Chapter Activities and Projects

Many volunteer service (VS) projects are done at the chapter level, from serving as an officer or committee member to help the chapter run smoothly to participating in an outreach project with the chapter as a group. The possibilities are almost endless!

The following table lists the opportunities for members to earn hours through these chapter level activities. Please note that these opportunities are quite general, and more specific opportunities may be available for certain locations or projects. Travel time to and from a service location may be counted where applicable.

 

Activity

Example

Administrative Work: Members can earn hours by serving as officers, directors, committee members, or by working on the management of chapter projects.
  • Serving as an officer or director
  • Serving as a member of the hospitality committee
  • Serving as the lead for a chapter project not covered by its own opportunity

Business Meeting/Luncheon: Members can earn VS hours by attending or assisting with the monthly chapter meetings. Hours can be earned by both attending the luncheon and learning from fellow members, and by attending the business meeting held at most of the meetings. Travel time to and from the meeting may also be counted as VS hours.
  • Attending the monthly chapter meeting
  • Assisting with securing the venue for the chapter meeting
  • Time spent at the luncheon, business meeting, and travel to and from can all be counted as VS hours.

Field Research/Surveys: Member can earn hours by participating in chapter-sponsored events such as bio-blitzes and birding events. Members are informed of these events by emails from the volunteer service director.
  • Planning, leading, or participating in data collection
  • Includes Field Surveys, Watches, BioBlitzes, Mothing Nights and other scheduled events

Natural Resource Management: Members may earn VS hours by participating in events that help conserve our natural resources, such as cleaning up trash or planting trees. Some events are chapter sponsored, while some are events that the chapter joins with other local organizations.
  • Removing trash and debris from natural areas with a group of chapter members at a scheduled time
  • Participating in community events such as the annual Keep Paris Beautiful Trash-Off
  • Participating in other board-approved events sent out by the volunteer service director
  • Benefits nature by improving the area

Nature/Public Access Activities: Members may earn VS hours by participating in chapter activities that promote the public’s access to natural areas. This includes creating and managing natural trails, wildscapes and interpretive areas.
  • Creating new nature trails
  • Managing existing trails to improve or provide public access
  • Benefits humans through increased access to natural areas

Public Outreach: Members may earn VS hours by leading, organizing, or staffing an educational activity where there is little to no face-to-face contact with the public. This includes creating materials to be viewed by the public.
  • Creating a display for a bulletin board in a public area
  • Creating materials for the chapter’s outreach booths
  • Indirect outreach – no face-to-face contact with the public

Technical Guidance: Members may earn VS hours by providing technical guidance to the public on natural resource management, either in person or through written materials.
  • Providing advice or assistance to landowners or organizations on managing natural resources.
  • May be done through in-person consultations or through written materials

Training and Educating Others: Members may earn VS hours by participating in activities such as outreach boots, presentations to groups, or workshops attended by the general public. This can be done as part of a chapter-sponsored activity or as a guest appearance to an organization or group.
  • Serving as a speaker at a workshop or to an organization
  • Working at an outreach booth to promote the chapter or to educate the public on a topic
  • Direct – Face-to-contact with public

Training and Educating Others / Teaching Basic Training Classes: Members may earn VS hours by preparing, teaching, or assisting with the new member’s Initial Training Classes.
  • Providing technical support to class presenters
  • Helping with class materials and handouts
  • Teaching classes to new members