Volunteer Opportunity

Volunteering with Hamilton County Soil & Water

Volunteers and staff at the annual tree sale

When you volunteer with Hamilton County Soil & Water Conservation District, you will have the opportunity to create a community through conservation. Working shoulder to shoulder with other people committed to improving the natural areas in our county is one of the many benefits of volunteering. Because of people like you, we are able to make an even bigger impact in Hamilton County!

We offer volunteer opportunities for all ages, abilities and backgrounds. You can volunteer to work alone or with a group, indoors or outdoors, and with or without a commitment. Check out our FAQs for answers to the most common questions!

Keep scrolling for all of our ongoing and group volunteer opportunities. In additional to the opportunities listed below, we host a native tree sale in the fall that we wouldn't be nearly as successful without the help our great volunteers!

Wondering what to expect?
Find out what opportunities fit your passions and, let's be honest, schedule!

Email Volunteer Coordinator

Volunteer Opportunities

Tree Sale Volunteer

The tree sale is our largest fundraiser and we couldn't do it without our great volunteers! We will provide gloves, water and snacks during the sale for volunteers. Opportunity to volunteer will return September 2025.

This is the general flow of tree sale week:

Tree arrive from the supplier on Wednesday. Typically, the first load of trees arrives at 8am and it takes about 1 hour to unload everything. The second load arrives after lunch. We unload again, organize species for easy picking, and separate large orders in another section of the barn.
On Friday we assemble customer orders and load them into vehicles.

As a token of appreciation, volunteers are provided a discount code and "first dibs" on remaining trees the week after the sale.

Accessibility options

There are a limited number of non-lifting roles in each session. Volunteers in these roles must be able to read plant tags and/or customer invoices to ensure correct orders are loaded into customer vehicles. Chairs are provided.
Lifting roles must be able to lift container plants from truck, wheelbarrow, or floor and require the ability to move through tight spaces and around other volunteers and customer vehicles.

Individual Volunteer Opportunities

Grow Natives Volunteer

Help increase conservation ethics in the community through the retail availability of native plants. In this position, you will get to be a part of the promotion of public education related to native plants while building relationships with decision makers and customer influencers at retailers across the county. Learn more about the Grow Natives Certification through the Indiana Native Plant Society.
Multiple volunteers needed.
1 year commitment

GIS Mapping Volunteer

volunteer using GIS mapping tool on their phone

Help combat invasive species without doing any heavy lifting! This position offers the opportunity to work on your own schedule and enjoy time in nature while you visit public land in Hamilton County to survey for invasive species. This work will help drive management decisions and help obtain grant funding to further our mission! In this position you will help map out new areas in the county to help Soil & Water Conservation (SWC) and community partners understand the locations of invasive species in Hamilton County. Check out the GIS HIP Map. Multiple volunteers needed. 1 year commitment

HIP Secretary Volunteer

diverse group of volunteers working together

As the HIP Secretary, you will help keep the Hamilton County Invasives Partnership (HIP) working toward their goal of uniting landowners and managers, organizations, and citizens in the battle against invasive species by transcribing the meetings. In this position, you will have the opportunity to interact with members of the committee and work together towards the common goals of HIP.
One volunteer needed. 1 year commitment

Member Education Volunteer

Assist Hamilton Invasives Partnership (HIP) with scheduling educational speakers to educate members and meeting attendees at monthly meetings. This position will give you the opportunity to connect with interesting people within the community, continue your education in volunteerism, native & invasive plants, conservation and so much more! One volunteer needed. 1 year commitment

Speakers Bureau/Event Table Representation Volunteer

Speaking opportunities and table representation at events are our highest profile way to get in front of people and share our mission. In this role, you would have the opportunity to connect with people unfamiliar with the threat of invasive species and inspire them to act. Spring through the growing season is the busiest time. 1-2 volunteers needed. **This position can be split into two roles 1. Table representation at events (preferred 1 year commitment) 2. Procurement of speakers (no commitment) for coordination role.

Group Volunteer Opportunities

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Prefer to work with a group? Keep an eye on our calendar for conservation related activities throughout Hamilton County!