Volunteering Opportunities
Interested in Volunteering?
Interested in improving your skills in areas such as research and communications or learning new skills?
Interested in learning more about conservation and hot environmental topics?
We need your help!
Volunteering is a great way to hone skills, get involved in your community, and make a valuable contribution. We welcome you ideas and creativity.
We have a variety of opportunities for volunteers to get involved in our work, which range from a few hours per month to one-time-only events. We can accommodate any kind of schedule. Please browse through the different volunteer tasks below. The links will take you to more detailed descriptions of the volunteer tasks (in Acrobat [PDF] format). If you see something that interests you or you have ideas of your own on how you can help out, please contact us at info@cpawsyukon.org or (867) 393-8080 ext. 1.
Thanks for your interest in volunteering with us! We look forward to getting to know you and working with you on wilderness conservation issues and campaigns.
Research
Conservation Economics Research
This task involves researching background information on conservation economics topics that can then be used by CPAWS campaigners to provide arguments for conservation and protected areas. The work includes researching and summarizing case studies of communities that have prospering conservation-based/sustainable economies, focusing on how they did it and what challenges these communities faced in the process. The work could also focus on resource-dependent communities that have failed and the reasons why they failed. Ideas on other topics along this theme are more than welcome. This work can be carried out from any location and can be flexible to meet your scheduling needs.
Click here to download the complete volunteer job description:
conservation-economics-research.pdf
(Acrobat [PDF] file, ~20K)
Forest Conservation Research
This task involves providing background information, in the form of a research report or case study, on forest conservation topics that can help us in our arguments promoting conservation of forests. Topics range from listing value-added products to describing conservation-minded approaches to forestry to providing examples of co-management in forest operations. This work can be carried out from any location and can be flexible to meet your scheduling needs.
Click here to download the complete volunteer job description:
forest-conservation-research.pdf
(Acrobat [PDF] file, ~20K)
Tribal Park Research
This task involves researching existing tribal parks and compiling a summary document that explains what they are, how they were set up, what challenges they have faced, how local people perceive them, and so on. This research will assist CPAWS staff in presenting First Nation communities with options for protected areas. This work can be carried out from any location and can be flexible to meet your scheduling needs.
Click here to download the complete volunteer job description:
tribal-park-research.pdf
(Acrobat [PDF] file, ~20K)
Whitehorse Conservation Initiative Research
The Whitehorse Conservation Initiative is an initiative to promote environmental stewardship in the Whitehorse area and encourage protection of critical fish and wildlife habitat and natural areas important to residents. Much work has already gone into assessing conservation values of various areas in the Whitehorse vicinity by different organizations and agencies. We need someone to research which areas have been studied in the past and summarize the findings of these past studies. This work will involve accessing Yukon's various public and government department libraries but otherwise can be carried out from any location and can be flexible to fit in with your schedule.
Click here to download the complete volunteer job description:
wci-research.pdf
(Acrobat [PDF] file, ~20K)
Whitehorse Conservation Initiative Case Study Research
The Whitehorse Conservation Initiative is an initiative to promote environmental stewardship in the Whitehorse area and encourage protection of critical fish and wildlife habitat and natural areas important to residents. We need examples of successful municipal wilderness parks in other jurisdictions to help guide us in encouraging the creation of a wilderness park in the vicinity of Whitehorse. This work can be carried out from any location and can be flexible to fit in with your schedule.
Click here to download the complete volunteer job description:
wci-case-study-research.pdf
(Acrobat [PDF] file, ~20K)
Whitehorse Conservation Initiative Funding Research
The Whitehorse Conservation Initiative is an initiative to promote environmental stewardship in the Whitehorse area and encourage protection of critical fish and wildlife habitat and natural areas important to residents. Currently we do not have the staff capacity to pursue this initiative. We have to rely entirely on volunteer work for this project to take place. Even a small amount of funding would help to kick-start the project. We need a volunteer to research different funding sources to support the Whitehorse Conservation Initiative. This work can be carried out from any location and can be flexible to fit within your schedule.
Click here to download the complete volunteer job description:
wci-funding-research.pdf
(Acrobat [PDF] file, ~20K)
Communications
Development of Public Outreach Material
We are frequently asked to set up displays or booths at a variety of events. We would like to have ready-to-go material on a variety of different topics that we could use for these events. We need volunteers to research our list of topics and develop appropriate text as well as ideas on images and illustrations/maps that would be suitable to accompany text. Volunteers can pick one or more topics to focus on, depending on their interests. This work could be carried out from any location, although it would be helpful to review the material that already exists at the CPAWS office.
Click here to download the complete volunteer job description:
public-outreach-material.pdf
(Acrobat [PDF] file, ~30K)
French Translator of Public Outreach Material
We produce a lot of public display material on various environmental topics in English. We have noticed that quite a few Francophones have been attending our public events and we would like to offer some of our material to them in French. We need volunteers with good knowledge of both French and English to translate some of our existing display material to French. This work can be carried out from any location.
Click here to download the complete volunteer job description:
french-translator-outreach.pdf
(Acrobat [PDF] file, ~15K)
Letter Writers
From time to time we need our members to write to politicians and decision-makers to tell them how they feel about a specific environmental issue that CPAWS is involved in. We want to create a “letter writer bank” – a list of volunteers that we can contact when there is a timely need to write letters to politicians on a specific topic. We can provide the background information on the issue and a summary of our main concerns, as well as a sample letter for those who would find that helpful. We will try to give as much advance notice as possible when we need letter writers. We anticipate no more than three letter-writing campaigns per year and you do not have to participate in all.
