Volunteerism at NBNC
By Naomi Heindel, Executive Director
This week, like so many throughout the year, North Branch Nature Center is hopping with volunteers. Master Gardeners from the UVM Extension Vermont Master Gardener Program weed and prune and plant, tending our pollinator gardens to showcase native Vermont plants and invite the butterflies, wasps, ants, and birds that pollinate them. The Facilities and Custodial Crew (known around these parts as the FACCers, pronounced “Fakers”) builds a set of Adirondack chairs commissioned by local NBNC supporters, fixes the boardwalks on the trail to Deer Camp, and plans to construct a roof off the tool shed before the snow flies. Board members slip in and out of the building for a Finance Committee meeting, their eyes on the nature center’s long-term health and stability. A group from a local business troops by, shovels in hand, on the way to the river for a day of pulling invasive knotweed. Over the weekend, a parent and her toddler run Robin’s Nest, our weekly, free drop-in program for young families, facilitated by parent volunteers in the summer months.
And the list goes on, from the dedicated volunteer who reshelves books in the Nature Lending Library, to the folks on our Art Gallery Committee, to the many of you who help out during festivals and events. We are beyond grateful for every single bit of it. We could not be the nature center we are today without all of our volunteers. We love working alongside you to keep NBNC vibrant, accessible, and welcoming to all.
