Volunteer
People who share their time and skills to benefit nature in our region are at the heart of what we do. It is thanks to hundreds of volunteers that we're able to accomplish so much, and make a difference for the species who call this area home.
Thank you to everyone who applied to be volunteers for the 2026 field season!
Not wanting to commit to a regular monitoring role? Don’t worry—there are one-off opportunities throughout the year. Sign up to keep your email on our list and stay informed through our monthly newsletter!
2026 volunteer recruitment is now closed. Thank you to everyone who applied! Sign up above to stay up to date on future volunteer opportunities.
Help create content for social media and more! We are looking for people who are comfortable using Canva, video editing software, writing and other platforms.
Do you have programming experience and are looking to contribute meaningful volunteer hours with your local land trust? This opportunity may be a great fit for you.
We are launching an exciting virtual community science program for youth volunteers using the Zooniverse platform. Through this project, volunteers will help review trail camera footage collected on our protected nature reserves, generating valuable data on how wildlife interact with different types of fencing across the landscape. This information will directly support conservation planning and wildlife-friendly infrastructure.
To get this project off the ground, we are seeking a volunteer with Python experience to assist with uploading and managing subject sets within our Zooniverse project. Your support will play a key role in helping us launch the program as soon as possible.
We are flexible and happy to work around your availability. Please let us know how much time you are able to contribute.
Location: In Office or Remote
Time Commitment: TBD
Commitment: 2 - 4 hours/mo
Timing: All year
The most common group work in the office is mailings. We do two large mailings per year, (spring & fall) as well as several smaller mailings. Volunteers are absolutely critical to getting these mailings out. We will be in touch when we are ready to fold, stamp and seal those letters!
There is a recurring weekly job doing office reception. This happens at least weekly, volunteers choose their own shifts and hours from a set of available times. We will orient you for the day when you arrive with answering phones, welcoming visitors and doing light admin in the down time. This jobs helps donor dollars go further by increasing staff efficiency – we are so grateful to our reception volunteers!
There are also ongoing jobs that require regular maintenance, these include, but are not limited to;
• Database Work (Computer based)
• Scanning & Filing (Manual)
We also have some special projects, for these projects you can book a time to come in that works for you, and there are some you can do from home! If you are interested in any, please let us know!
• Manage Google Listings (Computer based) - The ideal person would have an understanding of managing these listings, and/or would research best practices – good skill to learn!
• Server Photo & Video File Maintenance (Computer based) - The ideal person will have a familiarity with how the Microsoft Windows file explorer works
• Grant’s Woods Story (Manual) - The ideal people will have an interest in archives and the organization’s history
• Create Social media posts using Canva (Computer Based) - The ideal person will enjoy being creative on a computer
Commitment:Flexible
Individuals: 4-5
Data from our Community science programs comes in at a fast pace from across our Nature Reserves and Conservation Easements. This includes trail cam video, auditory frog and bat call recordings, photos that need identification, and more. As a data volunteer, you will work with a member of the CC Stewardship Team to learn how to extract, organize, and review these data at the CC office in Grant’s Woods. We will then use these data for property management and contributions to provincial, national, and other conservation initiatives.
Skills and Resources Needed:
• Required: Transportation to and from CC Office. Working knowledge of Microsoft Excel and ability to use a Windows laptop. Ability to learn a new program for extracting data (Sonobat or Zooniverse for example).
• Preferred: Knowledge of statistics. Knowledge of our other community science programs that collect the data (Frog Monitoring, Salamander Monitoring, Bat Monitoring, Invasive Species, Wildlife on Roads, etc.). 1- 3 volunteers who are dedicated to learning and sticking with a particular type of data for the season (bats, frogs, trail cam) and 1-2 volunteers that are flexible.
• Training: General Training. Species at Risk. In person training and instructions will be provided.
