Seal of Dane County County of Dane
Translate
Lussier Family Heritage Center

Youth Volunteers for Conservation

high school teens posing with brush clearing tools

Youth Volunteers for Conservation (YV4C) is the Heritage Center's hand's-on program that challenges high school students to make a real impact in caring for Dane County's natural areas. 

Led by Dane County Parks' staff, student volunteers have to opportunity during these workdays to gain on-the-ground experience in land conservation, build leadership skills, and make new friends. All while enjoying the health benefits of outdoor, physical activity. 

YV4C engages high school students throughout the school year (August - May) in monthly volunteer habitat conservation projects and outdoor activities. 

Share out this great opportunity with our program flyer or join our email list to receive updates and notifications about our open volunteer events for high school students and other all-ages volunteer activities. 

YV4C Details

Volunteer Requirements

Youth Volunteers for Conservation Volunteer Requirements

  • Aged 14–19 and enrolled in grades 9th–12th in a school or homeschool program within Dane County;
  • A desire to work independently and as part of a group to accomplish land management goals under the guidance of DCP staff;
  • An interest in environmental conservation and stewardship;
  • Willingness to get up close and personal with the outdoors, and dress appropriately for the task at hand;
  • A completed and signed YV4C Waiver on file with the Dane County Parks Volunteer Program. 

Student Benefits

  • Make a real impact in caring for Dane County's natural habitats
  • Build your college resume and earn letters of recommendation
  • Enjoy outdoor adventures with students from all over Dane County
  • Gain leadership skills and fulfill volunteer/service hours

Workdays

Conservation Workdays

  • Volunteer activities are from 10 a.m. - 12 p.m. on several Saturdays throughout the month, August–May. Additional opportunities outside of the school year may be scheduled if staff are available. 
    • We ask that YV4C Participants attend a minimum of two workdays a year, but recognize that everyone has busy schedules. Come when you can!
  • Our stewardship activities change throughout the season and depend on the weather. Opportunities include: invasive weeds removal, native seed collection, seed cleaning, and other natural areas focused work.

Current Schedule 

  • To view and sign up for our currently scheduled YV4C Workdays, head here

Cancellation - What to Expect 

  • Activities will be cancelled if there is moderate to heavy rain, snow/ice storms, extreme cold, or extreme heat. Participants who are signed up for an event will be notified of any changes. 

YV4C Waiver

Prior to attending any of our YV4C Workdays, participants and their legal guardians must complete and return the YV4C Waiver. Once we have your signed waiver on file you are cleared to participate in any number of our Dane County Parks volunteer events. There is no need to resubmit additional waivers for volunteer events outside of YV4C. 

*Please Note: To complete this form on the computer, you may need to have Adobe Acrobat Reader DC (free), or an adobe web-browser extension (free), installed on your device in order to fill out and sign all fields electronically. Forms can then be saved and emailed once all fields are completed.*

If you cannot fill out the waiver electronically, you must print it out and complete a paper copy.

Returning the waiver:

  1. Email an electronic or scanned copy to: parksvolunteer@danecounty.gov
  2. In-person at a YV4C event
  3. By mail: Dane County Parks, Attn. Shala Pence, 4212 Robertson Rd., Madison WI 53714

Leadership Council

**Leadership Council terms are currently on hold - we look forward to continuing this program area in the future** 

Want to join as a Conservation Volunteer and share your voice in program planning? Become a student leader with the YV4C Leadership Council. We need your voice and ideas to guide and strengthen this program.

As a Leadership Council member you will help recruit new students, lead volunteer stewardship days, and plan program activities. In addition to participating in the once-per-month volunteer service activities, you will also join our monthly YV4C Leadership Council virtual meeting and take on additional projects according to your interests. YV4C Leadership Council members serve a year term (August to August).

 

 

Contact

Dane County Parks Volunteer Program
(608) 516-3703
parksvolunteer@danecounty.gov