Volunteers Make A Difference
Hickory Knolls needs you! We have a variety of positions suited to adults of all ages and abilities. All volunteers will be required to complete an application form including a criminal background check.
Do you have time available during the day? Do you like to meet and chat with people about the plants, animals and ecosystems in the St. Charles area? Do you have a pleasant phone manner? Then volunteering at Hickory Knolls’ front desk may be for you. To volunteer, contact Pam Otto at 630-513-4346.
Is your free time limited more to weekends? Do you like activities with large numbers of people? Consider volunteering for Hickory Knolls’ special events. While there are events held throughout the year, annual events include:
- National Public Lands Day in September
- Seed Harvesting in October
- Make A Difference Day in October
If volunteering in the great outdoors is more your style, step up and give nature a hand. Restoration Work Days take place on Saturdays from 9am to noon and rotate through the District according to the schedule listed below. To volunteer, contact Denis Kania at 630-513-4367.
Hickory Knolls Natural Area
1st Saturday of the month
Norris Woods Nature Preserve
2nd Saturday of the month
Ferson Creek Fen Nature Preserve
3rd Saturday of the month
Persimmon Woods
4th Saturday of the month
Frequently Asked Questions
What sort of time commitment is involved at Hickory Knolls?
The amount of time varies with the position. Front desk volunteers commit to a minimum of one two-hour shift per week; special event volunteers commit to the length of an event, which typically last three to four hours each.
What tasks do front desk volunteers perform?
- Greet visitors
- Provide trail maps and park directions
- Answer questions about Hickory Knolls and the surrounding natural area
- Answer phones
- Working with program staff, prepare materials for upcoming classes
What tasks do special events volunteers perform?
- Greet visitors
- Interact with guests at craft tables and/or activity stations
- Answer questions about exhibits and displays
- Concessions
What sort of benefits can I get from attending a Restoration Work Day?
- Learn about ecological restoration
- Exercise
- Quality time enjoyed outdoors with family & friends
- A chance to share your love of the land with others
- A feeling of satisfaction when you make a difference
What types of tasks might I perform during a work day?
- Brush cutting
- Weeding
- Trash clean-up
- Controlled burnings (Spring/Fall)
- Seed collecting & dispersal
- Plant propagation
Why do natural areas need your help?
Local natural areas are subject to many threats, both human and biological. One of the most damaging is the invasion by nonnative weeds and shrubs, which crowd and shade out native plants. Off-road vehicles, overuse, vandalism, poaching of rare plants, and dumping of yard waste also contribute to the decline of our natural areas. You can help identify these problems in the park district’s sites and work together with other volunteers and park district staff to help restore and preserve these special places.
- Learn about Ecological Restoration
- Physical Activity for People of all Ages
- Brush cutting
- Weeding
- Trash clean-up
- Controlled burnings (Spring/Fall)
- Seed collecting & dispersal
- Plant propagation
- Quality Time Enjoyed Outdoors with Family & Friends
- A Chance to Share Your Love of the Land with Others
- A Feeling of Satisfaction When You Make a Difference
In addition to the historic and aesthetic goal of returning our natural areas to their unspoiled splendor, restoration will provide a number of additional benefits to the surrounding environment:
- Improved water quality
- Flood control
- Native plant and wildlife habitat
- Endangered species habitat enhancement & creation
- Increased public education opportunities
- Improved passive recreation opportunities
