Volunteer

Education Program

Assist local students in learning about the natural environment. In the fall, you’ll work with elementary school students at the Evans-Mumbower Mill as they learn about simple machines and the history of water-powered mills. In the spring, you’ll assist high school students at the Wissahickon Creek as they learn about water quality. As a volunteer, you will help lead students in lessons. Previous teaching experience is a plus but not required—we provide training, and assistance in obtaining clearances for working with kids.

Committment

Sessions take place during the school day and are concentrated within a few weeks in the spring and fall. Typically, three hour sessions are held both in the morning and afternoon. Please note that a state background check and child abuse history clearances are required to volunteer in these programs.

Evans-Mumbower Mill

Share your passion for history and education at the Evans-Mumbower Mill. Open House volunteers operate the mill eight times a year for the public to enjoy. Maintenance volunteers help preserve the mill through maintenance jobs, improvement projects, and carpentry in the historic structure.

Commitment

4 hours a month (generally third Sunday, April through December). If interested, you can also help with school group visits during the fall.

Outreach Ambassadors

Help us represent Wissahickon Trails in the community! As an outreach ambassador, you will share your knowledge of the watershed with neighbors, community members, and corporate sponsors by tabling at local events, such as Pike Fest and Temple University’s EarthFest. You’ll offer handouts and event information, and get neighbors excited about volunteering with and donating to Wissahickon Trails.

Commitment

2 events a year for 3-4 hours each.

Community Science and Creek Watch

Become a Community Scientist and help Wissahickon Trails monitor our local environment. Volunteers help us study frogs, salamanders, monarch butterflies, vernal pools, and other features of our preserves. Creek Watchers assist us by monitoring an assigned section of the Wissahickon Creek on a monthly basis. These are great opportunities for students and families. When you apply, please list in the comment section the project(s) you are interested in. Click here for a list of projects.

Commitment

Varies depending on the project.

Conservation Volunteering

Trail Stewards

Trail Stewards monitor and care for an assigned section of the Green Ribbon Trail, or a trail network within one assigned preserve. As a steward you will monitor your section of the Green Ribbon or your preserve each month, removing trash and debris, cutting back vegetation growing into the trail, and reporting larger issues (such as fallen trees) to our team.

Commitment

Check/trim assigned section of trail or preserve at least monthly & after significant weather events to check for issues. During the growing season (roughly May-September) bi-weekly trimming is most helpful, but frequency largely depends on the volunteer's schedule.

Conservation Crew

Conservation Crew members assist with specific trail projects, such as structural repair and construction of boardwalks and bridges and drainage improvement projects, as well as stewardship, including invasive removal and plant restoration. These projects are labor intensive and may require hands-on skills, as well as the ability to carry tools and materials across moderate terrain and work for several hours at a time.

Commitment

Attend public service days and assist in restoration and trail projects when able. This work primarily happens on weekdays and is always subject to weather, so often requires flexibility.

Corporate Service Projects

Companies that make a donation to Wissahickon Trails can qualify for a corporate work day. Service projects are seasonal and can vary in size and scope but usually include outdoor work supporting our land or community science initiatives. We will work with you to accommodate your team's interests, size, and schedule. Corporate sponsors receive priority for service days. Check if your company has a matching gift program for volunteer hours.

Corporate sponsors receive priority for service days as part of the Wissahickon Trails sponsorship benefit package. To become a sponsor, click here.

Contact Alex McWhorter at alex@wissahickontrails.org or 215-646-8866 for more information.

Have further questions?

Contact Alex McWhorter, Volunteer Coordinator

Email