Join Us!

 

 

Once you have read the information about volunteering at the right and checked out the list of positions below it, you may sign up in one of two ways:

 

1. Go to our contact page and let us know what days and positions you would like.

 

2. Call us 508-278-5274

 

We look forward to hearing from you.

 

For other opportunities in the Blackstone Valley, volunteer with the

John H. Chafee Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Last year, volunteers logged nearly 1,00 hours in support of the Maple Sugar Days program at River Bend Farm in Uxbridge. We are looking forward to seeing our returning volunteers, as well as welcoming new ones.

 

Returning volunteers have first priority in choosing positions.

 

 

All volunteers will receive a maple information booklet in advance as well as an on-site orientation with an experienced National Park Service VIP Volunteer. Volunteers should plan to arrive by 9 AM. Clean up in each section begins as soon as the last tour leaves that section. Most volunteers are finished by 4:30 PM.

 

We will have visitors each day from 9 AM until after the last tour ends. We take group tours before we open to the general public from 9 AM until 11 AM. At 11 AM, the program opens to the general public. The last public tour leaves at 3:30 PM.

 

We are open on the first three Saturdays and Sundays in March. Saturday is our busiest day, especially for group tours, so we need more help on those days. We get fewer volunteers and fewer groups on Sunday, so volunteers who want to begin later in the day may want to choose Sunday dates.

 

If you'd like to volunteer for one or more of the six days we are open, we'd love to hear from you. (Warning - it's contagious! We have volunteers who thought they were going to volunteer once and who have now been with us for years.

 

Position List

 

Inside Positions

Children's Activity Leader

Staff the children's activity table (coloring & ink stamping)

 

Greeter I

Welcome visitors, explain the tour.

 

Greeter II

Bring groups to and from video (requires stair climbing and partial time in unheated area)

 

Raffle Ticket Seller/Maple Product Seller

Sells raffle tickets. Assist in the stocking and sale of maple products and equipment

 

"Art of Sugaring"

Talk Conduct 20 minute talk on how sugaring works

 

Positions In An Outdoor Tent With Small Heater

Sample Table Leader

Set up samples, talk to visitors about what they are trying

 

Sample Sever

Assist at sample table giving out tastes of maple products. May involve speaking to the public if desired, but speaking is not required

 

Floater

Give breaks to volunteers at the sample table, children's table, greeters, and raffle sellers as needed. Fill in where needed. Give messages to guides, sugar house volunteers, etc... May be indoors or in tent

 

Outdoor Positions

Jr. Ranger Program

Take small groups out to complete a four part activity to earn a National Park service Junior Ranger Badge. Requires speaking to small groups

 

Maple Walk Leader

Take groups out to tap trees or collect syrup. Requires the leader to demonstrate techniques and speak to groups during the walk and demo

 

Guide Assistant

Assist in directing groups of visitors from one portion of the tour to another, including street crossing

 

Walk Assistant

Accompany ranger/VIP and act as "sweep" person on walks (to tap trees and collect sap) to assure that all participants stay together

 

Positions In Unheated Sugar House

Sugar House Guide

Conduct short explanation of the workings of the evaporator and other sugaring equipment

 

Native American Talk

Give 5 minute talk about the role of Native Americans in Sugaring

 

Fire Tender

Bring wood from the woodshed and add logs to fire as directed