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Animals and Pets, Careers, Jobs, and Volunteering, Youth

Volunteer at Croydon Creek Nature Center

Croydon Creek Nature Center offers a variety of volunteer opportunities for individuals and groups who want to make a difference in their community and the natural world. Volunteers have the opportunity to fulfill Student Service Learning (SSL) hours, gain career-related experience, and explore their love of nature.

Long-Term Volunteer Positions

Long-term volunteer positions offer hands-on experience in environmental education, animal care, and nature interpretation. Volunteers work alongside our team of professional naturalists to support programs, care for animal ambassadors, and help connect the public with nature.

Volunteer hours count toward Student Service Learning requirements. Flexible scheduling is available. We are unable to accommodate court-ordered volunteers.

Learn more about our long-term volunteer positions and apply below.

Environmental educator assistants provide educational programming and interpretive experiences for participants and guests.

Responsibilities:

  • Assist naturalists with program setup and cleanup, including for school field trips, scout programs, public programs, and birthday parties.
  • Engage with guests, including through public speaking.
  • Handle animals and biofacts, such as skulls, pelts, and feathers.
  • Create interpretive activities and displays.

Qualifications:

  • Be age 14 or older.
  • Commit to a minimum of six months as a volunteer.
  • Pass a background check, including fingerprinting when required.
  • Demonstrate flexibility, good communication skills, and a passion for connecting with others.
  • Work with people of all ages and abilities.
  • Work indoors and outdoors throughout the year.
  • Stand and perform light lifting.
Apply Online

Animal care aides help ensure our animal ambassadors are healthy and well cared for. Animals include snakes, turtles, toads, salamanders, an owl, and various invertebrates. Training and supervision are provided by staff naturalists.


Responsibilities:

  • Clean animal enclosures.
  • Prepare diets for animals.
  • Handle animals.
  • Perform light facility cleaning.

Qualifications:

  • Be age 14 or older.
  • Commit to a minimum of six months as a volunteer.
  • Demonstrate respect and responsibility for animal welfare.
  • Work at least three shifts per month.
  • Work a set schedule of approximately one to four hours per week during regular hours of operation.
Apply Online

Trail guardians help maintain the beauty of the surrounding forest preserve by keeping trails clean and safe for visitors. Schedules are flexible and based on volunteer availability.


Responsibilities:

  • Pick up litter and recyclables.
  • Maintain trail borders.
  • Report downed trees and other maintenance needs.

Qualifications:

  • Must be age 14 or older.
  • Work independently after receiving orientation and guidance from the volunteer coordinator.
  • Work outdoors year-round.
  • Lift light items, walk on uneven terrain, and stand for extended periods.
Apply Online

Group Volunteering

Organized groups can join our Trail Guardian Program to help keep trails clean and beautiful. This ongoing volunteer opportunity is for groups looking to make a continued impact over time.

Each group must designate a leader to coordinate the group and remain on site throughout the activity. Groups must complete required paperwork and receive approval before beginning work.

Work is outdoors and weather-dependent. There are no indoor alternatives during inclement weather.

To discuss group volunteering opportunities with our volunteer coordinator, email ccnc@rockvillemd.gov with the subject line “Group Volunteering.”

Community groups, scout troops, companies, nonprofits, and other organizations can schedule a workday at Croydon Creek Nature Center.

Seasonal projects include trail cleanups and invasive species removal. These activities provide great team-building opportunities while helping care for natural areas.

Each group must designate a leader to coordinate the group and remain on site throughout the activity. Groups must complete required paperwork and receive approval before the scheduled workday.

To learn more about scheduling a workday, email ccnc@rockvillemd.gov with the subject line “Group Workday.”

Seasonal Volunteering

Seasonal volunteer opportunities are available a few times throughout the year. From stream cleanups to invasive species removal, there are many ways to help! Check the recreation catalog for current volunteer opportunities.

Internships

Croydon Creek Nature Center offers internships for enthusiastic, dedicated students and recent graduates interested in environmental education, animal care, or nature interpretation. Interns gain hands-on experience working alongside professional naturalists, assisting with programs, animal care, interpretive writing, and project development.

Each internship includes specific learning objectives, a final project, and a defined end date. Schedules are flexible and tailored to the intern’s availability and learning goals.

Interns must be age 14 or older and currently enrolled in school or graduated within the past two years. Some internships require interns to be age 18 or older.

For more information, email ccnc@rockvillemd.gov with the subject line “Internship Inquiry.”

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Contact

Recreation and Parks Department
Croydon Creek Nature Center
240-314-8770
ccnc@rockvillemd.gov

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Hours
Tuesday – Saturday
9 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Sunday
1 – 4 p.m.

Address
Croydon Creek Nature Center
852 Avery Road
Rockville, MD 20851