Volunteer opportunities
At the Boulder County Nature Association (BCNA), everything we do is powered by volunteers. From leading bird counts to shaping conservation policy, our members bring their time, skills, and passion to help protect and celebrate the natural world around us.
There are countless ways you can get involved—whether you love birds, enjoy organizing events, are passionate about environmental education, love to teach, enjoy citizen science, or want to lend a hand with communications. Wherever your interests lie, we’d love to hear from you!
Behind the Scenes – BCNA Administration
- Our all-volunteer Board includes a president, vice-president, secretary, treasurer, and at-large members who help guide the organization.
- A volunteer webmaster manages our website and supports the Board with technical needs.
Connecting with the Community – Outreach
- Communications: Share our work by updating the BCNA website, managing the Colorado Front Range Butterflies site, and sending out News from BCNA emails with events, news items, and stories.
- Education: Help organize classes, guided hikes, and occasional seminars that inspire curiosity about the natural world.
- Ecosymposium: Join the team that plans our annual day-long symposium, featuring 5–6 expert talks that draw 100+ community members.
Speaking Up for Nature – Advocacy
Our Advocacy Committee works to ensure BCNA has a voice in local and regional conservation decisions. Volunteers help:
- Train people to be effective advocates for sound management of open lands with guidance from the Boulder County Comprehensive Plan.
- Mobilize BCNA’s regional expertise to inform policy.
- Collaborate with community leaders to promote resilient ecosystems for the future.
Digging into Science – Research & Monitoring
- Raptor Monitoring: Follow specified protocols to survey raptor populations along winter driving routes. Data helps guide Boulder County wildlife management.
- Indian Peaks Breeding Bird Count: Join a long-running (since 1982!) count to track species presence and trends in mountain habitats.
- Bird Banding: Assist a small team banding birds at the Allegra Collister Nature Preserve.
- Ecosteward Program: “Adopt” an area of Boulder County to monitor natural processes, inform management, and help protect local ecosystems.
- Research Grants: Serve on the Grants Committee to review applications and award annual one-year grants for projects aligned with BCNA’s mission.
Every role matters. Every volunteer makes a difference. Whether you want to spend time in the field, advocate for nature, or help behind the scenes, there’s a place for you at BCNA.
Ready to get started? Contact us and let us know where you’d like to help!
Please take some time to look through the website to learn about BCNA and our activities. If you are not yet on BCNA’s and Boulder County Audubon’s Nature-Net email forum, you will find this a good source of local, timely information and interesting tidbits for those interested in the natural world and the humans that impact it.