Volunteer Opportunities

Community groups and volunteers play a vital role in helping us to reach our goals. In the past three years more than 30 groups have worked with us and more than 2,140 individuals have donated 13,700 hours of volunteer time.

If you would like to help to:

• improve fish habitat
• help in research, for example: monitoring fish (through electrofishing and trout spawning surveys) or frogs and other wildlife
• help cleanup sections of the river, conservation areas, trails, or local parks
• plant trees, shrubs or work in the CVC nursery to help irrigate, organize plants, and pot trees and shrubs
• work to maintain or repair trails throughout the watershed
• help to educate children at the Peel Children's Water Festival
• provide gardening assistance at the Belfountain Conservation Area

Please check out our Stewardship Activity Calendar or our Electrofishing Calendar for current opportunities.

Volunteering: Safety First!

Please remember volunteers should:

Wear long sleeves and long pants - to protect you from insect bites and from getting scratched by plants. Work gloves are also a help for heavy work.

Wear boots or sturdy shoes - especially for tree planting and trail work - safety boots are even better.

Dress for the weather - wear layers to be able to add or remove clothes depending on the weather.

Protect yourself from the sun - wear a hat, sunscreen and sunglasses, especially if you are going to work around water.

Wear insect repellent - for protection from mosquitoes, adults should use a repellent with a 30 DEET rating, children, no higher than 10.

Be aware of poisonous plants, such as poison ivy, and other hazards. Working outdoors may bring you in contact with unfamiliar plants, insects and situations. CVC staff are happy to talk to you about any concerns you might have.