Volunteer With Natural Resources
Our Volunteer Program
Our Forest Preserve District’s volunteer program is designed to engage volunteers who are willing to donate their time, talents, and resources to support staff and programs in carrying out the mission, purpose, and guiding principles. The volunteer program offers opportunities to assist and support staff across many diverse programs.
For more information about our volunteer programs, contact Volunteer Services at 630-933-7233 or volunteer@dupageforest.org.
Volunteer With Natural Resources
Natural Resources volunteers assist staff to restore natural diversity to DuPage forest preserves. Some volunteers may monitor bird, amphibian, reptile, and insect populations in the preserves. Other volunteers may collect and redistribute seeds or remove invasive species to re-establish native prairies and woodlands during restoration workdays.
Volunteer Positions: Habitat Restoration
Commitment: Seasonal/flexible
Location: Native Plant Nursery at Blackwell Forest Preserve in West Chicago
Minimum Age: 18 or 12 – 17 with an adult
Application Deadline: None
Distinguishing Features of the Position:
Help staff care for and maintain the native plants grown at the Native Plant Nursery. With training and direction from staff or the nursery lead, volunteers may weed or water plant beds, install plugs, collect and clean seed, and maintain walkways. A list of current volunteer workdays can be found on our calendar.
The amount and type of work in the nursery varies from day to day and year to year, depending on weather conditions. The two busiest times are late spring/early summer, when weeding and planting take place, and late summer/early fall, when native plant seeds ripen and must be collected. Duties may vary at the discretion of District staff.
Commitment: Seasonal/flexible
Location: Native Plant Nursery at Blackwell Forest Preserve in West Chicago
Minimum Age: 18
Application Deadline: None
Distinguishing Features of the Position:
Help staff care for and maintain the Native Plant Nursery. With training and direction from staff, volunteers will supervise and utilize volunteers to weed or water plant beds, install plugs, monitor and inventory plants, collect and clean seed, and maintain walkways. A list of current volunteer workdays can be found on our calendar.
Commitment: Seasonal/flexible
Location: Districtwide
Minimum Age: 18 or 8 –17 with an adult
Application Deadline: None
Distinguishing Features of the Position:
Help staff accomplish restoration goals for an ecologically valuable natural area. From late fall to early spring, volunteers remove invasive species or plant native seed to increase diversity in degraded areas or where invasive plants have been removed. In spring, summer, and fall, volunteers collect seed from native plants.
Workdays are held year-round and are supervised by a volunteer steward and/or District employee. Workdays typically last two to three hours, depending on the day’s task(s), and begin with an education/training session. Duties may vary at the discretion of District staff. A list of current volunteer workdays can be found on our calendar.
For information, call 630-876-5929.
Restoration Workday Volunteer
Commitment: Monthly/flexible (40 or more hours/year)
Location: Districtwide at an assigned forest preserve
Minimum Age: 21
Application Deadline: None
Distinguishing Features of the Position:
Help staff accomplish the restoration goals for an ecologically valuable natural area. With training and direction from staff, stewards carry out management activities, which may include brush clearing, installing plants, seed collecting and sowing, and controlling invasive species. Stewards may assist staff in monitoring specific flora, wildlife, natural communities and water bodies.
Stewards coordinate volunteer activities at the site and schedule restoration workdays with the stewardship program coordinator. Stewards are encouraged to contribute to the management plan for their stewardship site and share ideas and solutions to site problems with District staff and other stewards. Stewards collaborate with a co-steward where applicable. Duties may vary at the discretion of District staff.
Commitment: Monthly/flexible (40 or more hours/year)
Location: Districtwide at an assigned forest preserve
Minimum Age: 21
Application Deadline: None
Distinguishing Features of the Position:
Help staff accomplish the restoration goals for an ecologically valuable natural area. With supervision and mentorship from a volunteer steward, co-stewards are responsible for some of the site’s volunteer natural resource management, which may include supervising restoration volunteer work at the site, seed collecting, education and outreach, invasive species control, recordkeeping, etc.
Co-stewards are encouraged to contribute to the management plan for their stewardship site and share ideas and solutions to site problems with District staff and other stewards. Duties may vary at the discretion of District staff.
Commitment: Seasonal (April – Oct., over 6 hours/month)
Location: Danada Forest Preserve in Wheaton
Minimum Age: 18
Application Deadline: None
Distinguishing Features of the Position:
Assist staff with the care and maintenance of the plant gardens near the Danada House. Weed or water plant beds, install plugs, keep records, and do general upkeep. Volunteer will use hand tools (spades, trowels, wheelbarrows, etc.) in the work. This position may also require driving a motorized utility task vehicle, like a Kubota.
