Volunteers are at the heart of our organization. With almost 100 volunteers serving in various roles at various times of the year, we are always looking for enthusiastic, dedicated volunteers to join our team. The following lists our major volunteer positions and we welcome your suggestions on other ways to help. To discuss volunteer opportunities, please give is a call or fill-out and return avolunteer application.

Interns

If you are interested infull-time hands-on animal care at RVWS, apply by March 26 to be a volunteer intern. Click here for an application form.

Construction/Trades

You can help us with general or trade-specific skills to build our new wildlife rehabilitation facilities.

Fundraiser

You can help us identify potential public and corporate donors and make initial contact, identify opportunities for foundation and government grants and draft proposals and facilitate displays at trade-shows.

Animal Care Assistant

You can help with feeding orphaned wildlife and other fun stuff such as laundry, dishwashing, cage cleaning, etc. Animal care assistants are asked to commit to a consistent schedule for a minimum of four hours per week for three months. Most of the animal care occurs between April and October.

Foster Caregiver

You can care for wildlife in your own home as we do in the center. Depending on the age of the animal, commitment varies from two to eight weeks, with 1 to 6 formula feedings per day. Most of the animal care occurs between April to June and August to October. We provide training and ongoing support, as well as formula and caging. We ask that foster volunteers provide solid foods (e.g., rodent block, vegetables).

Release Caregiver

You care for weaned wildlife in an outdoor, protected cage in your yard for 2 to 4 weeks, with daily feedings, then sporadic feedings after release. Release usually occurs in June and September. We provide training and ongoing support, as well as caging. We ask that foster volunteers provide solid foods (e.g., rodent block, vegetables).

Cage Builder

You help build indoor wire cages, wooden nesting boxes and large, outdoor enclosures. We will provide the materials. Cages and nesting boxes can be built either on-site or at your home.

Driver

You help us to pick-up and deliver supplies as well as animals in need.

Office Support

You help with computer entry, mailings, newsletters, bookkeeping or other much needed support that keeps this organization humming. This position is year-round, casual.

Contact

If you would like to volunteer, you can reach us by phone, e-mail or snail mail at:

Rideau Valley Wildlife Sanctuary
P.O. Box 266
North Gower, ON K0A 2T0
613-258-9480

info@rideauwildlife.org

We are so grateful to all our sponsors, benefactors and volunteers for helping us to help the animals.