Volunteer

Duties: The primary roles at the front desk are to welcome visitors to The Ridges Nature Center, provide information on the history and mission of the organization, and answer questions regarding trails and programs. Ideally, this position may also assist staff with handling trail fees, gift shop sales, online sales, new and renewing memberships, and program reservations.  

Impact: A volunteer at the front desk is the first person a visitor interacts with when they visit The Ridges Sanctuary. This volunteer has the opportunity to excite visitors and give them a reason to love this place as much as we do! 

Time commitment: The day is divided into two shifts. During the Spring, Summer, Fall the morning shift is 9am-12:30 pm. The afternoon shift is 12:30pm – 4 pm. In the winter the times are 10:00 am – 12:30pm and 12:30pm – 3:00 pm. Volunteers generally choose a weekly spot to keep a consistent schedule. 

Training: Volunteers will be provided the resources needed to be knowledgeable about The Ridges and the training necessary to process sales. The new volunteer will be paired with an experienced volunteer (or staff person). Group trainings may also be held at the start of the high season. 

Contact: Mary Beth Anschutz, marybeth@ridgessanctuary.org 

Position: Wednesday Crew 

Duties: The Wednesday Crew is dedicated to maintaining and improving The Ridges’ facilities, which enhance visitor experience and appreciation. You’ll work with an enthusiastic group of people in maintaining the Ridges’ buildings, grounds, and properties including building projects in the workshop, building and maintaining boardwalks and bridges, and maintaining hiking trails and informational displays. The time commitment is Wednesday mornings 8:30 – 11:30 am in summer and 9:00 – 11:30 am in winter. 

Location: The Ridges Workshop 

Impact: The Wednesday Work Crew is dedicated to maintaining and improving the Ridges facilities that allow visitors to experience and appreciate the importance of Environmental Stewardship in our world. 

Time Commitment: Wednesday mornings 8:30 – 11:30 summer. 9:00 – 11:30 winter. 

Training: Experience with shop power tools is beneficial but not required. Anyone using a chainsaw must be certified.  

Position: Logan Creek Stewards 

Duties: The Logan Creek Stewards are dedicated to maintaining The Ridges’ 175-acre satellite Logan Creek property on Clark Lake just south of Jacksonport. Major activities include bridge and trail maintenance, invasive species management, and assisting staff with monitoring and research efforts at the preserve. 

Location: Meet at Logan Creek Preserve, 5724 Loritz Road, Jacksonport. 

Time Commitment: The crew meets on the first and third Thursday of every month, April to September. Additional dates may be scheduled depending on need. 

Training: Experience with power tools is beneficial but not required. Anyone using a chainsaw must be certified. 

Position: Barberry Pirates 

Duties: Help protect the incredible native biodiversity at The Ridges Sanctuary!  The Barberry Pirates work closely with staff to manage invasive species at The Ridges. Work involves removing and bagging invasive plants. Wear appropriate footwear, long sleeves, and gloves. Tools and equipment will be provided.  

Location: The Cook-Albert Fuller Nature Center 

Time Commitment: The group typically meets once a month from May through September, 9:00-12:00. Consult our online calendar, printed program guide, VicNet or staff member for upcoming dates. 

Position: Garden Keepers 

Duties: The Garden Keepers maintain the front gardens and other landscaped areas at The Ridges Sanctuary, with a focus on providing diverse, native plantings that provide valuable pollinator habitat as well as being visually attractive to visitors. Activities include weeding and mulching garden beds, establishing and caring for native plants, seed collecting, and other miscellaneous garden work. No gardening experience necessary. Bring gloves and gardening tools if you have them. 

Location: The Cook-Albert Fuller Nature Center and Upper Range Light 

Time Commitment: Garden Keepers meet every Tuesday, 9:00-11:30 am, May to October. There may be additional dates scheduled for late-winter pruning and seed cleaning. 

Contact: Sam Hoffman, sam@ridgessanctuary.org or Victoria Holderer, victoria@ridgessanctuary.org for Garden Keepers

Contact: Tony Kiszonas, tony@ridgessanctuary.org

Position: Guided Hike Leader 

Duties: Inspire our visitors through education. Guide individuals through sanctuary to share cultural history and natural history of The Ridges Sanctuary as well as flora and fauna found along the trails. The ultimate goal is to leave individuals inspired and motivated to come back and join our organization in the future. 

Location: Guided Hikes begin at the Cook-Albert Fuller Nature Center unless otherwise noted. Daily Guided Hike ventures along the Hidden Brook Boardwalk, to the Upper Range Light, and along Mountain Maple Loop.  

Impact: Hike leaders have the opportunity to excite and inspire our visitors by showing them the many unique and interesting facts that the Ridges has to offer. 

Time Commitment: Guided Hikes usually last 1.5 hours, depending on the size and enthusiasm of the group. Guided hikes start at 10:00am every day except Sunday, May 1 to October 31. Winter guided hikes are offered on Fridays at 1:30pm and on Saturdays at 10:30am and 1:30pm from January 1 to March 31. You may wish to spend additional time scouting the trail to look for teaching opportunities. 

Training: Trainings will be offered throughout the hiking season. You will receive an example hike script packet and can partner up with an experienced hike leader and follow them on their guided hikes as a Hike Sweep (see description below). Training can be accomplished at your own pace. If you only wish to be a Hike sweep, you can do that as well. 

