SAMPLING OUR WATER. If you want to do work in the field, this is the volunteer role for you. We’ll be collecting samples from our streams and groundwater on a quarterly basis. Groundwater sampling focused in Woodbury, surface water samples taken from the main stem of the Pomperaug in Woodbury and Southbury. We also conduct an annual Macroinvertebrate Survey in the fall.
CREATIVE WRITING AND JOURNALISM. Are you a story teller? Put your writing skills to use by contributing to our quarterly newsletter or writing press releases for our local papers. You could write about an upcoming or recent event, research and report on a current issue, or share a creative piece related to water.
SPREADING THE NEWS. (A-team) Our quarterly newsletter is mailed to about 1500 households, and each label is placed by hand. Not the most glamorous job, but certainly one of the most instantly gratifying for seeing results of your service. Also one for which we are eternally grateful to the volunteers who help! (Street Team) Do you stop and browse the community bulletin boards (at the library, grocery store, coffee shop, etc) to find out about fun activities coming up in the area? We do! It’s a great way to spread the word. If you’re out and about a lot, maybe you could help us hang a few posters or drop of brochures and newsletters in your travels. Let us know if you’re interested, and we’ll add you to a list of volunteers to contact when we have materials to get out to the community.
GENERAL OFFICE HELP. Do like working behind the scenes? We periodically have filing, collating, photocopying, record keeping, scanning, data entry, and general organizing that needs to be done. Some tasks require computer skills, but not all.
GRAPHIC DESIGN AND PUBLISHING. Are you computer savvy? Do you have a knack for design and layout? Put your talents to use by helping us design program announcements, laying out the newsletter, or working on other educational and promotional materials.
PLANNING EVENTS AND PROJECTS. Are you creative, organized, detail oriented, good at multitasking, and work well with others? If so, you have the exact talents we’re looking for people to help coordinate educational programs, fundraising events, and community-based stream projects. Depending on your specific area of interest, we would love to have you join one of our committees that plan activities for the watershed community: Development, Stream, Science, or Education.
RESEARCH. Are you good at sleuthing out information? With your quest for knowledge, you would also be an asset on our Science or Stream Committee that works to further the Coalition’s understanding of important watershed dynamics and identify strategies to conduct scientific investigations.
CREATING PROPS AND DISPLAYS. Do you like to make things? Or work with your hands? In our quest to teach the community about the river, we like to use hands-on activities where participants can see, touch, smell, taste, and/or hear what they are learning about. That usually requires some sort of prop or other creative media for conveying the message. Put your creative talents to use and help others gain a deep appreciation for the river and surrounding community.
SHARING YOUR LOVE OF WATER WITH YOUR NEIGHBORS. Do you love the Pomperaug River and its surroundings? And are you a teacher at heart? You might really enjoy talking to your friends and neighbors about the river and watershed while representing the PRWC at a festival or fair or helping with a program in our local schools.
JOIN A COMMITTEE. If you want to combine your talents and interests and steer some of the efforts of the Coalition, please consider joining one of our active committees (below). Committees typically meet once per month and committee members work on specific project tasks between meetings.
Science Committee. Continue the development of relevant scientific studies and analysis, including modeling and water sampling while collaborating with relevant partners, institutions and agencies. Utilize results and scientific knowledge to influence decision-makers through education and leadership.
Stream Committee. Develops and conducts activities that aid in the assessment of the physical and biological characteristics of the rivers in the watershed; to use the results of these activities to help inform the community and proper authorities of any problems requiring attention and advocate action that will improve the quality of the riparian habitat. Engage volunteers for the purpose of conducting activities such as the macroinvertebrate sampling, stream assessments, and improvement projects.
Education, Outreach, Marketing Committee. Review, help develop and implement education and outreach efforts to members, the general public and decision makers. Develop marketing and special event materials as well as press coverage and electronic media.
Development Committee. Develops and stewards a plan for sustainable funding. Activities include but are not limited to grant research and grant writing, planning fundraising events, cultivating donors, and building corporate partnerships.
“CHOOSE YOUR OWN ADVENTURE.” Have another talent? Or have idea for a project? Fill in the blank for how you can contribute your services in a way that will help keep our water pure and plentiful. Perhaps you are good at making maps, are savvy with social networking media, good at filming and editing, designing websites, telling jokes, illustrating, or have another interesting talent. Sometimes you don’t know what kind of help you need or could use until someone tells you what they are good at. If you have a special talent you’d like to share, please let us know! |
