Volunteer Opportunities

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Learn About Nature & Your Valuable Role

At Hawthorne Hill Nature Center, we value volunteers. Kind, helpful, patient people with a sense of humor and a desire to learn should consider joining our team to make new friends while pursuing a common goal to protect our natural world. We encourage individuals, families, and groups from schools, churches, corporations, and youth groups to contact us about volunteer opportunities available. 

Volunteer Opportunities 

Volunteers are needed to help with bird walks, events, outdoor restoration, office hours, and trail monitoring. We welcome both individuals and groups. Outdoor work days are the second Saturday of the month. Please contact Jan Monell, Facility Supervisor at Monell_j@cityofelgin.org or Michelle Brill, Naturalist at brill_m@cityofelgin.org or visit www.cityofelgin.org/254/Volunteer-Opportunities.

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Habitat Outdoor Restoration Work Days at Hawthorne Hill Nature Center

Improve our natural areas by helping to remove invasive plants and shrubs, planting native plants, and general cleanup of trails. We welcome both individuals and groups. Come out and volunteer at Hawthorne Hill Nature Center! Tools are provided. Wear long pants and closed toe shoes. All volunteers must register one week in advance. All volunteers will be required to sign a waiver to participate and register online by registering on the City’s Elgin Allies Volunteer website and we will notify you when a volunteer opportunity comes up that you might enjoy. You will also be able to search for opportunities on your own that fit your schedule, your interest and a cause you want to assist. 

For more information contact Michelle Brill, Naturalist at brill_m@cityofelgin.org or call 847-531-7055.

Volunteer Work Days - Second Saturday of Month beginning April through November. 9am-Noon.

Activities

With training and support from our staff, volunteers do great things, including:

  • Assisting with office work
  • Assisting with programs
  • Caring for trails
  • Greeting visitors
  • Monitoring wildlife
  • Restoring natural areas