Available to one student as a thesis or placement project or 2-3 volunteers with experience using Acoustic monitoring devices or Raven software
Song Meter Mini 2 recording devices will be set up at 4-5 nature reserves to remotely capture audio data at set intervals. Each location will have a water temperature and air temperature logger to allow comparison to environmental factors. Raven Pro 1.6 software, will be used to process and identify frogs (and birds) in the recordings. The Couchiching Conservancy will provide all of the required supplies and software.
About: This study aims to investigate frog species diversity, calling intensity, and correlation with water temperature and air temperature
We are looking for a student or a group of volunteers to take this project on.
Schedule:
- February: pre-program all of the devices
- Late Feb/Early March: install the devices at the nature reserves
- Once in May, July, Sept (or as needed): go to sites to download the data and change batteries on the devices
- Oct/Nov, winter : analyze the data using Raven software
- anytime: analyze recorded data from previous years using Raven software
Suggested Skills:
- Experience using Raven software, acoustic monitoring devices, and/or temperature loggers (not mandatory but would be beneficial)
- Comfort working outdoors on own
- Good with technology
- Data management abilities
If you aren’t able to take on this project but have experience with Raven software and would be willing to teach us how to use the software, please reach out.
Available to one student as a thesis or placement project or 2-3 volunteers with experience using Acoustic monitoring devices or Raven software
Song Meter Mini Bat 2 recording devices will be set up at 4-5 nature reserves to remotely capture audio data at set intervals. Each location will have an air temperature logger to allow comparison to environmental factors. SonoBat software, will be used to process and identify bats in the recordings. The Couchiching Conservancy will provide all of the required supplies and software.
About: This study aims to investigate Bat species diversity, timing of activity, and correlation with air temperature.
We are looking for a student or a group of volunteers to take this project on.
Schedule:
- February: pre-program all of the devices
- Late Feb/Early March: install the devices at the nature reserves
- Once in May, July, Sept (or as needed): go to sites to download the data and change batteries on the devices
- Oct/Nov, winter : analyze the data using SonoBat software
- anytime: analyze recorded data from previous years using SonoBat software
Suggested Skills:
- Experience using SonoBat software, acoustic monitoring devices, and/or temperature loggers (not mandatory but would be beneficial)
- Comfort working outdoors on own
- Good with technology
- Data management abilities
If you aren’t able to take on this project but have experience with SonoBat software and would be willing to teach us how to use the software, please reach out.
Positions available: 7-14
Locations: Grant Wetland Nature Reserve, Mclsaac Wetland Nature Reserve, Whitney Wetland Nature Reserve, Prospect Marsh Nature Reserve, Kris Starr Sanctuary, Mitchell-Bruce Nature Reserve, and Taylor Nature Reserve.
Every Conservancy nature reserve has a team of two land stewards that are the eyes and ears on the ground. Land stewards are the trusted experts of their property and gain their knowledge through exploration of the property, meeting staff and other volunteers, and review of stewardship plans.
The main job of a land steward is to know their assigned Nature Reserve. They monitor the trails and boundaries for trail maintenance issues and prohibited activities. Land stewards submit a report after each monitoring visit that helps the staff at The Couchiching Conservancy know what is going on. We also ask for help with:
- identifying species–at-risk and invasive species
- maintenance and stewardship projects which could include installing signs, building boardwalks, or managing invasive species
- providing input in stewardship plans
Skills and Equipment Needed:
- In order to monitor the property boundaries and trail, volunteers should be able to navigate on-trail and off-trail in all seasons. We strongly encourage volunteers to use our Landscape smartphone app to access property maps, track observations and submit monitoring reports, though we can provide paper monitoring reports and maps if preferred.
- Ability to work outdoors in remote areas in varying conditions (warm or cold weather, buggy, muddy areas, no cell-service areas, etc.)
- Snowshoes for going off-trail in winter are recommended, but not necessary.
- Volunteers may also want to bring binoculars, a camera, field guides or a species identification app like iNaturalist or Ebird.
- A first aid kit and letting someone know where you are going are ways to stay safe.
- Dress for the weather and be tick smart when out on the land. High socks over your pants and tucking in your shirts are great ways to keep ticks off your person.
