Help preserve the environment while learning new skills and even help introduce others to the great outdoors. This week, our voluntourism spotlight highlights the Dan River Basin Association, located in Collinsville, Virginia, and headquartered in Eden, North Carolina. Learn more about their volunteer program in this weekend’s broadcast of Peter Greenberg Worldwide and check back every Wednesday for more voluntourism opportunities.
By volunteering at the Dan River Basin Association, you can become part of a meaningful movement to save Virginia’s natural environment and aid in local economic development. Volunteers are needed in following three areas:
Learn: Help out with the Explorer Club, a free day camp for kids that provides exposure to the outdoors while educating about nature. Assignments could last from one hour to a few days. If you happen to be knowledgeable about a certain aspect of the environment, presenters are needed for informative talks in classrooms, companies, and organizations.
Play: Volunteer to lead a hike for local schools or companies. You can also lend a helping hand in preparations for one of the dozen festivals held each year; activities may include float decoration, setting up and running different booths, or cleaning up after the festivities.
Care: Focus on rebuilding and preserving the local flora and fauna as a Trail Builder. No experience is necessary and you will get to work outside and have fun. Volunteers are also needed to raise awareness about environmental issues affecting the local areas. You can also volunteer for training and get hands-on experience testing the water quality of nearby rivers and streams.
It is easy to become a volunteer. Once you have reviewed the opportunities and found ones that interest you, just fill out the volunteer application and return it to volunteers@danriver.org. If you have any questions, or need help choosing a volunteer area, call (336) 627-6270 or send an email to the above address. There are opportunities to help in both Virginia and North Carolina, so visit the Dan River Association Volunteer Page for specific details and contact information.
By Ashleigh Whelan for PeterGreenberg.com
