Busy Beaver Volunteer Program
About the Indreland Audubon Wetland Preserve Busy Beavers
IAWP Busy Beavers are a volunteer team committed to supporting our local wetlands and the watershed they support. Becoming an IAWP Busy Beaver is a great way to give back, deepen your understanding of watershed health, meet community members, receive free educational workshops, and get outside!
No prior experience is necessary and all ages are welcome. We ask that Busy Beavers commit to volunteering at least 10 hours a year and we have many different types of volunteer activities to you help support the IAWP. Whatever your skill set or interests, there is a place for you at the IAWP!
How to Volunteer
Activities are grouped into three areas: 1. Restoration, Maintenance and Monitoring, 2. Wetland Interpretive Host, and 3. IAWP Wetland Naturalist. We offer a mandatory volunteer training in any area of interest.
Restoration, Maintenance & Monitoring
Volunteers engage in direct restoration and enhancement activities to maintain and monitor the wetland. Activities include well/piezometer monitoring, tree watering and wrapping, photo point monitoring, mulching, weed removals and beaver management. Additionally, volunteers will help collect long-term data that may include water quality data (i.e. collecting water samples for lab analysis), fauna diversity (i.e. bird nest counts, wildlife surveys), and flora diversity (i.e. plant surveys). There will be a particular focus on collecting before and after restoration data at the IAWP. These volunteers are crucial to the long-term success of restoration and enhancement of the wetland.
Wetland Interpretive Host
The Indreland Audubon Wetland Preserve provides Sacajawea Audubon Society members and the community with the perfect opportunity to learn about wetland ecology. A place of respite to observe the wildlife and plants that use wetlands. As a wetland interpretive host, you will help welcome visitors to IAWP and answer questions about the wetland complex and the wetland trails. Hosting training will be provided, so no experience is necessary!
IAWP Wetland Naturalist
Wetland Naturalist are many things: advocates, volunteers, teachers, and environmental stewards of wetlands. The program goal is to empower wetland & watershed enthusiasts to put their unique skills to use through local conservation and restoration activities. After naturalist training, they can: Leads hands-on science-based educational activities, at the IAWP, with youth and adults; lead school field trips to at the IAWP or other wetlands project sites; be guest speakers during lectures or workshops; or volunteer with other organizations.
Ready to Join the IAWP Busy Beavers?
The first of several Busy Beaver orientation sessions will be held at the Bozeman Public Library on Wednesday, April 16 at 6pm – 7:30pm. This 2-hour orientation session will cover the natural and human history of the IAWP, highlight 2025 season activities, research projects, and upcoming wildlife & biodiversity workshops. We will also offer a walking tour of the IAWP — including an opportunity to see its resident beavers!
Directions: Park on Village Downtown Blvd. near the mailboxes and clock tower, just east of N. Broadway Ave. Then follow the short gravel path to the Indreland Audubon Wetland Preserve. For those who need additional accessibility support, call Loreene at (406) 600-6666.
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