Volunteering at Stratford Ecological Center
We invite you to share yourself with children, plants, animals and us. Community service can also be completed here, upon the discretion and work availability of the staff and Center.
Current Opportunities
Catch the latest opportunities as they arise by signing up for Vol Call. Email or call 740-363-2548 and leave a message for Jane, the Volunteer Coordinator, along with the best way to contact you (email or by phone).
The latest opportunities include, but are not limited to the following:
Farm and Nature Guide Training Coming Up Soon!
It is more important now than ever that our children learn about their food sources and how to respect nature. Come be a part of teaching kids about nature and at the same time become an intricate part of the farm. Join us for two mornings of training as we take new volunteers through the steps of becoming a Stratford Farm and Nature Guide!
Part 1 - Wednesday, September 3rd (9am-1pm)
Part 2 - Wednesday, September 10th (9am-1pm)
Stratford's main goal is educating others about their relationships with other living things and their environment. By doing so, we hope to foster a community in Delaware dedicated to respecting the land and all life that depends on it. One of the volunteer opportunities that speak to this mission is being a Farm & Nature Guide. We are always looking for dedicated volunteers to become Farm & Nature Guides to lead small groups of children on adventures around the farm and nature preserve. You don't need to have experience. We'll train you on the animals, in the garden, and in the forest, letting you know how we gently teach the school kids about the amazing processes going on around us. All you need is a love of the land and a desire to share that love with children. Register
Harvest Fair Helpers Needed
We are now recruiting volunteers for Stratford's annual Harvest Fair on Sat., Sept. 20; we're in need of help from 8:00am-6:00pm. This is Stratford’s biggest event of the year and we're putting out the call to all Stratford Volunteers - we need your help! Some of the opportunities include info table, bake sale, food booth, parking & admissions, barn supervisors, Kid's World, games, crafts, wagon tour guides, face painting, cidering, photographer, set up and clean up, and certainly several other things we've yet to think of. Please let us know as soon as you can if you can help.
If you aren’t available the day of the fair, we could use your help preparing for the event the week of September 15th.
Volunteer Opportunities Available in September
As always, there are a plethora of ways you can be involved in helping out at Stratford. Below are a few examples:
Farmer's Helper - Being a farmer's helper may include preparing and maintaining the fields, animal chores, carpentry, fence building, and other farm maintenance and upkeep.
Garden & Greenhouse Gurus - Come help us water, weed and harvest produce for the food bank.
Landscape Upkeep - We are always in need of folks to help care for our gardens and landscape.
Saturday Receptionist - Come spend a Saturday morning at Stratford. This volunteer answers the phone, takes message, greets and directs visitors to activities, trails, u-pick areas and sells farm products. They may also water plants and do light office cleaning.
Volunteer Today!
Sign up today to volunteer at the Stratford Ecological Center by talking with Jane Walsh, our Volunteer Coordinator. You can reach her by phone at (740) 363-2548, email or by simply stopping in during the week's normal business hours (you may want to call first). Let her know your volunteer interests, contact information, availability and whatever questions you have for her. Depending on your interest, you can volunteer seasonally, a few times a month or on a weekly basis. Active volunteers receive a 10% discount from Stratford's products.
Learn as you teach. Relax as you hoe. Meditate as you milk. Enlighten and immerse yourself.
Experience a new beginning. Love, laugh, play as you breathe, dream, create.