People
Hike Coordinator
We are looking for a volunteer to coordinate hikes on our preserves. This coordinator is not expected to lead the hikes; many Avalonia members are willing to lead and have great hike ideas — we need someone who can plan and schedule the hike, and help get the word out. If you like the outdoors and organizing adventures, this is the job for you. Click HERE to register.
Group Volunteer Coordinator
From Scouts to the Coast Guard, garden clubs to football teams, several groups in our community have joined our efforts to build bridges, remove invasives, clean out debris, and replant restored areas. These endeavors are often “one-off” projects to earn a badge, build team skills, or give back to the community.
The Group Volunteer Coordinator would work with the Stewardship chair to keep track of upcoming projects as well as maintain a list of community groups and contact information. If you enjoy working with Scouts and other non-profits and are good at following up, we can use you! These projects come along only a few times a year, but when we need help, the coordinator knows who to ask. Click HERE to let us know if you are interested.
Event Planning
We are looking for volunteers to work with our Town Committee Chairs to help plan events. Examples of these relatively small-scale events include organizing preserve openings, lining up volunteers to staff tables at town functions, and planning recognition get-togethers. If you’re interested in helping plan and coordinate events, click HERE to apply!
Stewardship
Trail Maintenance
Most of Avalonia’s properties are open to the public with hundreds of miles of trails winding through more than 5,000 beautiful acres. These trails need to be maintained, marked, and monitored. We value and need volunteers willing to clear up work on the preserves. We have several volunteers who assist with stewardship by clearing blowdowns and other obstructions on trails of preserves they walk frequently. In many cases, hand saws and/or pruners are sufficient for the job. Dangerous trees should be reported, initially to the Chair of the Town Committee where the preserve is located.
If you like to hike and are willing to learn about our trail procedures, come and join this team. Trail Team volunteers must be 18 or older and willing to travel to any property within our service area (roughly New London County).
Tri-Town Off-Trail Supervisor
Special Skills Volunteers
Carpentry/Building
To maintain safe trails for our many visitors, we need a few skilled carpentry/building volunteers. The main focus of this work is building and maintaining bridges — over bogs, marshy areas, and streams.
In addition, carpenters are needed to build and erect large signs and check and repair those already installed to ensure our properties are identified properly. If you have carpentry skills and would like to help us, sign up HERE.
Trees
Avalonia has a small Tree Team under the guidance of a former professional tree climber/arborist which tackles more difficult hangers and other dangerous trees on our preserves. Tree removal is a demanding and hazardous endeavor and Team size is deliberately kept small to ensure members are familiar with safety practices and with working together. Interest in learning new techniques and focus on safety are essential. For chainsaw users, chainsaw experience is required and completion of a training course such as “Game of Logging” is preferred. If you have experience and interest in this work, sign up HERE for consideration.
Stonework
Avalonia’s preserves have miles of stone walls, many of which are damaged or have partially fallen. While we won’t repair all of these, there are some that are close to entrances, or could be in better shape along the trails. Also, within preserves, moving larger stones and rocks could help with stabilizing trails and ensuring safety. This is heavy and difficult work, requiring skills in renting and using related equipment. If you have skills and interest in helping us with this work, sign up HERE.
Special Skills Volunteers must be 18 or older and willing to travel to any property within our service area (roughly New London County).
Finance & Development
Grant Writers
Do you have experience writing grants? Are you detail-oriented, organized and able to meet deadlines? You can help a dedicated team of Avalonia volunteers who write grant applications to foundations and government entities. This critically important job can be done from home and provides a significant portion of the income needed for our mission to conserve land. If you can help, click HERE.
Communications
Videographer
Avalonia is looking for someone to tell the story of the organization through video. The volunteer would be creating content for our website and social media pages. They will need access to good equipment and editing software. If you’re interested in using your creative eye to help Avalonia display our properties and events, click HERE to apply!