Click here to download the complete volunteer job description:
letter-writing.pdf
(Acrobat [PDF] file, ~15K)
Letter Writer Coordinator
We need somebody to coordinate our letter-writing campaigns (see Letter Writers task above). You would assist staff in developing background material on the pertinent issues to provide to the letter writers, develop sample letters and contact all other volunteer letter writers.
Click here to download the complete volunteer job description:
letter-writing.pdf
(Acrobat [PDF] file, ~15K)
Newsletter Coordinator
We currently produce a newsletter for our members twice per year. We produce two versions of the newsletter, an electronic one and a hardcopy one. We need a volunteer to take on the production of either one of these versions or both. The electronic newsletter is produced using a template in DreamWeaver. The hardcopy version is created by converting the electronic version to pdf format. CPAWS staff can train volunteers in the use of the software. Staff will provide the articles for the newsletter and the volunteer is required to put it all together. An additional component could be to provide assistance with the mailout of the hardcopy version. This is an ideal task for somebody with interests in graphic design and communications. The e-newsletter software is available at the CPAWS office.
Click here to download the complete volunteer job description:
newsletter-coordinator.pdf
(Acrobat [PDF] file, ~20K)
Administrative
Assistance with Mail-outs
From time to time we mail out material, such as our newsletter, to a large number of people. We need assistance with putting together material for the mail-out, photocopying material, stuffing envelopes, placing address labels and stamps on envelopes and searching phone books and the internet for address information. Mail-outs may happen four or five times per year and we would contact you a few days prior to the mail-out to arrange for a time that is convenient for you. Here is your chance to help out in a relaxed setting where tea and coffee are always available!
Click here to download the complete volunteer job description:
mailout-assistant.pdf
(Acrobat [PDF] file, ~15K)
Events
Postering
From time to time we organize events such as slideshows or speaker series. One of our main ways of advertising our events is through putting up posters around town. We need volunteers to help us put up posters at specific locations prior to events. You will be provided with a route of your choice and will be contacted one or two weeks prior to the event. This is an ideal task for youth, the whole family, or anyone wanting some exercise.
Click here to download the complete volunteer job description:
postering.pdf
(Acrobat [PDF] file, ~17K)
Event Assistance
We generally organize three or four major public events per year. These are large undertakings that rely heavily on volunteers. We need volunteers to help set up chairs, display material, merchandise tables, food and other items the day of the event. If you have the skills we could also use your help in setting up sound systems and multimedia systems. During the event we need volunteers to attend to the donation boxes, greet attendees, and assist with sales. Finally, we need volunteers to help with clean-up after the event. We would contact you as soon as the date of an event is confirmed to find out your availability and what aspects of the event you would be willing to help with. This is an ideal task for youth. The events generally take place in the evening.
Click here to download the complete volunteer job description:
event-assistant.pdf
(Acrobat [PDF] file, ~15K)
Library/Archives
CPAWS Librarian
This position is currently filled.
Click here to download the complete volunteer job description:
cpaws-librarian.pdf
(Acrobat [PDF] file, ~25K)
Newspaper Clippings
We keep track of what is being said in local newspapers with respect to CPAWS and environmental issues by clipping relevant articles. We use these articles to provide our funders with updates on our work and our coverage in the media. We also use them to hold politicians and decision-makers accountable to promises and statements made with respect to the environment. Finally, we use them to maintain a historical record of issues covered in the media regarding Yukon protected areas. We need a volunteer to peruse the Yukon News and Whitehorse Star on a regular basis and clip out relevant articles, then scan them using our scanner so that we have an electronic copy of the articles. This is an ideal task for somebody knowledgeable about environmental and political issues in the Yukon.
Click here to download the complete volunteer job description:
newspaper-clippings.pdf
(Acrobat [PDF] file, ~25K)
Newspaper Clippings Archive
We need a volunteer to help us maintain our existing database of newspaper clippings (see the Newspaper Clippings volunteer task above) so that it is searchable by topic and keywords. The volunteer would be required to input data about each new newspaper article, including keywords. An understanding of the topics that we track is critical and the work will have to be carried out from the CPAWS office. CPAWS staff can train the volunteer in the use of the database.
Click here to download the complete volunteer job description:
newspaper-clippings-archivist.pdf
(Acrobat [PDF] file, ~25K)
Other
Book Sales Coordinator
Over the years we have produced a number of books with a conservation message, ranging from travel guides to coffee-table books. We are looking for a volunteer who can encourage local businesses to sell our books for us. You would contact businesses and venues, provide them with a sample package of our merchandise and make arrangements for these businesses to either purchase some of our books or carry them on consignment. You would then follow up with these businesses on a regular basis to ensure they have a steady supply of our books. We encourage our volunteers to find innovative ways to sell our books.
Click here to download the complete volunteer job description:
book-sales-coordinator.pdf
(Acrobat [PDF] file, ~20K)
Special Skills/Special Interests
Do you have special skills or talents that you think the staff and board at CPAWS could benefit from? We would love to learn and benefit from your expertise. For example, you may be a good presenter and may have some good tips to share with us to make our presentations better. Or perhaps you've got ideas on how to improve our letter writing skills, or making our work more reader-friendly? Maybe you are into the latest technologies and have ideas on how to reach out to a different audience. Perhaps you feel we could benefit from an introduction into the basic principles behind graphic design …
Help us become better communicators, better researchers, better managers, better environmental citizens, better campaigners, better listeners, and so on.
We are open to your suggestions!
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