Volunteer

Carolina Wildlife Center accepts volunteers who need to do community service for high school, college or the court system on a case by case basis, as we have projects and space in our volunteer program.

Community service volunteers must be friendly, possess willingness to help, and the ability follow directions. Community service volunteers do not work directly with the animals, but perform other tasks as needed to maintain operations of the wildlife center.

Click here for more about community service at CWC and to download a Community Service Volunteer application.

Is your group at work or church willing to give a morning or afternoon to help wildlife? Does your company or school do annual service projects? Join organizations like Lowe’s Heros, Starbuck’s Volunteers, Boy Scouts of America and USC by participating in a special project or hosting a Clean-Up day at Carolina Wildlife Center. Whether it’s landscaping, painting, cage building, or power washing, there are ways big and small to help.

Getting involved in saving wildlife not only fosters a spirit of giving, but builds teamwork within your group. Volunteers leave feeling a sense of accomplishment and Carolina Wildlife Center loves to share those accomplishments in our quarterly newsletter, Wild Things.

To learn more about service projects available, please contact Volunteer Services at 803-772-3994, or email info@carolinawildlife.org with your group’s name, phone number, and the number of participants. We ask that you please allow us 2-3 weeks in advance to plan for Service Projects or Clean-up Days.

Education Volunteers enjoy both animals and people and bring a real enthusiasm about the wonders of wildlife to CWC’s programs. Education Volunteers help CWC at public events, like the Wildlife Baby Shower and Earth Day, educational programs and other exhibits. Their main goal is to educate the public about the center’s programs and assist in the overall care of CWC’s wildlife ambassadors while offsite.

Fundraising Volunteers include a dynamic group of people that share their time, connections, and talents to raise vital funds that help underwrite the mission of Carolina Wildlife Center. Fundraising volunteers put their people skills to work and champion CWC’s worthy programs by providing invaluable support for fundraising events benefiting the wildlife center.

Recycling Volunteers work a flexible schedule and transport CWC’s aluminum can trailer and other recyclables to the recycling centers one time each month. The recycling program is an important source of funds for the wildlife center and it helps in cleaning up the environment too! No orientation is required, but personal instruction is provided. Volunteers use own vehicle, and a towing hitch on car is required.

Do you wish to give your time to help wildlife, but aren’t able to volunteer working with the animals or commit to a regular schedule? Special Event Volunteers interact with donors, supporters and other volunteers at Carolina Wildlife Center events and programs. We will contact you prior to each event about your participation. Special events may include Community Fund Raisers, CWC’s Wildlife Baby Shower, Kid’s Day, the Purple Martin Cruise and other events held by CWC. Our Community Fund Raisers and the Wildlife Baby Shower are fun opportunities for community service groups to volunteer.

Do you have special talents that could be helpful to Carolina Wildlife Center? We’re interested, so let us know! From carpentry and plumbing to graphic design and grant writing, there are ways to put your special skills to work to save wildlife. Contact us at the “Nest” for volunteer projects that Carolina Wildlife Center is currently seeking help to complete.

Interested in a summer of fun and learning? Carolina Wildlife Center invites high school students ages 15-17 interested in biology, wildlife conservation and veterinary medicine to apply for the Summer Junior Volunteer Program. Junior volunteers work closely with CWC staff and experienced volunteers providing hands-on care for a variety of wildlife at the center. The Junior Volunteer Program gives students an opportunity to explore careers in wildlife conservation and environmental science.

During the summer, teens may participate in special activities such as “Camp Wild Things” and be assigned care responsibilities for one of the center’s wildlife ambassadors. Junior volunteers are selected through a competitive application and interview process. Applicants should be prepared to commit to a minimum of five hours per week for eight weeks during the summer. Please complete a Summer Junior Volunteer Application and return it to the Volunteer Services before May 1st for consideration.

Transport Volunteers are on standby to transport or rescue injured wildlife and bring it to the wildlife center from a veterinarian’s office, Riverbank’s Zoo, or another location. Volunteers might be called upon once or twice a month for case-by-case wildlife situations. Volunteers may sometimes assist in capturing injured wildlife or reuniting healthy wildlife with its mother.

Note: CWC has a special need for help for transport volunteers to/from Charlotte and to/from Greenville.

Wildlife Rehabilitation volunteers can choose to work with wildlife at the center assisting staff in both supportive and medical care of residing patients. Volunteers prepare diets, feed and medicate animals, clean and prepare cages or kennels, and perform other general animal care tasks. You might find yourself feeding young songbirds or opossums, preparing a kennel for a great blue heron, and making nest boxes for flying squirrels all in one shift!

Wildlife Rehabilitation volunteers can choose to work with wildlife at the center assisting staff in both supportive and medical care of residing patients. Volunteers prepare diets, feed and medicate animals, clean and prepare cages or kennels, and perform other general animal care tasks. You might find yourself feeding young songbirds or opossums, preparing a kennel for a great blue heron, and making nest boxes for flying squirrels all in one shift!