Upon course completion of the Wenatchee Naturalist program, participants are asked to commit to volunteer with a regional conservation organization of their choice; serving 20+ hours over the course of a one-year period.
Visit the Volunteers page to see how Wenatchee Naturalist have served our watershed.
Code of Ethics
Each participant, in striving to meet the mission of the Wenatchee Naturalist program, pledges to:
- Subscribe to the highest standards of integrity and conduct.
- Promote understanding of, and appreciation for the values of our natural resources.
- Strive to increase personal knowledge and skills while serving as a volunteer.
- Support high standards of education, service and performance.
- Support the use of best scientific practices in education and environmental decisions.
- Support equitable treatment for others engaged in the Wenatchee Naturalist
- Follow established program guidelines and policies while serving as a volunteer.
- Act as a trustworthy and ethical steward of the environment.
Volunteer Pledge
As a Wenatchee Naturalist graduate, I pledge to help foster awareness, understanding, and stewardship of the Wenatchee River region in my community. As a volunteer, I promise to uphold and honor the values presented above in the Wenatchee Naturalist Code of Ethics.
Types of Volunteer Service
Each person can choose the type of service that best fits their interests, abilities, and time constraints. During the course, students will be introduced to regional conservation organizations that welcome volunteers.
There are six basic areas of service:
- Board Service for a conservation non-profit organization including service as a director or committee member.
- Stewardship of the Land Projects— Natural resource management activities, such as invasive species removal or restoration projects, as a volunteer for a local conservation non-profit or agency.
- Place-based Education Projects—Volunteer teachers for local outdoor or museum education projects for school children, preparing educational materials, or leading hikes.
- Community Science Projects— Volunteers gathering data and returning it via the internet to support research projects. Options include national or locally run projects which will all be introduced during the course.
- Wenatchee Naturalist Program Support— Volunteers assist with website, provide photographs, develop curriculum materials, or assist with program activities
- K-12 Teachers, applying naturalists skills within their classroom.