Scarborough Marsh Audubon Center is looking for volunteers! If you love being outside, talking to people about wildlife and habitat, and being part of a community of people with a shared love of nature, then this is the perfect spot for you. Center Director Linda Woodard says they especially need people to assist with canoe and kayak rentals (which involves handing out equipment, taking care of paperwork, and putting boats in and out of the water). “We have two shifts, 9 am to 1 pm, or 1 to 5 pm, and we need help seven days a week,” she says. “It’s also helpful to have people who can open from 8:30-9:30 am or close from 4-5 pm. However, if those hours don’t work for you, we can modify it to accommodate your schedule. We also have special programs and monitoring projects where we need assistance. ” To discuss opportunities and to sign up, email smac@maineaudubon.org or call 207.883.5100 and press 0 (zero).
To give you a flavor of what it’s like at the marsh, we asked a volunteer to talk about her experiences this summer as a first-time volunteer. Meet Brenda McGovern!
“My name is Brenda McGovern, and I am a volunteer at Scarborough Marsh Audubon Center. I have always loved the outdoors and being educated about nature, so I decided to join as a volunteer at the beginning of July by getting involved with the bird monitoring program. Little did I know that I would get involved in a wonderful community of nature lovers watching over the beautiful marsh I love so much with its diverse nature, significant wildlife habitat, and incredible wetlands that I appreciate and value. The work and people I have been involved with has become so much more than that!!
“Right off the bat I was involved in the July 4 community celebration. I helped represent the Scarborough Marsh Audubon Center by showing people an interesting display of taxidermy mounts and animal skins, and leading children through a creative art program. The kids showed us their artistic abilities by creating fish with paper plates. It was such fun to see what they were able to create as well as the utter joy on their faces as they displayed their works of art to me and their parents.
“I also got involved in the center’s bird monitoring program which involved a shorebird survey of the marsh area collecting data for researchers to help understand the health of the marsh. I was a novice on shorebirds so was paired with two advanced bird watchers. Our section to survey was the Dunstan River to Route 1. We saw, heard, and recorded an abundance of shore birds. It was an inspiring day!
“What I love about volunteering with the Scarborough Marsh Audubon Center is the knowledge I gain by the work being offered, being involved in their programs, helping get the tourists (local and from all over the world) ready for their kayaking and canoeing experience, and being involved with knowledgeable and experienced staff who have helped me through the process of getting to know the job. The Scarborough Marsh Audubon Center has offered me an invaluable experience!”
To find out more about volunteering, please email smac@maineaudubon.org or call 207.883.5100.