District staff will help train volunteers and answer questions. The volunteer will sometimes interact with the public and respond to questions and requests for information. The volunteer will work Monday – Friday from 7 a.m. – 3 p.m. during normal garden staff working hours. After an initial training period, the work schedule can be flexible and could include evening or occasional weekend hours, if desired.
Commitment: Monthly/participate as schedule allows
Location: Districtwide at an assigned forest preserve
Minimum Age: 21
Application Deadline: None
Distinguishing Features of the Position:
Help staff accomplish the restoration goals for an ecologically valuable natural area. After passing the exam(s) and receiving a pesticide operator or applicator license from the Illinois Department of Agriculture, volunteer will be certified to apply herbicides to control various invasive species at preserves throughout the District, with training and direction from staff. Volunteers are responsible for recording and turning in data in a timely manner and recording volunteer hours.
Volunteer Positions: Species Monitors
Commitment: Seasonal/flexible
Location: Assigned
Minimum Age: 18
Application Deadline: Feb. 1
Distinguishing Features of the Position:
Help staff study frogs and toads by listening for calls off-trail in the preserves in the evening. With training and direction from staff, monitors will learn how to identify different calls and record and submit their findings. Monitors may be partnered with one or two other volunteers. The volunteer will sometimes interact with the public and respond to questions and requests for information. Direction and training is received from staff.
Commitment: Seasonal/flexible
Location: Assigned
Minimum Age: 18
Application Deadline: March 1
Distinguishing Features of the Position:
Help study bird populations by listening for and observing birds off-trail in the preserves during early morning. With training and direction from staff, monitors will learn how to identify different calls and record and submit their findings. Monitors will turn in data in a timely manner and record volunteer hours. Duties may vary at the discretion of District staff. The volunteer may sometimes interact with the public and respond to questions and requests for information.
Commitment: Seasonal/flexible
Location: Assigned
Minimum Age: 18
Application Deadline: Feb. 1
Distinguishing Features of the Position:
Help staff study bluebird populations by listening for and observing bluebirds in the preserves in the early morning. With direction from staff, monitors will learn how to record and submit their findings. Monitors will turn in data in a timely manner and record volunteer hours. Duties may vary at the discretion of District staff. The volunteer will sometimes interact with the public and respond to questions and requests for information.
Commitment: Seasonal/flexible
Location: Assigned
Minimum Age: 18
Application Deadline: March 1
Distinguishing Features of the Position:
Help staff study butterfly populations off-trail in the preserves. With training and direction from staff, monitors will learn how to identify butterflies and record and submit their findings. Monitors will turn in data in a timely manner and record volunteer hours. Duties may vary at the discretion of District staff. The volunteer may sometimes interact with the public and respond to questions and requests for information.
Commitment: Seasonal/flexible
Location: Assigned
Minimum Age: 18
Application Deadline: March 1
Distinguishing Features of the Position:
Help staff study dragonfly and damselfly populations off-trail in the preserves. With training and direction from staff, monitors will learn how to identify dragonflies and damselflies and record and submit their findings. Monitors will turn in data in a timely manner and record volunteer hours. Duties may vary at the discretion of the District staff. The volunteer may sometimes interact with the public and respond to questions and requests for information.
Commitment: Seasonal/flexible
Location: Assigned
Minimum Age: 18
Application Deadline: March 1
Distinguishing Features of the Position:
Help staff study fungus populations off-trail in the preserves. With training and direction from staff, monitors will learn how to identify fungi and record and submit their findings. Monitors will turn in data in a timely manner and record volunteer hours. Duties may vary at the discretion of District staff. The volunteer may sometimes interact with the public and respond to questions and requests for information.
Commitment: Seasonal/flexible
Location: Assigned
Minimum Age: 18
Application Deadline: March 1
Requirement: Applicant must contact stewardship program coordinator to discuss position availability and assignment before completing training.
Distinguishing Features of the Position:
Help staff study rare plant populations off-trail in the preserves. With training and direction from staff, monitors will learn how to record and submit their findings. Monitors will turn in data in a timely manner and record volunteer hours. Duties may vary at the discretion of District staff. The volunteer may sometimes interact with the public and respond to questions and requests for information.
