Outdoors & Recreation

Description: Invasive plants, like buckthorn and garlic mustard, are moving in. We need volunteers to help control these invaders and maintain valuable habitat for native plants and animals at Tamarack. Volunteers work in teams to dig, pull, cut, and haul away invasive plants that have been identified on the Tamarack property.

Ages: All ages welcome, great for families. Children under 15 must be accompanied by an adult.

Time commitment: Work days will be scheduled throughout the spring, summer, and fall.

Training: Training provided on-the-job.

Requirements: Volunteers must be able to walk off-trail on uneven ground, bend, dig, cut, carry light loads, and be willing to get their hands dirty. Long pants and sturdy, closed-toe shoes are required. tools and work gloves will be provided by Tamarack.

Description: The garden season begins in early spring with indoor seed planting and continues through early November, when the garden is put to bed for winter. Garden volunteers work on a variety of tasks including planting, weeding, watering, harvesting, mulching, composting, speaking with the public and packaging surplus produce for the White Bear Lake Area Food Shelf. Volunteers may also be asked to assist with garden-related public programs, school programs and day camps as needed.

Ages: Adults (18 and older); youth ages 14 - 17; age 12 - 13 with an adult

Time commitment: March through October; attend scheduled work days or be trained to be an independent garden volunteer and make your own schedule; 1 - 3 hours shifts; weekday and weekend work is available.

Training: Provided on-the-job by Tamarack staff gardener.

Requirements: All experience levels including beginners are welcome. Applicant must be able to bend, dig, lift and carry light loads; be willing to get their hands dirty; and be eager to share their knowledge and work with visitors of all ages.

Description: Weekdays at Tamarack Nature Center are filled with young students visiting for fun, educational programs, and volunteers are important members of the teaching team that works with those groups. Naturalist volunteers are trained to facilitate specific aspects of our school and summer programs for groups, like making apple cider, playing a group game, taking a bird hike or dipping for critters in the lake. By doing the same activities recurrently, volunteers have the chance to gain valuable confidence and skills that will transfer to new programs in the future.

Ages: Adult (18 and older)

Time commitment: Volunteers commit to one full season at a time (spring, summer, fall, winter) and work three or more shifts per season. Each shift is 2 - 6 hours. Only weekday shifts are available.

Training: Volunteers will be trained at the beginning of each season on select programs. (February 26, April 19, June 14)

Requirements: Volunteers must be available during the weekdays and enjoy working with young students in a group setting, especially preschoolers and early elementary grades. Volunteers should have the ability to communicate with young children and adapt appropriately in a dynamic setting and a willingness to lead or co-lead a small group of students through a lesson or activity (or willingness to learn how to lead).

Description: Once the sap starts flowing in early spring, volunteers visit the sugar bush daily to collect from tapped maple trees. Sap is hauled and stored in the Sugar Shack, where evaporators cook it slowly over a fire to begin the process of making syrup. Finishers work in the kitchen to complete the final cooking process and to preserve the finished syrup.

Age requirement: Sap collecting is great for all ages and for families; children under 15 must be accompanied by an adult. Evaporators and finishers must be 18 or older.

Training: Saturday, February 8, 2019; 10 a.m. - noon. 

Time commitment: The season varies depending on weather, but is usually early March through late April. Time commitment and shifts depend on the position. Volunteers work three or more shifts per season; sap collectors generally work 1-2 hours each shift, and evaporators and finishers work half-day or day-long shifts. Weekday and weekend shifts are available. 

Requirements: Sap collectors need to be able to walk about one mile on snow or uneven trails while pulling a wagon of supplies; some hauling and lifting required. Sap evaporators must be able to stand or sit for long periods and consistently tend a fire. Sap finishers should have some knowledge of the canning process. Pre-registration required. Email volunteer@tamaracknaturecenter.org or call 651-407-5350.

Description: A few times each year, volunteers are asked to assist with special public events, like the annual Tamarack Trick-or-Treat event for families. Volunteers help lead activities, crafts, hikes and games for visitors throughout these events.

Ages: Adults (18 and older), youth ages 14 and older and ages 12-13 with an adult.

Time commitment: Occasional, 2-4 hours each time.