Friends of Second Marsh requires volunteers for a wide range of activities and programs that operate throughout the year including assisting with community events, invasive plant monitoring and/or removal, clean-up days, etc.
Volunteering is a great way to:
Learn new skills
Meet new people
Build your resume
Fulfill school or other community service requirements
Give back to your community
Do your part to help the environment
Volunteers may be:
Recognized through our e-newsletter and website
Provided with letters of recommendation for long-term volunteers
Volunteering with FSM
Please read the Volunteer Handout. The purpose of the Volunteer Handout is to introduce you to FSM, explain the benefits of volunteering and to explain what you can expect as a volunteer.
Participation Waiver
Volunteers are required to sign a participation waiver prior to participating in Friends of Second Marsh activities. Please click here to fill out and sign the wavier – https://forms.gle/dzan7AnSBAmYKip86
Interested in Volunteering
Visit our website or follow us on social media for upcoming volunteer events or send us an email to staff@secondmarsh.ca to let us know you would like to volunteer. We will add you to the volunteer mailing list.
FSM has a number of different volunteer opportunities. Join our volunteer distribution list to receive updates on new opportunities as they arise.
Do I have to make a long-term commitment?
Some of our volunteer opportunities are one-day occurrences (like helping out during the annual garbage clean-up or managing invasive species), while others might be for a longer amount of time like sitting on a subcommittee to plan a public event. You can decide what’s right for you.
How do I become a volunteer?
If you’re interested in becoming a volunteer, sign up for our distribution list and we will send you volunteer opportunities as they arise. Then, simply apply for the one that is right for you!
Do I have to provide a police reference check?
Only volunteers who will be working one-on-one with children (e.g. assisting with children’s programs), will be required to provide a police reference check.
Am I guaranteed a volunteer opportunity?
Unfortunately, we cannot guarantee a volunteer role for you, either immediately or in the future. If there’s not a current match for your volunteering skills, opportunities may arise later. FSM also reserves the right not to place a volunteer who is unable to either fulfill the duties required and/or is deemed unsuitable for the specific opportunity, even if there’s not a better candidate available.
Is there any volunteer training?
Regardless of the nature of your volunteer position, a staff member will give you the training you need to succeed in your volunteer placement. The length and depth of the training will depend entirely on what volunteer opportunity you pursue. For example, if you are interested in helping out at an event one day, we may just have you come a little early so that we can explain what your specific job for that day will be.
I don’t see any current volunteer opportunities that I want to do.
No problem! It sometimes takes a while for the right volunteer opportunity to come along. Watch your email for volunteer opportunities and be sure to follow us on Twitter and Facebook (@secondmarsh) for regular updates.
Who can become a volunteer?
We encourage anybody who wants to volunteer with FSM to add their name to the volunteer notice list. We do not discriminate against somebody based on race, religion, sexual orientation, gender or socio-economic status. We strive to support volunteers as best we can, and to place them in roles that match their abilities. It’s up to the volunteers to identify whether they are capable of performing the required tasks.
Can a child, teen and/or student volunteer?
Youth between 14 and 18 years wishing to volunteer will be placed at FSM’s discretion, based on the potential volunteer’s experience, ability, and the specific volunteer opportunity. As a registered charity, FSM is able to sign off on service hours for some roles, but students must provide the necessary paperwork. It may be possible for children under 14 years of age to volunteer alongside a parent or guardian, but this will be made on a case-by-case basis, depending on the nature of the volunteering opportunity.
Can I suggest my own volunteer opportunity?
Absolutely! As a community-focused organization, we definitely like to hear from local residents and users of the Marsh. If you think that there’s something we could be doing – and you can help us to achieve this – we would love to hear from you. Please feel free to suggest possible volunteering opportunities that you could help out with – this is especially good for motivated individuals who like to take the initiative.
