(WNY News Now) – Jamestown, N.Y. – April is National Volunteer month, dedicated to honoring all of the volunteers in our communities as well as encouraging volunteerism throughout the month.
You are invited to celebrate National Volunteer Month and Earth Day 2024 by joining Audubon Community Nature Center (ACNC) staff and volunteers Saturday morning, April 20, as they work on projects to maintain and improve the Nature Center building and grounds.
“Put simply,” says Audubon Volunteer Coordinator Emily Nelson, “Audubon could not exist without our volunteers. Last year 267 volunteers donated 8,238 hours to the Nature Center buildings, grounds, education, animals, and more. Of those volunteers, 110 were new or came back after years away. Auditors value ACNC’s volunteer force at approximately $260,000 yearly.”
To volunteer on April 20, register between 9 and 9:15 a.m, then you can select your group to tackle different projects such as sprucing up the gardens, cleaning, grounds work, and more. This is a family-friendly event with something for all ages and abilities.
Work parties tackle their jobs between 9:30 a.m. and noon. After all the hard work, you can stick around and celebrate your accomplishments with lunch.
Participants are encouraged to wear clothes that can get dirty, dress for the weather – the event happens rain or shine – and bring work gloves if you have them.
Walk-ins are welcome, but registration ahead of time is appreciated: Call (716) 569-2345 during business hours or go to AudubonCNC.org and click through Programs and Events. Even though the program is free, you will need to click through check-out to complete your registration.
If there are other volunteer projects you would like to tackle – like caring for Audubon’s many animals, working with the education staff, helping with clerical work, gardening or working at festivals and events – you can contact Nelson at (716) 569-2345 or ENelson@AudubonCNC.org.
Audubon Community Nature Center is located at 1600 Riverside Road, one-quarter mile east of Route 62 between Jamestown, N.Y., and Warren, Pa. You can visit the nearly 600-acre nature preserve, check in on the live birds of prey, and hike over five miles of trails dawn until dusk daily for free.
The three-story Nature Center building houses interactive displays, a collection of live animals including the Hellbender exhibit, the 2023 Nature Photography Contest winners, and the Blue Heron Gift Shop. Visitors are welcome Mondays through Saturdays, 10 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., and Sundays, 1 – 4:30 p.m. Nature Center members and SNAP/EBT cardholders have free building admission daily. Building admission is also free every Sunday for non-Nature Center members.
To learn more about Audubon and its many programs, call (716) 569-2345, find Audubon Community Nature Center on Facebook, or visit AudubonCNC.org. Check out AudubonCNC.org/about for a quick fly-by visit. Sunday, July 7 is the deadline for submitting or voting on entries in the 2024 Nature Photography Contest at GoGoPhotoContest.com/ACNCPhotoContest2024.
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