323 Lester Road, Apopka, Florida 32712, United States
Volunteer
We have many volunteer opportunities at the Avian Reconditioning Center (ARC) and provide hands-on training with birds of prey for dedicated volunteers. In addition to helping to raptors in rehabilitation, we provide education programs to the Central Florida community.
Volunteers may expect to learn about native species of raptors and gain experience in the care and management of birds of prey.
Prior experience is not required to volunteer at ARC!
We welcome those 14 years of age and older to volunteer. Minors (under the age of 18) may volunteer with the conditions below:
- A parent or guardian must remain on ARC property at all times during a minor's volunteer shift.
- Minor volunteers must be off ARC property by 3pm.
- Minor volunteers must be approved by ARC's Volunteer Coordinator.
Volunteer workdays are typically:
- Wednesdays and Fridays, 9:30am to 12:30pm
- Saturdays, 9:30am to 4:00pm
A minimum of three hours per volunteer shift is requested.
We are open to the public on Saturdays, weather permitting and excluding those in August.
If you are interested in volunteering, please visit on a Wednesday, Friday or Saturday between 9:00am and 1:00pm to see if volunteering would be a good fit for you.
Please keep in mind that we work with wild animals. While we handle birds of prey as part of the rehabilitation and education process, the privilege of bird handling is based on experience and knowledge as determined by ARC's Director.
Below are a few tasks that volunteers may perform:
Facility Care
- Construct and rewrap perches
- Construct new housing facilities
- Clean and maintain mews
Rehabilitation
- Clean kennels and carpets
- Feed and weigh birds
- Provide water and showers to birds on hot days
- Other husbandry tasks
- Release healthy birds back to the wild
Education
- Handle education ambassador birds
- Educate guests about our ambassador birds, their species' role in the environment, their biology and natural history, and how humans impact them
- Answer guests' questions
- Participate in programs at ARC on Saturdays and off-site during the week
Gardening/Landscaping
- Planting
- Watering
- Weeding
