Volunteer Program Overview

Thank you for your interest in volunteering with us! We are looking forward to getting to know you and working with you on wilderness conservation issues and campaigns. If you are interested in any of the below opportunities, check this table to read the full job description and see what positions are currently available. Then please fill out an application form available here. Please direct questions to the Outreach Manager at lallan@cpaws.org or 403-232-6686.

For more info: Specialized Positions Events Special Programs/Projects Other Ways to Help

Specialized Positions – These positions require only one or two people and require a regular commitment. These roles are fun, full of variety and are at the heart of the organization. Some examples include Facebook Coordinator, Chapter Meeting Assistant and Staff Assistants. These are great opportunities if you: have free time Monday to Friday, 9 to 5, or know you can work from home independently; want to improve a wide range of skills or build up your resume; or want to work directly with staff while learning the "behind the scenes" operations of CPAWS.

Events – We have three types of regular events: the Wild Gala, CPAWS Casino, and Outreach Events. New special events may also arise depending on national and local campaign goals. These are great opportunities for those desiring a lower level of commitment. You can sign up for positions as you go, one shift at a time and usually up to a couple of months in advance. Events are always fun and pack a lot of action into a short amount of time.

There are several kinds of positions for the Gala and the Casino for which you are trained at the beginning of your shift. Outreach events require staff for CPAWS booths at community events such as the EcoLiving Fair, Banff Film Festival or Canmore Folk Festival. After our Volunteer Leaders Program, being an Outreach Event Volunteer is the most direct way to engage the public on conservation issues in Southern Alberta. You should be outgoing and comfortable talking to members of the public, and be interested in attending great events and getting to know other volunteers and organizations. If you live outside of Calgary, such as in Banff or Canmore, we come to you several times a year by attending events in the Bow Valley. Check out examples of Outreach Events here.

Special Programs/Projects – These are typically seasonal or temporary opportunities and require a large number of volunteers to complete a particular program or project, described below. These programs exist only because of volunteers; they are completely people-driven. If you want to get your hands dirty (sometimes literally!) and have fun while getting big results, one of these programs may be for you.

• Volunteer Leaders Program – Ten to 15 applicants are selected every spring to participate in this 10-month program. The participants receive extensive training on advocacy, leadership and fundraising. They are guided by the CPAWS Calgary/Banff Executive Director and Outreach Manager to, in groups, develop their own conservation campaigns and eventually, lead other volunteers. For detailed information about the program and application process, please see the Volunteer Leaders page. The program is accepting applications up to November 9, 2008.

• The Big Wild – The Big Wild is a joint program by Mountain Equipment Coop (MEC) and CPAWS to save at least 50% of Canada’s remaining wilderness. It includes the Big Wild Challenge, where volunteers agree to document their wilderness adventures through blogs, pictures, and/or video, while raising money for CPAWS initiatives. If you are interested in getting involved with one of the biggest wilderness movements in Canadian history, this is for you. Go to www.bigwild.ca for more information.

• Stewardship – Even protected areas sometimes need a hand! After piloting our hands-on stewardship program in the summer of 2008, we will again be hosting one or two stewardship events in the summer of 2009. The location of our clean-up/weed-pull will be announced in spring 2009.

Other Ways to Help

Quick Opportunities – These are extra opportunities for current CPAWS volunteers on our email listserv. Some opportunities for volunteers emerge very quickly and may require some level of expertise in a certain field or familiarity with CPAWS. The only way to complete these jobs in time is to contact and recruit current volunteers through email. Some opportunities from the past have included commenting on environmental impact assessments, developing props for education programs and calling monthly donors before the holiday season. Click here for more information on our email listservs.

Got an Idea? – You might have a great idea or talent to contribute CPAWS, like documentary filmmaking skills, graphic design, or know of an issue we should get involved with. CPAWS has limited resources, staff and volunteers; we are looking for well developed ideas and a plan on how you specifically can help, not just complaints! Contact us to discuss the possibilities.

Donate – If you support the volunteer program, but just don’t have the time to get involved right now, you can still help CPAWS by becoming a member.

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