It’s that time of year again! April marks more opportunities for volunteers to become active. We have several options you can choose from.
Verde Valley BioBlitz
BioBlitz, April 20-30, is a free event open to anyone throughout the Verde. Participants are invited to go out along the river or anywhere in the Verde River system, like Oak Creek or West Clear Creek, and use the iNaturalist app to take photos of plants, animals, birds, and insects to gather species data for the Verde River.
We need volunteer trip leaders to help guide students and families on nature walks using iNaturalist. We will provide training for interested volunteer trip leaders to go over the logistics of iNaturalist and how to be a trip leader. If you are interested in helping out, enjoy using iNaturalist, and will be available April 27-29 to be a trip leader for small groups of school children, families, and adults please let us know by emailing Tracy Stephens tracys@verderiver.org.
Birding & Nature Festival Volunteers
Our 2023 Verde Valley Birding & Nature Festival is April 27-30 at Dead Horse Ranch State Park. More than 400 birders as well as hundreds of families come to the Valley to enjoy more than 90 field trips and workshops as well as the festival’s Saturday, April 29th Family Nature Festival. We would love to have you be part of our festival team!
Please take a look at the opportunities below and let us know if you are interested in helping in any of these areas by emailing or calling Jeri Higgins at registrar@verderiver.org or (928) 282-2202. Someone will contact you with specific time slots.
Assistant to the Coordinator on-site
You will be assisting the on-site coordinator with any tasks that require more than one person, or require going off site. This might include running errands to pick things up within Cottonwood or on-site at the Park. It might include helping out in any area where there is a need that arises. This position is hard to define. You may find that during your shift there is nothing to do, or there is a lot to do!
Available time slots: These are four hour shifts on April 26, 27, 28, 29, & 30
Lead: Grace Filson, Jeri Higgins, Susan Van Norman
Family Nature Festival Host
You will be greeting visitors, handing out items to children and families and generally providing information about Fair activities
Available time slots: Saturday, April 29 8:30-11am or 10:45am – 1:15pm
Lead: Becky Miller
Hospitality Host
You will be serving refreshments, keeping the coffee pot full and snacks replenished. Generally greeting and helping to direct visitors.
Available time slots: These are 3-4 hour shifts on April 27, 28, 29 & 30
Lead: Debbie La France
Tech Support
You will help to manage and troubleshoot AV equipment at our workshops or Keynote Banquet. In return, you will have free entry to those sessions. The equipment will include laptops, flash drives, projectors. You would be an excellent fit for this opportunity if you can work on tech issues amid a crowd who may be watching while keeping a clear head and a good attitude.
Available time slots: Approximately 1-4:30pm on April 27, 28, & 29
Lead: Shannon Murphy
Store Host
You will be helping to sell festival and Friends of the Verde River merchandise. You must feel comfortable using a mobile phone for Square to take credit cards and handle cash.
Available time slots: These are three hour shifts on April 27, 28 & 29
Lead: Michael Durgain & Connie Gilmore
Logistics – Set up/Take Down
You will be assisting with setting up and taking down the festival grounds. This may require lifting heavy items or helping to transport items from storage sheds to festival grounds. You might be asked to call to help with coordination of this activity.
Available time slots: April 26 from 9am-1pm & April 30 from 10am-2pm
Lead: Grace Filson, Susan Van Norman
Keynote Banquet
You will be assisting with setting up and clean up before and after the Banquet, as well as helping to serve and clean up the food. This may require lifting heavy items or helping to transport items from the venue to another location for storage. You may choose to stay for the Banquet at no charge.
Available time slots: April 28 from 3-7pm or 4-8pm
Lead: Grace Filson, Susan Van Norman
Volunteer Coordination assistance
You will assist the coordinator with making phone calls to help schedule volunteers. This can be done from home and will happen at your convenience before the Festival.
Available time slots: work from home at your convenience, work done before April 26
Lead: Dawn Charles
Thank you! We hope to see many familiar faces at these events.
