Volunteers are critical to the success of the Wild & Scenic stewardship efforts for the Westfield River. There are many ways to get involved with varying degrees of commitment.
The following list is a sampling of some volunteer opportunities. If any of these jobs appeals to you, if you'd like more information, or if you just love the river and good fellowship, and you have some time you'd be willing to give, please email us at info@westfieldriverwildscenic.org.
Organize a trail crew in your neighborhood or join a trail crew on the East Branch Trail or Keystone Arch Trail. Trail work days get scheduled a couple of times a year. Crews conduct brush cutting, trail marking and occasionally tackle drainage and other trail-maintenance activities. Trail Stewards also help monitor trails, especially for areas of erosion, trash and blowdowns.
Abilities or skills required: Physically able to hike, lift, carry and other trail maintenance activities.
Special equipment needed: Shovels, picks, crowbars, tree pruners, hard hat, gloves, etc.
Approx. hours of service: 4 hours per trail work day. 1-2 trail workdays scheduled for East Branch Trail and Keystone Arch Bridge Trail each year.
Approx. time of year: Year-round (typically Spring-Fall)
Repair and construct information kiosks around the watershed. Work includes roof repairs, painting, installation of information boards, construction of new kiosks and map boxes.
Abilities or skills required: Carpentry
Special equipment needed: Hammers, saw, paint brushes, etc. (some materials provided)
Approx. hours of service: 4-6 hours per kiosk
Approx. time of year: Spring-Fall
Do you have digital expertise? Help keep our website up to date!
Conduct native species inventories at several project locations along the Westfield River to generate planting lists for on-going projects. These lists will be used to ensure plantings will replicate and enhance native habitat along the river corridor. Volunteer(s) would visit 1-2 site locations and generate a list of native species found at each location.
Abilities or skills required: Native plant identification
Special equipment needed: Plant field ID books and apps
Approx. hours of service: 2-3 hours per site, 1-2 hours to submit data
Approx. time of year: Spring-Fall
Help plant and restore riverbanks in conjunction with on-going projects. Volunteers may assist in setting up erosion control, seeding and planting native shrubs and trees. Following plantings, we often need a local volunteer willing to water and nurture the plants for a period of time until they become established.
Abilities or skills required: Physically able to lift and dig; willingness to get dirty
Special equipment needed: Shovels, buckets, sledge hammer, other gardening tools
Approx. hours of service: 2-4 hours per planting event; 1 hour per week for plant watering (typically over a span of 6-8 weeks)
Approx. time of year: Spring-Fall
Collect images and photographs of key historical, recreational, ecological, geological and scenic resources along the river corridor. Images will be cataloged and used in outreach and educational materials and the website.
Abilities or skills required: Photography, either professionally or as a hobby
Special equipment needed: Camera or cell phone
Approx. hours of service: 2-4 hours per outing, number of outings dependent upon volunteer availability and interest
Approx. time of year: Year-round
Don a pair of gloves and grab a trash bag to collect trash along the river. Join the Annual Source-to-Sea Cleanup in the Fall or adopt a section to keep clean year-round.
Abilities or skills required: Willingness to get dirty
Special equipment needed: Gloves, trash bags, rakes, etc.
Approx. hours of service: 2-4 hours
Approx. time of year: Spring-Fall
If you're willing to help with any of these jobs, please email us at volunteer@westfieldriverwildscenic.org
