Volunteer Project Catalog
Polk County Conservation
Help restore Iowa’s Woodland habitat by removing harmful invasive species to promote the growth of native trees, grasses, and wildflowers! This volunteer opportunity offers a fun and meaningful service-learning experience. Volunteers will sharpen their skills in identifying both native and nonnative plant species, learn effective invasive removal techniques, and learn ways to positively impact Brown's Woods, Iowa's largest urban forest situated along the Raccoon River. Upcoming dates include: Saturday, December 7 @ 10am to 12pm This activity is led by members of our very own Stewards of Brown’s Woods, a community-based volunteer group dedicated to the ecological restoration of this park. Volunteers and neighbors join together on a weekly basis to eliminate invasive plant species that threaten the forest ecosystem. *Volunteers should meet in the gravel overflow parking lot.
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Polk County Conservation
Help restore Iowa’s Woodland habitat by removing harmful invasive species to promote the growth of native trees, grasses, and wildflowers! This volunteer opportunity offers a fun and meaningful service-learning experience. Volunteers will sharpen their skills in identifying both native and nonnative plant species, learn effective invasive removal techniques, and learn ways to positively impact Iowa native habitat at Jester Park. Upcoming dates include: Thursday, December 5th @ 10am to 12pm & 1pm to 3pm Thrusday, December 12th @ 10am to 12pm & 1pm to 3pm *Volunteers should meet at Shelter #1
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Polk County Conservation
Six miles of cross country ski trails await those eager for winter adventures at Jester Park. Representing hundreds of hours of volunteerism, the Des Moines Nordic Club maintains and grooms theses public trails for the benefit of all year after year. Lend a helping hand this weekend alongside the Club getting the ski trails in prime condition for the ski season. Volunteer activities will include clearing the cross country ski trail corridor of downed limbs, branches, and other debris utilizing leaf blowers, rakes, and hand-clearing in preparation for the ski season. Upcoming Dates: November 23rd @ 8am to 12pm The event will begin at 8 AM at Shelter #2. The event goes till 12 PM, however tasks may be completed before then. Volunteers are welcome to come and go as needed.
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Polk County Conservation
Join us for a morning of teamwork, conservation, and community as we continue building a new and improved trail at Easter Lake Park. This is an excellent opportunity for trail enthusiasts to gain entry-level trail construction skills while make a meaningful impact on our local trails. During this event, participants will help to clear existing vegetation and construct newly laid out trail sections. The new layout of this trail system improves the sustainability of the trail system, decreases maintenance, and helps to increase trail accessibility. Equipped with essential tools and guidance from PCC staff, you'll learn the best practices and proper techniques for trail construction. This event will start with a trail construction training follow by trail building activities. This event is designed for beginner to experienced trail building volunteers. This volunteer project has been made possible by passing of the 2021 Polk County Water Land & Legacy Bond, which has provided $10 million towards trails throughout Polk County. Upcoming Dates: Thursday, October 31st @ 9am to 12pm and 1pm to 3pm Tuesday, November 5th @ 1pm to 3pm Friday, November 8th @ 10am to 12pm and 1pm to 3pm Tuesday, November 12th @ 1pm to 3pm Friday, November 15th @ 10am to 12pm & 1pm -3pm Tuesday, November 19th @ 10am to 12pm & 1pm to 3pm Friday, November 22nd @ 10am to 12pm & 1pm to 3pm *Volunteers should meet at Shelter 3
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Polk County Conservation
Whether you are seeking an inspiring setting in which to give back to the outdoor community; a senior looking to enjoy retirement; or simply wishing to spend quality time in a beautiful county park, all are invited to share their unique talents and passion for the outdoors and conservation with park visitors entering into their adventure at Jester Park. What Will You Do? Volunteers will be serving an important role at the Jester Park Nature Center welcoming visitors into their outdoor adventure at Jester Park. Volunteer Duties: *Welcome and assist visitors *Direct visitors to the various amenities that Jester Park provides *Provide information regarding events and programs *Check in and out Park Packs *Help set up and clean up for programming and events
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Polk County Conservation
Help beautify our parks and community through litter cleanup! Removal of litter from waterways and beyond has lasting impacts on water quality, animal health, and more. Volunteers can be approved to work independently or with friends and family to remove litter within Polk County parks, trails, and watersheds during. Volunteers that sign up for this role will identify parks or focus areas with PCC volunteer staff for litter removal and will be given supplies including trash bags, trash grabbers, and gloves. This volunteer position is designed to be flexible allowing volunteers to participate on schedules that work for them. Volunteers are required to report volunteer hours dedicated to litter removal within our parks, trails, and watersheds. When possible, volunteers are asked to weigh and report the trash removed. Locations volunteers can participate include any Polk County park or trail. Find a list of our trails here: https://www.polkcountyiowa.gov/conservation/parks-trails/ *Hours should be reported for litter removal completed outside of publicly promoted litter removal events.
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Polk County Conservation
Are you interested in becoming a water quality monitor volunteer? Across Polk County, volunteers help monitor 70 sites along our local waterways as a part of the Polk County Conservation Water Quality Monitoring Program (PCCWQMP). Each month volunteers monitor sites collecting data on weather, stream conditions, and basic chemical testing (pH, nitrate/nitrite, chloride, phosphate, and dissolved oxygen). WHAT TO EXPECT: TIME COMMITMENT Water quality monitoring occurs the first and/or third weeks of each month of the year. Monitoring takes 15-20 minutes at individual sites during most of the year. In mid-July/early August additional habitat assessments and biological (benthic macroinvertebrate collection) assessments are completed. These assessments typically take 1-2 hours. TRAINING and SUPPLIES All monitors receive free training prior to taking on a monitoring site. Online independent learning modules are available. All supplies, including equipment needed to complete water quality, testing will be provided to each volunteer. Field monitors submit their data through an app. FIELD ENVIRONMENT Monitoring takes places along our local waterways throughout neighborhoods of Polk County. Monitors are asked to monitor in the flow of the stream, although sometimes this is not possible so sampling along bridges is allowed in those cases. If becoming a water quality field monitor sounds like a good fit for you, we encourage you to sign up! After signing up, you will be asked to complete the agreement and the 5 modules of water quality training. Please contact the coordinator if you have questions. Thank you!
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Polk County Conservation
Polk County Conservation is working in partnership with the US Fish and Wildlife Service, US Army Corps of Engineers, IA DNR, and the City of Des Moines to collect data for the Urban Wildlife Information Network. A primary goal of the Urban Wildlife Information Network (based out of the Lincoln Park Zoo) is to gather and share data so that partners can quantify differences in the composition of urban wildlife communities both within and among cities. This study 25 utilizes trail camera traps placed along a linear transect to document wildlife sightings within various cities across the United States. Volunteers are assigned folders of images captured by the camera traps and are asked to go through each photo and to tag any animals they can locate within each image. The online photo library utilizes a Google library, and a Google email will be required to participate. This volunteer activity can be done from anywhere with a secure internet connection.
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