- Please bring your own water and snacks.
Commitment: Four half days per year (spring, summer, fall, and winter) for property visits, visit reporting.
Training Required: We provide
- General orientation of the Couchiching Conservancy
- Working in the field safety training
- Invasive Species ID, Species-at-Risk ID, and Landscape smartphone app courses
- one-on-one field orientation of the property
Note that you may not bring dogs on monitoring trips.
Positions available: 7-14
Locations: Ron Reid Nature Reserve, Alexander Hope Smith Nature Reserve, Adams Nature Reserve, Sedge Wren Nature Reserve, Cameron Ranch Nature (CAPP), and Carthew Bay.
The Property Maintenance volunteers help with larger maintenance projects such as creating foot bridge construction, erecting new property signs, helping with building repairs, and keeping our office in good shape.
The Trail Maintenance Volunteers are a roving team with a passion to keep trails clear of debris and fallen trees. They manage our trail markers, let staff know if there are issues on the trails and require good mobility for some of our rockier trails. Chainsaw knowledge is an asset, but not required.
Skills and equipment needed:
- Carpentry skills, mostly woodworking (foot bridges, boardwalks, and other outdoor structures) but additional skills are handy, such as plumbing and working with concrete.
- Chainsaw training and experience is an asset.
- Experience using weed trimmers and brush saws is an asset.
- Ability to do physically demanding work requiring repetitive motions such as bending, lift, carrying, and hammering.
- Ability to work outdoors in remote areas in varying conditions (warm or cold weather, buggy, muddy trails, etc.)
- Ability to work in teams.
Commitment: Eight half days per year (spring, summer, fall, and winter).
Training: We provide
- General orientation of the Couchiching Conservancy
- Working in the field safety training
- Landscape GPS app training
- Tool safety and use, if needed
Note that you may not bring dogs on Property Maintenance trips to Conservancy properties.
Positions available: 10
Are you passionate to learn about Invasive Species? Join The Couchiching Conservancy for our events as we take volunteers out to Nature Reserves to remove, map and identify invasive vegetation. With your help we can mitigate the spread of these species across the landscape. Invasive species grow at different times of the year, so there is always lots to do.
Volunteers are encouraged to bring their team work skills as we work in groups of all ages to complete each event. Events can vary between staff and self-lead days. When an event is labeled as ‘staff’, that means that a staff member will be on site. When an event is labeled as ‘self-lead’, that requires volunteers to come to the main office of Grants Woods and pick up the tote bucket with the required tools inside before heading out to the Nature Reserve. Close toed shoes, gardening gloves, sunhats and long pants to keep ticks away are recommended. Hand tools such as shovels, pruners, buckthorn extractigators (yes that’s its name) and raspberry cane pruners are all provided. Training on how to use the tools at the start of each event will be given or if you are grabbing a tote box, print out instructions will be inside. Invasive Species removal is hard work and requires someone that is physically capable to bush wack, walk through wet areas and work in deep ditches on roadsides. Driving is required to get to the Nature Reserves and the furthest driving length is 40 minutes from Orillia. First aid kits and safety plans are provided for each event. If being an Invasive Species volunteer is calling you, sign up today!
Skills and equipment needed:
- Able to go off-trail in forests and meadows in varying conditions such as sun, bugs, and occasional muddy areas.
- Able to use Landscape smartphone mapping app, which we provide training for.
Commitment: 5-10 half days per year. Invasive species work can take place throughout the year, though the majority occurs in late spring, summer and fall depending on the species.
Training: We provide
- General orientation of the Couchiching Conservancy
- Working in the field safety training
- Invasive species identification training
- Species-at-risk identification training
- Landscape smartphone app training
Note that you may not bring dogs on Invasive Species trips to Conservancy properties.
Commitment: 2 hours per month
Timing: Spring-Fall
There is no limit on the number of people who take on this job!
