Volunteering
The Park relies greatly on the general public generously volunteering their time and energy to assist in conservation and environmental tasks so vital to the bio-diversity of the area.
The Rewards
Our volunteers come from hugely diverse backgrounds but all gain the same rewards:
• the thrill of being outdoors in the beautiful landscape of the Park
• the satisfaction of contributing to the maintenance, development and research of a national wilderness
• the aching muscles and glowing cheeks of a job well done.
Regular volunteers can have their contribution recorded and certified for curriculum vitae or reference purposes, as well as being able to exchange their hours of effort for leisure hours at our centres, where kayaking, sailing, orienteering and field craft lessons are available.
Types of Work
Volunteering opportunities exist for individuals and groups.
In addition to outdoor environmental volunteering we also offer volunteering and placements in other areas of Park work, such as education, visitor services and office work.
Please contact us to discuss your requirements.
How to Help
Our Countryside Rangers and the Estate Team have a rolling, year round detailed calendar of tasks, many of which are aided greatly by our volunteers. Tasks are usually seasonal but can include activities as diverse as tree planting, wildlife surveys, outdoor pursuits instruction, path building, invasive species control, catering and drystane wall building. The skills learnt through participation in these projects can be great.
The Volunteer Officer will be delighted to hear from anyone keen to participate in the rolling environmental operation, either individuals or groups. We prefer to manage work teams of up to 12 people per task, but can utilise single volunteers and smaller or larger groups.
Ways to Volunteer:
We can provide a range of conservation and maintenance tasks for individuals, families, groups and organisations as well as residential accommodation for those that need it.
Apart from contacting our Volunteer Officer directly, there are many organisations actively involved in the Park who may suit your individual or group requirements.
Green Gym: A nationwide, privately run volunteer organisation dedicated to the promotion of a healthy active lifestyle, using the great outdoors as a means to improve stamina and strength whilst doing good deeds for your community.
Branching Out: A volunteer opportunity for organisations in the field of mental health working in partnership with the Park, and utilising woodland and countryside settings for environmental and conservation work. Hugely stimulating activities and physically and mentally rewarding.
Duke of Edinburgh Award: All sections of the Bronze, Silver or Gold Award can be accommodated within the Regional Park under the supervision of the Countryside Rangers or the Outdoor Instructors.
Please contact the Volunteer Officer for discussion regarding your specific course requirements.
John Muir Award: Discover, explore, conserve and share. We can help you gain this award.
Work Experience: For school pupils, students or for visitors looking for an overseas placement with us. With job finding becoming more competitive, any extra skills and experiences which add to your CV can only embellish it.
Specific work experience to your career of choice may be available, if not, the very act of volunteering enhances your CV and could help someone notice your application above others. The Park takes our volunteers’ efforts very seriously and will happily provide letters of reference and a record of work undertaken to assist job applications.
Wildlife on Camera Project : This LEADER funded project has opportunities for volunteers to help with wildlife and the recording of wildlife behaviours. Additionally there are year round wildlife surveys, requiring volunteer time, that greatly assist the conservation programme.
Adopt a Beach: We work with the Marine Conservation Society and organise regular beach cleaning parties and monitoring trips at Lunderston Bay.
Contact:
The Volunteer Officer can be contacted by telephone on 01505 842 882 extension 25 or by email, volunteer@clydemuirshiel.co.uk
Look out for our volunteering pack, soon to be available online, which provides greater details of the opportunities.
