Individual Volunteering
Many of our volunteers have been with Alberta Institute for Wildlife Conservation (AIWC) for a number of years. We salute our past and present volunteers, as they helped us care for over 36,000 animals since we opened. We welcome you as a new volunteer.
The Application Process
- Complete our online volunteer application.
- Once your application is submitted, a member of our team will contact you to let you know of upcoming orientation sessions.
- Applicants will be required to have an interview with members of our team to discuss what roles you are interested in, and answer any questions you may have.
- Upon acceptance to our volunteer program, you will be given the relevant manuals for your positions and asked to pay a $60 processing fee which will include the cost of the manual, and a free individual AIWC membership for 1 year (learn more about member benefits).
Commitment
Due training requirements for a volunteer position with AIWC, which takes significant time away from our existing staff and volunteers, we require a minimum time commitment from our new volunteers. The commitment varies by opportunity.
Opportunities
We are currently accepting applications for our January 2025 recruitment session. Applications are due by January 26, 2025; any applications received after this date will be held until our next recruitment session in September 2025 (role dependent).
While we have outlined several volunteer opportunities below, we are always looking for people that can help further AIWC’s mission in other areas. If you would like to discuss this, please reach out to our Community Engagement Coordinator.
| Title | Description | Commitment | On-site* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Junior Wildlife Rehabilitation Assistant (JWRA) | As a JWRA, you will be responsible for assisting staff members with the daily operations in our wildlife hospital. This will include tasks such as diet preparation, cleaning cages, feeding wildlife, general cleaning (laundry, dishes, sweeping, mopping, etc.), and other miscellaneous tasks around the hospital. If you are interested in learning more about wildlife husbandry, are a hard worker, and don’t mind getting a bit dirty, this position is for you! No previous animal care experience or rabies vaccination is required, but is considered an asset. | Commitment Requirements: At least 1 shift (4-8 hours) weekly. 6 months+ commitment required. | On-Site |
| Rescue Driver | As a rescue driver you will mainly be responsible for rescuing and transporting injured and/or orphaned wildlife to AIWC from across our service area (Didsbury-Nanton, Canmore-Strathmore, and in between). You will be taught how to contain a wide variety of animals, as well as how to evaluate critical injuries and rescue situations. A current rabies vaccination is considered a great asset, but is not required for this position. However, you will need to posses a valid driver’s licence, vehicle insurance, and a reliable means of transportation. | Commitment requirements: Shifts are on-call, but you must commit to at least 12 hours per month during the summer (May-August), and at least 8 hours per month September – April. | On-Site |
| Public Awareness Assistant | As a public awareness assistant, you will be helping with answering questions about AIWC's activities, promoting the organization, and assisting with fundraising efforts at markets and special events. You will always be paired with another volunteer or staff member during your shifts. | There is no monthly commitment required for this role due to the sporadic nature of events; however, we ask that all public awareness volunteers sign up for at least 3-4 events per year. | Off-site |
| Hotline Assistant | Record and respond to calls made after hours to our wildlife hotline. Training and an extensive manual on how to respond to wildlife situations is provided! This role is done from home, but you will need a computer, phone, and working internet connection. | at least 6 hours per month, where you sign up for the shifts that work best with your schedule. | Off-site |
| Facilities Assistant | Assist Facilities Coordinator with maintenance tasks, including building/repairing enclosures, lawn maintenance, site cleanup, and other odd jobs | Commitment is sporadic depending on what is needed, but expect to volunteer at least 12 hours per month in summer and 4-8 hours per month in winter | On-Site |
* requires that you arrange transport to the AIWC site yourself. There is no public transportation. For rescue drivers, you will be asked to use your own vehicle to pick up wildlife and return them to AIWC.
