Volunteering at Pierce Cedar Creek Institute gives you the wonderful opportunity to meet new people and attend and participate in educational programs, all with the satisfaction of knowing you made a difference!
Volunteers, Making an Impact
As a small organization, Pierce Cedar Creek Institute relies on volunteers to help with daily activities and special events. Whether you would like to volunteer on a regular basis or occasionally at special events, we will find an opportunity that fits your interests.
Please fill out the Permission to Obtain Information form and attach it to the volunteer application. Filling out this form is standard procedure to becoming a volunteer at the Institute. Once we have received and processed the form, you will receive a welcome email with a link containing our volunteer opportunities. Your name and email address will be added to our list of volunteers as well as our email list. In the future, you will periodically receive emails, or you could be contacted by one of our staff to be asked to do a specific volunteer job.
Volunteer Opportunities
The Stewardship Experience!
Join the Stewardship Department in collecting and cleaning native seeds or other stewardship work. Participants may learn about plant identification, seed collection, seed processing, or invasive plant removal. Exact details will be sent before each event date. Please wear appropriate field clothing and bring water. Gloves and tools will be provided. We may be outside, weather permitting. Please meet inside the Visitors Center.
Questions? Contact Stewardship Coordinator Drew Vandegrift at dvandegrift@cedarcreekinstitute.org.
Click the link below for dates and times for the Stewardship Experience!
Want to get involved in community science at the Institute?
Birdhouse Brigade
Help us understand bird populations by tracking their reproductive biology and the impacts of habitat variation, climate change, predators, and competitors. Monitor 26 birdhouses once or twice a month from April to August. Information collected includes: bird species; nest type; and number of eggs, hatchlings, and fledglings. Involves hiking about 1.5 miles on uneven terrain. Average time per visit: 2 hours.
Purple Martin Watch
Learn about birds while connecting with nature. Check in on our house once or twice per week from April to July to monitor for purple martin reproduction, such as the number of eggs, hatchlings, and fledglings; overall bird health, and nest material. Average time per visit: 30-60 minutes.
Bird Watchers
Explore birds and habitats around you. Record bird habitat usage across the property once a month, year-round. Birders of all levels are accepted. You will learn to identify birds by sight and sound using binoculars and the Merlin Bird ID Smartphone app. Involves hiking about 2 miles on uneven terrain. Average time per visit: 2 hours.
Photo Monitoring
Help the Institute monitor our restoration efforts and see changes in our ecosystems by taking photos year-round at two locations on the property. We are tracking how two ecosystems respond to prescribed burns and invasive plant species removal: a former field restored to native tallgrass prairie (behind the Visitor Center’s deck) and a former pasture restored to a native sand prairie (along Cedar Creek Trail). Place your phone or camera horizontally into the bracket above the sign. Take a photo. Follow the instructions on the sign to easily submit your photo. All photos will be compiled into a crowd-sourced time lapse that will help the Institute monitor the ecosystem’s recovery. Your photo will become part of a real-time record of change.
Barry County Water Quality Monitoring Program (BCWQMP)
Do you live on a lake and want to know more about the health of your lake? Are you concerned about water quality in Barry County? The Barry County Water Quality Monitoring Program (BCWQMP) aims to support lake residents and community members in actively promoting inland lake health by monitoring water quality to track changes in lake health over time. You will learn to collect lake water quality measurements a minimum of 8 times between May to September (Average time per outing: 15-30 minutes). Must have access to a boat and attend a free training.
Cedar Creek Stream Sampling
The Institute is partnering with the Barry Conservation District to monitor water quality in the Thornapple River Watershed. See project description and sign up for sampling other streams here: https://www.barrycd.org/waterways/water-quality You will learn how to collect and identify macroinvertebrates in Cedar Creek (macro - big enough to be seen by the naked eye, invertebrate - animal without a backbone). Some macroinvertebrates are very sensitive and can only survive in high quality waters, others can live with high amounts of pollution present. Average time commitment: 2 hours once in the spring (April) and fall (September).
Kestrel Watch
Check in on our box once per week from March to May to monitor for American kestrel reproduction, such as the number of eggs, hatchlings, and fledglings. Involves hiking about 1.5 miles on uneven terrain. Average time per visit: 1.5 hours.
Want to get started? Fill out our volunteer application and indicate your interest in volunteering for our community science projects.
Already a volunteer or have questions?
Other Volunteer Opportunities
- Community Programs and Education: At the Institute we provide a variety of community and educational programs including: workshops, hikes, field trips, and classes. These programs all require additional support by volunteers.
- Public Relations: Help organize and promote programs through graphic design work.
- Reception/Gift Shop/Bulk Mail: Help out with the cash register, phones, large mailings or perform general office work.
- Land Stewardship: Help steward the land by planting, digging, chopping and burning.
- Facility Assistant: Assist our Facility Manager with scheduled work.
- Facility Rental/Group Visit/Brunch: Assist with kitchen prep, set-up and guest services.
Don't see your interest here? Call us and we'd love to talk with you about your specific volunteer interests.
To sign-up and learn more information, please contact:
Barb Matyasic, Guest Services and Graphic Design Coordinator
Phone: 269-721-4191
Email: bmatyasic@cedarcreekinstitute.org