Ambassador Volunteers represent the Conservancy at events, markets, trailheads, and through door-to-door outreach, engaging with the community to share our mission and inspire others to take action. Whether answering questions, promoting programs, or encouraging donations, Ambassadors play a key role in raising awareness about conservation.
By volunteering in this role, Ambassadors are the face of the Conservancy, connecting directly with people to foster a deeper appreciation for nature and the importance of land protection. Their efforts help grow our community of conservation supporters, inspire action, and secure resources to protect critical habitats.
Training: We provide.
Roles:
- • Grants Woods Trailhead: Weekends with flexible morning and afternoon shifts.
- • Alexander Hope Smith Trailhead: Every third Saturday of the month, with paired shifts due to the remote location.
- • Orillia Farmers’ Market: Monthly on the second Saturday, morning and afternoon shifts.
- • Barrie Farmers’ Market: Monthly on the last Saturday, morning and afternoon shifts.
Ambassadors are so critical to our work, that we have an entire webpage dedicated to this volunteer team. You can read more here!
Positions available: 5
Currently looking to fill: Jennett Woods NR & Agnew-Melnyk NR (2 people) | Grant Wetland NR & Wilson Point Wetland NR (1 person) | Prospect Marsh NR & Ling Easement (1 person) | Adams Nature Reserve (1 person)
There are eight species of bats in Ontario, and most of them are listed as endangered. Bats are active at night, emitting echolocation which cannot be heard by humans.
Bat Monitoring teams of 2-3 are assigned a property and cover a designated set of stations. Using an Echo Meter Touch 2 Pro, you will record the echolocation calls of bats for 15 minutes at each station, these can then be analyzed to determine species.
Commitment: Must be available to make three evening visits of approximately 2 hours each in from late May to early August, during your assigned dates (we organize monitoring dates based on everyone's availability in the program).
Skills and equipment needed: You will need a headlamp and something to protect you from the bugs – a bug jacket and gloves are recommended. You need to be confident that you can navigate along a trail in the dark, and be comfortable using a smart phone/tablet.
Training Required: There is no experience necessary, we will train you on how to use the bat monitoring equipment. You will need to take the following training Orientation (TBD) and Bat Monitoring (TBD), and NHIC data sensitivity training (this can be done at home). Species at Risk training is optional (TBD).
Note that you may not bring dogs on monitoring trips.
Positions available: 3-4
Our biggest fundraiser of the year is the Carden Challenge! This has teams of birders try and identify as many birds as they can in a 24 hour-period. Last year participants spotted 177 species! This year the day will involve a guided two hour birding walk & lunch at the Carden Alvar for those not yet ready to commit to the full 24-hour event. We’re looking for 3-4 people to help set up/take down tables & chairs, assist the catered buffet meal, and clean up. Morning volunteers can accompany on the bird walk & evening volunteers can join for dinner.
Commitment: 4 hours. Must be available Saturday May 23.
Required: Ability to lift and carry plastic tables and chairs, and walk uneven outdoor terrain for 2 hours. Must have driver’s Licence and vehicle to get to Carden Recreation Centre and back.
Positions available: 5
Alvar is a rare habitat type that is important for many of Ontario’s declining grassland bird species. The Carden Bird Blitz is one of the few long-term monitoring programs for grassland species in the province, the data collected will help to inform the management of the park along with the wider region. The Bird Blitz consists of 32 stations within Carden Alvar Provincial Park and Bluebird Ranch Nature Reserve. Each of these stations is surveyed by a team of 3-5 people for 5 minutes, marking down each bird, along with any fly-overs, time, and direction. Each team will survey 3-4 stations between 7am and 10am. These surveys are designed to collect data on all bird species observed at each station.
Commitment: This is a one day event on Saturday June 13th from 6am-noon with the rain date on Sunday June 14th.
Required skills: Each team needs to have at least one advanced birder (both by sight and sound, including some of the particular rarities in Carden). The rest of the team can me made up of intermediate and beginner birders (this is encouraged and is a great way to find out how to conduct point counts). You do not need to have a team to participate, we will place you where we need positions filled.
