The Sawgrass Nature Center has a rich tradition of volunteerism in South Florida. We are always looking for exciting, eager and helpful volunteers who love animals and our environment. Whether you are an adult volunteer or a junior volunteer, we value your service and are waiting to hear from you. Please note that “adults” are 18 years and older, and that no one under 18 is allowed to work with rehabilitating animals. Junior volunteer opportunities are for young adults ages 15-17.
Please note that there is a $25 fee for adult volunteers. With this commitment, you will receive a one-year membership to the Center, a t-shirt (our uniform), and a name badge.
For more information, please call our office at (954)752-9453 or email our Volunteer Coordinator at volunteers@sawgrassnaturecenter.org.
To download a volunteer application, click the appropriate link below!
Adult Volunteer / Junior Volunteer
The following is a listing of the different volunteer committees here at the SNC. Please indicate on your volunteer form which committee (or committees!) you would like to be on so that we may add you to the appropriate mailing list(s). As different opportunities arrise, we will contact the corresponding committee accordingly.
Baker Bees: If you like to bake or cook, this is the committee for you! Baker bees will be asked to bake goods for different fundraisers and events such as the Gala, Go Wild in the Park, Brunch with the Bunnies, etc.
Computer Geeks: For those of you that are technologically inclined, we’d love to have you! We need help keeping our website and Facebook page up-to-date. The sky is the limit, so if you’ve got more ideas to help keep the SNC in the 21st century, please sign-up!
Crazy Cleaners: To help us keep the floors swept and mopped, bathrooms clean, dishes washed, etc. This committee would be a perfect fit for church or other community groups to come in once a month and give the SNC a good and thorough scrub-down.
Department Secretaries: Very important position! There are three different departments: Hospital, Administration, and Education. Department secretaries would be in charge of making phone calls, logging admissions, taking messages, and otherwise assisting each of the department heads. Especially in the hospital, volunteering your services would take a great deal of time-consuming work off of the staff, allowing them to do other important aspects of their jobs.
Disaster Relief Committee: In the event of a hurricane or other disaster, this committee will be in charge of helping us transport, care for, and protect the animals that we have in our care. In addition, due to the likely influx of animals that we will receive after such an event, the disaster relief team will help us provide temporary homes for some of our animals so that we may care for others. Also, the SNC grounds may be a mess after a natural disaster. That being said, we would also need your help with SNC grounds clean-up as well. You would probably be working alongside the Green Team and/or Handy Folk.
Docents: There are two different docent teams; one will provide services here at the SNC, and the other will assist with off-site outreach programs.
The on-site docent team will greet and give tours to the public when they visit the Center. We will provide you with a basic script that will teach you the history of the SNC and about the permanent resident animals that we have. On-site docents should also keep up-to-date with upcoming events and programs and be knowledgeable about the different programs, parties, and services that the SNC offers.
The outreach docent team will accompany an SNC staff member to educational outreach programs at schools, etc. They will assist with handling the education animals. Once fully trained and comfortable, outreach docents will be able to perform educational programs unaccompanied. It is important to note that you will be representing the SNC, and will have to be comfortable handling all of the animals of the program unassisted. Outreach docents may also represent the Center at different community events where we wish to promote our organization and our programs and any upcoming events.
The docent teams are excellent teams for those who are comfortable with speaking to groups and/or working with children. Please specify which Docent team you would like to be on (on- or off-site).
Grand Grant Writers: A great source of funding comes from applying for (and receiving) grants. If you’re skilled in writing, all it takes is knowing about the SNC, our mission, and what we’re all about. There is plethora of different grants out there; we just need to find and apply for the ones that fit the mission of the SNC.
Green Team: The green team will help us keep up our appearances. If you love gardening or landscaping, the green team is the right team for you! You will be weeding, mulching, planting, etc. We do have hydroponic and raised gardens to maintain as well as the rest of the landscaping. You will be working outdoors!
Fundraising: The SNC is funded primarily by our education programs and by FUNDRAISING. We are a private non-profit 501(c)(3) organization and do not receive any tax money or government funding. Fundraising is a biggie for us.
Handy Folk: We are constantly in need of handymen (and women!) to help us out with small fix-ups here and there. If you have any skill with a hammer, screwdriver, power tools, painting, electric, etc., then we’ve got projects for you!
Hospitality Corps: You will be in charge of greeting incoming guests for events big and small; anything from the Gala to volunteer meetings. We love greeting people with a smile! 
Marketeers: Marketing, marketing, marketing! We need to get the SNC’s name out there! We need a team to help us develop brochures and other PR materials. This team may also work with the Computer Geeks to develop a 30-second ad that we could run on television or post on our website.
Phonies: If you like being on the phone, then have we got the job for you! You’ll be in charge of calling people for a variety of reasons – anything from calling volunteer committees in for service to donation solicitation to confirming programs.
Socialites: Plan fun outings for our volunteers to places like The Nature Conservancy in Naples, or Corkscrew, or Busch Wildlife Sanctuary. Some places offer discounts to large groups; since we are an affiliated organization, there is a chance some places would offer us a behind-the-scenes tour as well. We are working on developing eco-tours that would be open to the public as a fundraiser for the Center, and this team could help with that as well.
Special Events: We have major events during the year such as the Gala, Brunch with the Bunnies, Cocktails for Critters, or Earthday where we need a lot of willing hands. Some examples of tasks these days include registering guests, setting up and breaking down tables, decorating, serving food, selling raffle tickets, helping with games or arts and crafts, and plenty of other similar things.
Uncanny Canisters: We have special SNC donation collection tins. Placing the tin in near a cash register of a high-traffic business where people are given change would be the best sort of location. If you know someone that owns their own business, or a pet store, or gas station, etc, let us know and we’ll give you a tin. You will be responsible for securing the location of the collection tin and WEEKLY going out to collect the funds received.
Wandering Wishes: This is our donation pick-up team. Companies such as Whole Foods Market and Wal-Mart that donate valuable food and supplies to us often need a representative from the Center to go and pick it up. We also often receive calls from people with large bird cages and such that they’d like to donate but cannot fit in their cars. If you have a van or truck, you could be a great asset to the SNC through this committee. Also, feel free to solicit to companies that we are not yet affiliated with and ask for donations.
Zoo Crew: This is the animal care volunteer team. You are the ones that work in the hospital and outdoors caring for the animals in our charge. There are a multitude of things that the Zoo Crew is responsible for: cage cleaning, food prep, diet and water changing, laundry, dishes, medical care, foster care, etc.
If you have any questions about any of the committees, or anything volunteer- or SNC-related, please don’t hesitate to ask. I know that was an extensive list to read through, so THANK YOU! Again, please sign up for as many of the committees as you can.
