About Volunteer Opportunities with Flanders

Volunteer Opportunities
A quick overview

Educational Programming (Promoting and teaching the understanding and appreciation of nature, farming, and art to adults and families; school children.)
o Ambassadors serve as hosts for adult and family nature programs; set up venues; market our volunteer opportunities; and capture new members.
o Program Captains help develop/select, organize, and run seasonal programs for adult and family participation.
o Program Leaders/Instructors teach classes/programs (e.g. mushroom hunting, bird and botany hikes, wreath making, backyard farming, plein aire art classes, etc.).

Art Committee (Conserving founder Natalie Van Vleck history and archives (paintings, furniture, etc.)
o Organize art related programs for the public to enjoy.

Land Management (Stewardship) Committee (Managing Flanders 2400+ acres of open space.)
o Monitoring properties annually (fee simple and easement).
o Maintaining trails for Flanders 7 hiking preserves.
o Marking boundaries of open space properties.
o Preparing management plans or baseline documents.

Land Acquisition (Trust) Committee (Acquiring important open space lands.)
o Identifying, selecting, and working collaboratively with landowners to acquire properties while ensuring transactions are accomplished under specific standards and defined practices.

Development/Fundraising Committee (Developing strategies to acquire new members and encouraging them to give annually; asking individuals and businesses to meet our mission and support Flanders operating and capital budgets.)
o Events management: Helping organize and run annual events like Maple Sugaring (Feb-Mar), Flanders Festival (May), Field and Forest 5K (event in June), Farm to Flanders (event in August), and Haunted Hikes (Oct)

Van Vleck Facilities & Land Use Committee (Ensuring Flanders facilities are maintained and/or properly rehabilitated, etc.)

Development Committee (Strategic planning on fundraising, capital campaign, business and individual donations, and legacy gifts)

Office administration
o Office Receptionist
o Database input
o General office work: filing, scanning, reading newspapers for articles
o Letters: stuffing and mailing etc.

Application Process

Flanders in an accredited organization and volunteers who are in contact with children or manage funds are subjected to some mandated state training and background checks.

Family-Friendly

Parents and children are invited and encouraged to get involved.