Equipment needed: You will need binoculars (we can provide these if needed). Someone on your team will need to have either a phone using the Landscape app (or a navigating app you are comfortable with such as Avenza), or a GPS. This person needs to be able to navigate to several points using the phone or GPS. Ideally someone on your team will have a camera with a zoom for documenting rare species. Being able to use Merlin sound ID would also be a benefit, again to document rare or difficult to ID species (we do not rely on Merlin to ID birds in the field, but we do use it to record species and verify them later if necessary).
Training Required: We may set up training for how to conduct point counts and for bird ID. All participants are encouraged to practice their bird ID skills using resources like Dendroica (this one is free, we have a document on how to use this) or Larkwire. You will need to take the following training: Orientation (TBD), and Carden Bird Blitz point count training at Bluebird Ranch (mid-late May). Species at Risk training is optional (TBD). NHIC data sensitivity training is also optional but encouraged (this can be done at home).
Note that you may not bring dogs on monitoring trips.
Positions available: 5
Many reptile species in our region are at risk either federally, provincially, or both. For this reason we will be focusing on finding some of these at risk species. The reptile monitoring program has evolved from monitoring specific Nature Reserves to surveying for certain species and will now consist of two branches: Snake Board Surveys and Targeted Species Surveys.
Targeted species surveys
- Volunteers will be spaced evenly (2-3m apart) and survey transects of certain habitats
- Surveys will be different depending on the species but may include:
- Paddling (turtles, aquatic, and semi-aquatic snakes)
- Using chest waders in wetlands (turtles, aquatic, and semi-aquatic snakes)
- Walking transects off trail (Massasauga, Eastern Hog-nosed, Smooth Green, and other snakes)
- Using the Landscape app to collect data
- Record species locations and photos
- Habitats and areas of interest for surveys will be visible on the map
- Tracks of each surveyor will be recorded to gauge search effort
Training Required: We will train you on how to identify the reptiles in our region, and how to conduct the surveys. You will need to take the following training Orientation (TBD), Reptile Monitoring (TBD), and NHIC data sensitivity training (this can be done at home). Species at Risk training is optional (TBD).
Equipment Needed: Binoculars and a smart phone that you can use to submit monitoring visits through the Landscape mobile app (we would provide you with an account). A camera with a zoom lens is encouraged (we have easy-to-use cameras we can loan you)
Note that you may not bring dogs on any reptile monitoring trips.
Grassland birds are one of the fastest declining groups of birds in North America as they contend with land use changes and pressures throughout their entire range. In our region we are lucky to have the Carden Alvar, with habitat suitable for a wide variety of grassland birds, but this is still not enough space in the larger scheme of the declines they face. For these surveys we are focusing our efforts on private agricultural land where we hope to find breeding birds.
Commitment: Grassland Bird Surveyors (usually a team of 1 or 2) will conduct point counts using eBird, these checklists will then be shared with the Couchiching Conservancy. We ask that Surveyors make at least 3 visits, but they are encouraged to
Skills and equipment needed: Good hearing and eyesight are required. You will need EBird, access to a vehicle, binoculars, and comfortable using a smart phone.
Training Required: There is no experience necessary, we will train you on how to identify the target species and how to conduct the surveys. There will be a new volunteer orientation session (1.5 hr – April), In-person and online training (2-3 hr – April), and outdoor training TBD.
Note that you may not bring dogs on monitoring trips.
Positions available: 5
Many reptile species in our region are at risk either federally, provincially, or both. For this reason we will be focusing on finding some of these at risk species. The reptile monitoring program has evolved from monitoring specific Nature Reserves to surveying for certain species and will now consist of two branches: Snake Board Surveys and Targeted Species Surveys.
Snake board surveys
About: Description:
Now apart of our 2026/27 Passport to Nature Program, these events will require registration. Sign up for our newsletter to be alerted when it opens!
A BioBlitz is like a nature scavenger hunt – scientists, naturalists and curious community members team up to find and record as many species as possible in a single day.
