Wildlife rehabilitation is a challenging, demanding, exhilarating, and exhausting field. Volunteers who want to work at the clinic require much more than just a love for animals. Volunteers must commit to a minimum of (2) 4-hour shifts per month. More information regarding training and volunteer positions can be found here. To support the work we are doing and become part of our team, fill out this form.

Thank you for your interest in volunteering with the Schuylkill Center! Volunteers are vital to the work we do to inspire meaningful connections between people and nature. We design our group volunteer projects based on the volunteer interests, and our current projects. Please complete the form below that best suits your group so we can match you with a great volunteer experience.

Corporate Group

School Group

College/Community/Nonprofit group

Have a question about volunteering? Get in touch with us at [email protected] and let us know about what kind of volunteer experience you’re looking for.

Help protect the local toad population of the Schuylkill Center and the surrounding Roxborough neighborhood as the toads migrate to and from their breeding grounds each spring. When the toads emerge from hibernation in the early spring, hundreds of them cross Port Royal, Hagy’s Mill and other nearby roads to mate in the Roxborough Reservoir or the Schuylkill Center’s ponds.

The Toad Detour program runs from March to June, but toads may not cross every night. In general, the adult toads migrate from March 1st to April 15th and the toadlets return to the Schuylkill Center from May 15th to June 30th. Follow our Toad Detour Facebook Group for updates. Fill out our volunteer application and we will get in touch with you when Toad Detour begins.

We host multiple events throughout the year to support our mission of connecting people and nature. Volunteers are needed to help staff our vibrant and lively events here at the Schuylkill Center. Taking tickets, guiding visitors, and assisting with setup and cleanup of events helps engage visitors and foster their curiosity, desire to learn, and love for nature.

Fill out our volunteer application and our Volunteer and Community Outreach Manager will get in touch with you.

Connect with nature and make new friends as we work to improve the health and biodiversity of our forest. With 365 acres, you can help us preserve the quality of our woodlands, meadows, ponds, and streams.

Fill out our volunteer application and our Volunteer and Community Outreach Manager will get in touch with you about volunteer opportunities.

Volunteers can assist the organization by managing our receipt program, organizing files, data entry, assisting with direct mailings, assisting with the front desk and other office-related duties. Fill out our volunteer application and our Volunteer and Community Outreach Manager will get in touch with you.

We welcome your photographs showcasing the beauty of our forest, wildlife, art, and plants. Photos may be used for publication and social media. Share your photos with us by emailing [email protected] Please include how you’d like to be credited for your photo.

Our cutting-edge environmental art program incites curiosity and sparks awareness of the natural environment through contemporary art. Volunteers assist with special events and art tours, help artists fabricate and install artwork, or support us behind the scenes, organizing and researching projects in the art office. Fill out our volunteer application and our Volunteer and Community Outreach Manager will get in touch with you.

Come and share your expertise and love of nature with our children. Our program immerses children in nature and prepares them for the intellectual, social, emotional, and physical challenges of school. Volunteers will be screened through an interview with the director of Nature Preschool, a PA state clearance, and a criminal background check as required by state law.

Fill out our volunteer application and our Volunteer and Community Outreach Manager will get in touch with you.

The Schuylkill Center strives to maintain a safe environment for everyone. In doing so, and in compliance with the law in the state of Pennsylvania, certain volunteers are required to obtain their Child Abuse and Criminal History Clearances. This is free for volunteers and clearances that have already been obtained that are less than 5 years old are accepted.

Below are the steps for obtaining these clearances. For a PDF of these instructions with pictures, please contact [email protected]

Child Abuse Clearance Process
The child abuse clearance application fee is waived if you have not obtained a volunteer certification free of charge within the previous 57 months. If you lose or misplace your volunteer certification within the previous 57 months, it will cost $13. A credit/debit card payment is accepted.

1. Go to https://www.compass.state.pa.us/cwis/public/home
2. Skip to #7 if you have an account. If you do not have an account, you must create one.
3. Complete the application.
4. You will receive this message after you’ve completed the application. Retrieve your temporary password then head back to the main page.
5. Head back to the main page, https://www.compass.state.pa.us/cwis/public/home and log
in using your temporary password (check your email inbox).
6. Set up your new password.
7. Head back to the main page, https://www.compass.state.pa.us/cwis/public/home and log
in to your account.
8. Select “access my clearances” & accept the disclosure and terms and conditions.
9. Log into your account.
10. Start your child abuse clearance application.
11. For Part 1, Application Purpose, select “Volunteer having contact with children…” option. Select “Other” for the category and enter “Schuylkill Center for Environmental Education” for the agency. Follow the prompt to complete the rest of your application.
12. Upon your completion, select “Go to PA….” option.
13. Obtain your child abuse clearance document. Keep it somewhere safe as it is valid for 5 years. Otherwise it will cost $13 if you lose or misplace the document.
14. Send a copy of your child abuse clearance to [email protected]

Criminal History:
There is no charge for requests made for the purpose of volunteering.

1. Go to link https://epatch.pa.gov/home
2. Select “New Volunteer Record Check” and accept the terms and conditions
3. On the Personal Information Page, enter your information. The email address entered
here will receive updates regarding the criminal history check request status. Then
confirm your information.
4. On Record Check Request Form Page, enter your information. Then confirm that your
information is correct. Wait until loading bar disappears:
5. Upon completion of your check request, take note of the information listed below
(Control #, Subject Name, Date of Request, Status). This information is required to
obtain your criminal history certification.
6. Go to https://epatch.pa.gov/recordcheckhome to obtain your criminal request check. Select “Check the status…”
7. Enter your information and scroll down to confirm the search results.
8. Obtain your certification.
9. Send a copy of your criminal history certification to [email protected]