In 2015, I was an intern at a local environmental organization dedicated to avian conservation and environmental education. A couple of years out of college, I felt comfortable navigating the outdoors, having spent time enjoying the natural wonders of Boulder as a teen and young adult. However, my knowledge of the local ecosystem was limited. Although I had my biology degree, my field days were spent focused on the ecosystems of Arizona, not Colorado.
My boss at the time, recognizing this gap, offered — well, maybe more accurately, directed me to take some time away from work for a volunteer naturalist training program with Boulder County Parks & Open Space (BCPOS). I was familiar with BCPOS, having explored some of their parks before – Betasso Preserve, with the open ponderosa forest, was a particular favorite of mine. However, the idea of naturalist training conjured up some rather . . . unconventional imagery. “Naturalist,” I thought, bewildered, “Like, the completely nude kind?”
No, it was the nature-loving kind. And there I found myself, stepping inside the unassuming seafoam green cottage nestled at Walden Ponds Wildlife Habitat. From a distance, it melts into the surrounding landscape, barely registering among the birds, insects, and trees. Up close, however, the little structure becomes a mystery box, posing the question: “What or who is inside?”
Well, there was a lot of stuff inside. The shelves overflowed with natural treasures: Taxidermy animals, from a bear cub to a sleek mountain lion, and birds of every feather. Rocks and fossils with stories of the past, and leaves, encased in acrylic, capturing the essence of spring. Skulls and bones offered a glimpse into the intricate forms of animals, while detailed models and informative posters dotted the walls. It was a nature nerd’s dream come true!
As I sat interviewing for the volunteer naturalist training, I couldn’t resist letting my gaze wander across the room, taking in the fascinating natural artifacts that surrounded me. Imagining myself using these very tools to ignite a passion for the environment in the people I worked with filled me with excitement. When the email arrived confirming my acceptance into the program, I was thrilled!
For me and many others, volunteering provides a purpose, a sense of accomplishment, and an opportunity to foster community and well-being. Volunteering with BCPOS provides people with all of that, while letting them spend time in the places they love, like the ponderosa forests among the foothills, the cottonwood stands out on the plains, and the snow-packed trails at high altitude.
The Volunteer Naturalist Program
The Volunteer Naturalist program was started in 1975, just as the BCPOS was founded. They both started small, but as the department grew, adding more and more acres of land under its management, so did the need for volunteers. The volunteer naturalists supported the department with different projects, as the scope of work for both the staff and volunteers morphed and changed over time.
Volunteer naturalists were not only “Naturalists” tasked with helping county residents explore and appreciate the natural environment around them, but they were also volunteer historians, agriculturalists, researchers, authors, biologists, botanists, and so much more. Their hat closet was running out of space. In 1982, volunteer naturalists created Nature Detectives, the children’s insert that can be found in the middle of this very publication and every IMAGES publication since. You can also find Nature Detectives Mystery guides and activities in our parks.
By the late 1980s, the number of people from the community proudly rocking the moniker “volunteer naturalist” began to grow. More than 50 volunteer naturalists were helping with all sorts of projects, from researching the farming history of Rock Creek Farm to completing bird surveys at Walden Ponds Wildlife Habitat. Around this time, there were conversations about creating separate volunteer groups, each with its own training and scope of work. From this once-little volunteer program sprang out our cultural history volunteers that you’ll see at the Agricultural Heritage Center and Nederland Mining Museum, volunteer ranger corps patrolling the parks and trails, and a host of other volunteer opportunities that support the work of BCPOS. Today, the legacy of the volunteer naturalists lives on. The Volunteer Naturalist Program has over 100 active volunteers working to connect Boulder County residents and visitors to the wealth of natural resources and beauty that Boulder County has to offer. Volunteer naturalists continue to serve the public, schools and community groups, seniors, and underrepresented populations, through engaging presentations and programming.
In a world that faces constant change and growing challenges around climate and the environment, it’s good to know that the Volunteer Naturalist Program, with roots as extensive as the cottonwood, is still around preparing the next generation of stewards to meet these challenges head-on. Register to attend a volunteer naturalist-run program at boco.org/discover.
How to Get Involved
The Volunteer Naturalist Program seeks volunteers yearly starting in the fall. The application opens in September and closes at the end of October. Candidates are interviewed and selected in November for the following year’s training. The new cohort of eager volunteers begin its journey toward becoming volunteer naturalists with a 10-week training that runs from early January through mid-March. The training covers a wide range of topics, including interpretation basics and classroom management techniques, wildlife, plant ecology, forestry, and the geology of Boulder County. Once trained, volunteers are encouraged to learn from more experienced volunteers through observation and shadowing by attending programs and presentations as they prepare to set off and deliver their very own programs for the community. To access the application and learn more about the specific duties of a volunteer naturalist, visit boco.org/naturalist.