Volunteer Opportunities
ARK has a world of opportunity waiting for you! Volunteers play a crucial role in providing education and animal care for thousands of annual patients and members of the public. Whether you like to share your passion for wildlife conservation with the public, help public rescuers find their way, assist with special events, or help out in a more behind-the-scenes capacity by volunteering to clean cages or to help in building enclosures, we are sure to find the perfect niche to utilize your talents and time to enhance our work. Peruse the options below and discover the perfect opportunity for you to get involved.
Hotline Volunteers
If you enjoy helping wildlife in crisis from the comfort of your office or your home, then working as a Hotline Volunteer is the way to go. A four-hour shift once a week is required. Manage phone calls from the public, direct people how to safely rescue an animal, provide general wildlife fact knowledge, and coordinate transporters as needed. No animal contact is made in this position. Volunteers are provided training and a manual.
Event and Fundraising Volunteers
Volunteer positions are available each year for ARK event planning and fundraising. All of the options require the ability to verbally articulate the mission or ARK to members and donors. No animal contact is made in this position.
Become a State Licensed Category IV Care Provider
This is a wonderful opportunity for individuals interested in wildlife rehabilitation to see if rehabilitation is right for you. Category IV Care Providers can be in direct contact with the native Virginia wildlife. Learn about injuries and illnesses affecting local wildlife and how to treat them, and assist with everyday tasks such as hand-feeding, sanitizing enclosures, changing cages, and helping with releases. After training is completed, Category IV Care Providers can go to a Category I or Category II facility and care for their native Virginia wildlife unsupervised. For example: Cat. I or Cat. II is on vacation. This position requires animal contact and therefore, all rehabilitation volunteers must be 18 years of age or older.
Building and Construction Volunteers
ARK wildlife rehabilitators constantly have a need for experienced individuals to assist in enclosure and cage construction and repair. If you are handy with tools and would like to volunteer your skills, please contact us at (804) 598-8380.
Hotline Volunteers
If you enjoy helping wildlife in crisis from the comfort of your office or your home, then working as a Hotline Volunteer is the way to go. A four-hour shift once a week is required. Manage phone calls from the public, direct people how to safely rescue an animal, provide general wildlife fact knowledge, and coordinate transporters as needed. No animal contact is made in this position. Volunteers are provided training and a manual.
Event and Fundraising Volunteers
Volunteer positions are available each year for ARK event planning and fundraising. All of the options require the ability to verbally articulate the mission or ARK to members and donors. No animal contact is made in this position.
Become a State Licensed Category IV Care Provider
This is a wonderful opportunity for individuals interested in wildlife rehabilitation to see if rehabilitation is right for you. Category IV Care Providers can be in direct contact with the native Virginia wildlife. Learn about injuries and illnesses affecting local wildlife and how to treat them, and assist with everyday tasks such as hand-feeding, sanitizing enclosures, changing cages, and helping with releases. After training is completed, Category IV Care Providers can go to a Category I or Category II facility and care for their native Virginia wildlife unsupervised. For example: Cat. I or Cat. II is on vacation. This position requires animal contact and therefore, all rehabilitation volunteers must be 18 years of age or older.
Building and Construction Volunteers
ARK wildlife rehabilitators constantly have a need for experienced individuals to assist in enclosure and cage construction and repair. If you are handy with tools and would like to volunteer your skills, please contact us at (804) 598-8380.
Cameron Richardson from Boy Scout Troop 760 donated caging for his Eagle Scout Project on January 14, 2012. ARK and our native VA wildlife thank you Cameron!