These one-day events, led by our Stewardship staff and experts, help us to understand the biodiversity of our nature reserves and contribute to real conservation research. This year, one day will take place at Kris Starr Sanctuary in the Carden area and one day will be at Blackwell Brady Clark, the Couchiching Conservancy’s newest nature reserve near Washago.
Commitment: 2 full days
Skills and Resources Needed:
- Required:
Phone with camera. Fitness/Ability to walk the property for several hours and navigate (can use Landscape or other means if needed). Binoculars. Transportation to and from the Nature Reserve. Bring your own water and snacks if desired. High rubber boots
- Preferred: o Ability to use iNaturalist, Merlin, and/or eBird. If not, must send pictures to CC so we can confirm IDs at the end of the event. Identification knowledge of one or more taxa (birds, reptiles, amphibians, mammals, trees, fungi, grasses, invasive plants, etc.)
- Training we provide: Species At Risk. Invasive Species. General Training. Volunteers will receive info on directions, parking, carpool, etc. beforehand. On the day instructions will be provided.
Note that you may not bring dogs on monitoring trips.
JOBS AT CAPACITY FOR THIS YEAR
Positions available: 2-4
Currently looking to fill roles at: Grant Wetland - 1 ; Adams Nature Reserve (evening or weekend availability) - 1.
About: This is our benchmark Community Science program, which began in 2015. Water Teams test for up to 9 different water quality parameters on-site including Temperature, Depth, pH, Dissolved Oxygen, Phosphates, Turbidity, Alkalinity, Nitrate-Nitrogen, Conductivity, and sometimes Chlorides.
Commitment: Volunteer teams visit their assigned stream site once per month when the water is free of ice (~April to Nov). Surveys take approximately 1 hour to complete (not including the time it takes to reach the site). Training is mandatory (see below).
Training:
- Step 1: In-person group training: Learn about the basics of hydrology, monitoring methods, safety, and take a look at the monitoring kits. DATE: Saturday May 3, 10 am – 2:00 pm. If you are a new volunteer, you must be able to attend training on this date.
- Step 2: Supplementary: Online resources cover hydrology basics
- Step 3: Site orientation: A Couchiching Conservancy staff member will go with you for your first monitoring visit to show you your monitoring site and go over the monitoring methods
Please be aware that this job involves…
Handling chemicals with safety warnings (gloves and goggles provided)
Likely encounters with ticks, mosquitoes and other bugs
Walking down sloping stream banks
Wet, muddy, and uneven terrain
Carrying an awkwardly shaped tote bag and crate from your car to your monitoring site (distances vary)
…Peaceful sounds of fresh running water and the knowledge that you are contributing to water quality science in the Great Lakes region.
Note that you may not bring dogs on monitoring trips.
Positions available: 0
About: Check water levels at a wetland at a Couchiching Conservancy Nature Reserve. This information will help advice the stewardship activities of Conservancy staff.
Commitment: Volunteer teams visit their assigned site once per month when the water is free of ice (~April to Nov). We have one site, on Monck Rd, that will take 10 minutes to check, and another site in Orillia that will take 30 minutes to check water levels at various locations.
Training:
- In-person group training: Learn about the basics of hydrology, monitoring methods, safety, and take a look at the monitoring kits. This training is mandatory for new volunteers. The second half of this training is optional for water level volunteers, since you will not be using the water quality kits.
DATE: Saturday May 3, 10 am – 2:00 pm. If you are a new volunteer, you must be able to attend training on this date. - Site orientation: A Couchiching Conservancy staff member will go with you for your first monitoring visit to show you your monitoring site and go over the monitoring methods
Please be aware that this job involves…
Handling chemicals with safety warnings (gloves and goggles provided)
Likely encounters with ticks, mosquitoes and other bugs
Walking down sloping stream banks
Wet, muddy, and uneven terrain
Carrying an awkwardly shaped tote bag and crate from your car to your monitoring site (distances vary)
…Peaceful sounds of fresh running water and the knowledge that you are contributing to water quality science in the Great Lakes region.