Position: Hike Sweep 

Duties: Assist with Guided Hike Leaders by answering participant questions and taking up the rear position to ensure the group stays together. Hike Sweeps are a great way to learn more about flora and fauna of The Ridges, engage with visitors one on one, and train to be a Guided Hike Leader! We encourage sweeping for more than one leader to see a diversity of teaching styles. 

Time Commitment: The same as Guided Hikes. 

Training: Trainings will be offered throughout the hiking season. You will receive an example hike script packet and will learn by partnering with experienced hike leaders.  

Position: Trail Docent 

Duties: Trail Docents will meet and greet visitors who may not have had a one-on-one interaction at the Nature Center or may have a question while exploring the trails. The presence of Trail Docents will help enhance the visitor experience of those hiking in the sanctuary. 

Trail Docents answer visitor questions; point visitors in the direction of certain trails, landmarks, or buildings; and ensure that trail conditions are safe for visitors. They have the flexibility of being stationed in one area or walking down trails as they see fit. Shifts are 2 hours long and are available Fridays-Mondays in June-August. 

Training: Trainings will be offered throughout the hiking season. You will receive an example hike script packet. You are encouraged to tag along with Guided Hike Leaders to learn more. 

Contact: Amy Shook, amy@ridgessanctuary.org or Margaret Brennan, margaret@ridgessanctuary.org for Trail Docent

Duties: Step back in time and become a lighthouse keeper with The Ridges Sanctuary and Baileys Harbor Range Lights. This unique opportunity lets you experience life as it was over 100 years ago, maintaining a piece of maritime history.  

As a volunteer docent, you’ll manage daily operations, lead tours, care for the facility, and ensure the lights remain operational for modern sailors. In exchange, you’ll enjoy complimentary lodging during your 7-day stay.  

If you like working with people and are interested in sharing information about the history of the Baileys Harbor Range Lights and life in Door County in the early 1900s, volunteering as a range light docent may be for you.  

Opportunities for the docent program are available from June through October. Applications to be considered for each season become available in mid-December. Selected docents are notified in February about their upcoming volunteer commitment.  

Location: The upper range light is located north of the Cook Fuller Center on Highway 57. Docent parking is available at the range light. 

Impact: The upper and lower range lights are iconic symbols of the maritime history in Baileys Harbor and have a rich history in the establishment of The Ridges Sanctuary. A visit to the upper range light is an option for visitors walking the trails at The Ridges. Docents have the opportunity to educate a wide range of visitors about the history and operation of the range lights and their relationship with The Ridges Sanctuary and Baileys Harbor. 

Time Commitment: Resident docents stay for a week, Sunday to Sunday. They are expected to welcome visitors while it is open to the public from 10-3 on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. 

Training: No previous lighthouse docent experience is required, but one must be interested in lighthouses and have good communication skills. More information about the program and the Resident Docent Guidebook are at https://ridgessanctuary.org/resident-docent-program. A member of the Range Light Docent Selection Committee will be assigned to provide guidance and answer your questions. 

Contact: Erik Ellison, erik@ridgessanctuary.org

Duties: A number of events are held throughout the year for members, volunteers, and the public. Duties vary depending on the event and include baking, serving food and refreshments; setting up and tearing down tables and chairs; dishwashing; wreath-making; directing cars to parking, and setting out luminaria. 

Location: Events are held at the Cook-Albert Fuller Nature Center, other locations on The Ridges property, the Baileys Harbor Town Hall, or About Thyme Farm. 

Impact: Event volunteers work behind-the-scenes to ensure each event is successful and memorable. Events are a means by which The Ridges fulfills its mission by introducing the public to The Ridges Sanctuary, rewarding volunteers for their hard work, and allowing members to gather and learn about the year’s accomplishments in an enjoyable setting. Your participation as an events volunteer helps each event run smoothly and efficiently. 

Time Commitment: Most events are 2 to 6 hours long. Some events have assigned shifts of 1½ to 3 hours. You may sign up for as many events and as many shifts as you like. Events organized annually by The Ridges include: Spring and Fall workdays in April or May and October; volunteer potluck lunches held monthly from June through September; the Annual Meeting in August; and Natural Christmas in December. 

Training: Minimal; training will be provided based on the duty performed. 

Contact: Erik Ellison, erik@ridgessanctuary.org

Duties: Activities may include any of the following:

• finalizing mailings including acknowledgement of gifts and membership materials
• file records, gifts, and publications
• assist with large mass mailings (labels, stamps, sealing, etc.)

Impact: Share your enthusiasm for the Sanctuary and see others grow in their enthusiasm and service!

Time Commitment: A project typically ranges from 1.5-3 hours in length per occurrence and may be completed as a solo activity or a group activity of up to 10 people (typical for mailings). This means you can choose what best suits your individual preferences and availability. Volunteer opportunities are available year-round.

Training: Minimal; training will be provided based on the duty performed. 

Contact: Wendy Beilfuss, wendy@ridgessanctuary.org

Duties: Do you have an eye for photography? The Ridges is always looking for volunteer photographers to take photos of events and of our properties throughout the seasons, as well as documenting the phenology of flora and fauna. We greatly appreciate allowing use of high quality photos in our printed and online materials. 

Impact: Showcasing our education, preservation, and research efforts helps tell the story of The Ridges and how others can support our mission. 

Time Commitment: Varies by project and event. May be scheduled in advance or on your own time. 

Training: None provided. You must have experience with a digital camera and provide your own gear. 

Contact: Erik Ellison, erik@ridgessanctuary.org