How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world.

Join our Volunteer Community

Potawatomi Wildlife Park relies on volunteers to deliver on its mission. Thanks to the simple contribution of your time, the park’s legacy for future generations will endure. Our volunteers provide various levels of support—whether physical labor to help maintain trails and facilities, help staffing an event, or providing other skills and expertise relevant to our operations as a non-profit, there is an opportunity for everyone to contribute. Volunteer as an individual, a family, a school or work group, or grab a friend. The gift of your time is deeply appreciated.

Volunteers who dedicate 40 or more hours in a year and are not part of the board, a committee, or a task force will be eligible to receive a complimentary ticket to our annual spring banquet.

1st Step: Volunteer Inquiry Form (Let us know your availability and interests)

2nd Step: The park manager will reach out to schedule a 1 hour UTV park tour. This step helps you see the park as a whole and its needs. Maybe something will strike your interest.

3rd Step: After UTV Tour fill out a Volunteer Waiver Form

4th Step: Schedule your first volunteer day with the park manager.

A sample list of volunteer opportunities

• Reset Visitor center (Clean all glass, dust wood, put interactive pieces back in place, sweep and mop floors)

• Weed Visitor center sidewalk kindness rock garden

• Weed Front sign at the road

• Weed Bessinger Pavilion Firepit area and 2 small landscaping spaces

• Weed Eagles Nest

• Reset Visitor center bathrooms (Spray all bathroom down with hose and soap foamer, use broom on any areas needing cleaning, rinse all down, scrub toilets)

• Reset Bessinger Pavilion bathrooms (Spray all bathroom down with hose and soap foamer, use broom on any areas needing cleaning, rinse all down, scrub toilets)

• Reset Check in boxes at 2 locations (Put new check in cards out, open locked donation box and collect filled out cards and bring back to office)

• Collect trash bags throughout the park (5 locations) and place in dumpster

• Fill Bird Feeders at visitor center

• After bird nesting season clean and repair bird houses as needed

• Clean and repair wood duck boxes with waders and kayak through park water areas

• Cut Invasive honeysuckle, spray cut, and pile branches for new animal habitat

• Clean Display boards throughout the park (rag and spray bottle)

• Social Media and Email blast help - Take pictures or videos of animals or cool plants seen at the park. Park Manager would then use it for social media and email education

• Pick-up sticks that have fallen on the paths

• Mow the trails with zero turn lawn mower (On average takes 12 - 18 hours to mow the park each week)

• Weed wack around all display signs, fence posts, and benches throughout the park. We have an electric weed wacker.

• Split wood for community events, groups, and to heat the bathrooms throughout the winter

• Sweeping shop floor and help put away tools

• Write a personal thank you letter to donors "Everything we do is made possible by the generosity of our donors. Each month, we’re grateful to receive support from individuals who believe in our mission. While we’d love to personally thank each one with a handwritten note, it’s not always feasible—and that’s where you can help. These letters are simple but meaningful: a heartfelt thank you paired with a story or memory from the park to show the impact of their gift."

• Help prepare for monthly community events - June 15, 2025 (SUNDAY) Father's Day Event, July 25, 2025 (FRIDAY) Community Campout, September 6, 2025 (SATURDAY) Fishing Derby and Pancake Breakfast

• Help Prepare for field trips or scheduled groups coming.

• And so much more!