Note that you may not bring dogs on monitoring trips.
About: Volunteers are assigned a patch of milkweed to survey for monarch eggs and caterpillars. Volunteers report on the characteristics of the milkweed patch and the number of monarchs counted.
Commitment: Volunteer teams visit their assigned site once per month from June – September. Surveys take approximately 1 hour to complete (not including the time it takes to reach the site). The surveys are done 3 weeks apart to give the monarchs time to grow up and leave the patch. This prevents double-counting individual monarchs. Training is mandatory (see below).
Training: Volunteer training will take place in late May to early June and will involve:
- Step 1: In-person group training: Learn about the basics of monarch monitoring in a classroom setting: DATES-May 29th, Grant’s Woods, 2:00 pm - 4:00 pm
- Step 2: Supplementary:: provided for reference, including a printed monitoring manual, and online resources.
- Step 3: Site orientation: A Couchiching Conservancy staff member will go with you for your first monitoring visit to show you your monitoring site and go over the monitoring methods
Please be aware that this job involves…
Likely encounters with ticks, mosquitoes and other bugs
Repeatedly bending down to carefully inspect 60 milkweed plants
Spending ~ 1 hr with little shade available
…the chance to observe the beauty of monarchs at all stages of their lifecycle and discover the biodiversity found in meadow/open habitats.
Positions available - 0
About: Daytime monitoring focus specifically on identifying Western chorus frogs (a species-at-risk).
Timing: In teams of two, volunteers make 3 visits to their assigned monitoring site when the air temperature is above 5°C. Visits are made between 10 am and 6 pm and is typically done in the early spring (late March - mid May). Must have at least 24 hours between monitoring visits. Each survey takes 7-17 minutes (not including time to drive and hike to your site).
Training:
- How to Frog Monitor Workshop: mandatory for new volunteers and optional for returning volunteers. This workshop covers the monitoring methods and reviews how to identify different species of frogs.
DATES: Friday Feb 14th, 2025 2:00 pm – 4:30 pm, Grant’s Woods - Frog Call Review: mandatory for returning volunteers, this workshop covers how to identify each species of frog.
DATES: Thursday Feb 13th, 2025 5:30 pm – 6:30 pm, Grant’s Woods
DATES: Friday March 14th, 2025 12 pm – 1:30 pm, Zoom - Online Resources: volunteers can review frog calls online using the app EdApp, at any time.
- Site orientation: A Couchiching Conservancy staff member will go with you for your first monitoring visit to show you your monitoring site and go over the monitoring methods.
Please be aware that this job involves:
- Listening to a jumble of frog calls and identifying individual species (ie. Requires good hearing)
- Navigating nature reserve trails in the dark (uneven ground)
- Mosquitoes and biting bugs
…an immersive experience in the sounds of spring
Salamanders as a whole can be considered a good indicator of a healthy environment due to their life history and ecology. They are abundant in healthy habitats but are scarce in degraded habitats. The eastern red-backed salamander, being lungless and therefore breathing through their skin, are particularly good indicator species due to their sensitivities to stressors in the environment. This is the salamander we will be targeting during this monitoring survey. This is done by placing artificial cover objects, also known as “salamander boards” in the forest. These boards provide habitat for eastern red-backed salamanders, and allow us to monitor their population over time. Volunteers will lift these boards and record the species and number of salamanders underneath.
Commitment: Teams of two are assigned a Nature Reserve to monitor, each one has 40 salamander boards that are checked 3 times in the spring and 3 times in the autumn. Some teams may also make additional visits in the spring if they have vernal pools at the Nature Reserve. Each site visit varies in length depending on the Nature Reserve, but is generally around 2-3 hours.
Training Required: There is no experience necessary, we will train you on how to identify the salamanders in our region, and how to conduct the surveys. There will be a new volunteer orientation session - which will include how to use an app called Landscape on your mobile phone to navigate to sites and record data from visits. There will also be an in-class training session specific to salamander monitoring in March. For your first field visit, you will be accompanied by the program coordinator to walk you through your site and the process.
