being an Education Ranger. Education Rangers will assist our Education Department with teaching programs and conveying educational materials to the public. Please note that a majority of our public programming occurs on Sunday afternoons.

Education Rangers will be required to attend an Education Training Day in April. They will be trained on common programs given to field trips and the weekend public. Education Rangers will also be trained on the use of environmental and animal artifacts as tools for conveying educational material to the public. After the April training date, Education Rangers will be required to take a short quiz on the information they learned to ensure they are prepared to start volunteering in this position.

Benefits:

  • Helping to educate the next generation of naturalists

  • Experience educating children and the public

  • Helping create a welcoming experience for the children that visit Flat Rock

  • Experience working with our Education Staff

Requirements:

  • Age 15-17

  • Volunteer for a minimum of 4 hours per season (spring, summer, fall) for a minimum total of 12 hours per calendar year

  • Attend the Educational Training Day in April

  • Pass the post training quiz

Tech Rangers

Those with an interest in Technology and Communications may find interest in being a Tech Ranger. Tech Rangers will help our organization by updating and organizing our photo library, posting on our social media outlets about upcoming programming, and writing nature blogs for our website.

Tech Rangers will be required to attend an Educational Training Day in April. This is to ensure that these Rangers are understanding of educational material that they may be conveying in their posts. After this training date, Tech Rangers will be required to take a short quiz to ensure they are understanding of our protocols and guidelines regarding posting on social media on behalf of Flat Rock Brook. Any posts/blogs they create must be approved by a staff member before being posted to any social media platforms.

Benefits:

  • Experience in digital file organization

  • Experience with nature photography

  • Experience in digital communication and social media management

  • Practice writing short educational articles

Requirements:

  • Age 15-17

  • Volunteer for a minimum of 4 hours per season (spring, summer, fall) for a minimum total of 12 hours per calendar year

  • Write a minimum of 1 blog post per season for a minimum total of 3 per calendar year

  • Attend the Educational Training Day in April

  • Pass the post training quiz