Equipment needed: A smart phone that you can use to submit monitoring visits through the Landscape mobile app (we would provide you with an account). Wet weather clothes, rubber boots, and a bug jacket/net.
*This position does not allow for the handling of wild animals, including the target species.
Note that you may not bring dogs on monitoring trips.
Positions Available: 1-3
Commitment:
- Meet once per month (Zoom) with our Conservation Analyst (Aiesha) and the other members of the GIS team
- A few hours per month, passive.
Required Skills:
- Educational or professional experience with GIS
- Experience using ArcGIS Pro and ArcGIS Online
- Email and written communication skills
- Programming experience (optional)
Wildlife on Roads Job Description:
Positions available:
Summary:
Roads impact species movement and cause animal mortality. The data from this project helps us understand what species are impacted, while supporting the need for mitigation measures, such as eco-passages and exclusion fencing. At least once a month from spring – fall, trained volunteers walk along their assigned section of road and record observations of dead/injured/alive animals using iNaturalist.
Commitment:
Must be available to complete your monitoring visit at least once a month from April - October. Visits will take 1-2 hours to complete.
Site Location: Between Sebright and Uphill, Kawartha Lakes.
Skills needed:
• Able and willing to walk ~2 KM along road shoulder
• Able and willing to photograph roadkill
• Good vision
• Able and willing to remove roadkill from the road
• Able to bend and squat
• Road awareness and safety
Equipment Required:
* Indicates equipment will be provided by The Couchiching Conservancy
• Smartphone with functioning camera
• *Hi-vis vest
• *Measuring tape
• *Pylons
Training Required:
All training is provided by The Couchiching Conservancy upon confirmation of volunteer position.
In person classroom and field training, where you will learn:
• Why the information you collect is important
• How to survey a road for wildlife
• How to record your observations on smartphone app iNaturalist
• What we will do with the data
Positions available – 0
About: There are nine frogs and one toad species in our region. In teams of two, volunteers visit their assigned wetland sites and report on frog activity, identifying the species by their calls.
Timing: Evening monitoring takes place at least a 1/2 hour after sunset Each survey takes 7-17 minutes (not including time to drive and hike to the site). It is important not to miss monitoring visits in order to make the collected data valid for data analysis. One trip is made in each timeframe:
- Visit 0: if temperatures warm up early, then volunteers will have to make an extra visit in March or early April
- Visit 1: Once between April 14th and 21st
- Visit 2: Once between May 14th and 21st
- Visit 3: Once between June 14th and 21st
Training:
- How to Frog Monitor Workshop (February/March): mandatory for new volunteers and optional for returning volunteers. This workshop covers the monitoring methods and reviews how to identify different species of frogs.
DATES: Friday Feb 14th 2:00 pm – 4:30 pm, Grant’s Woods - Frog Call Review: mandatory for returning volunteers, this workshop covers how to identify each species of frog.
DATES: Thursday Feb 13th, 5:30 pm – 6:30 pm, Grant’s Woods
DATES: Friday March 14th, 12 pm – 1:30 pm, Zoom - Online Resources: volunteers can review frog calls online using the app EdApp, at any time.
- Site orientation: A Couchiching Conservancy staff member will go with you for your first monitoring visit to show you your monitoring site and go over the monitoring methods.
Please be aware that this job involves…
- Listening to a jumble of frog calls and identifying individual species (ie. Requires good hearing)
- Navigating nature reserve trails in the dark (uneven ground)
- Driving to and from your monitoring site at night time
- Mosquitoes and biting bugs (standing still at a wetland at night for 7-17 min)
…Magical experiences where choruses of frogs call out from the misty wetland while an owl hoots in the distance and fireflies dance around you
Note that you may not bring dogs on monitoring trips.
Questions?
Email Jocelyn Trudell at engage@couchconservancy.ca for inquiries.