Get Involved
Hands-on learning
Student tour
Mulching trees
The BFEC's school field trip program wouldn't be possible without 50 Kenyon students and community members who volunteer every season.
Volunteers keep our wildlife garden inviting for wildlife and people.
Student volunteers get their hands dirty removing invasive species.
Volunteers help pre-school children uses their senses to explore.
While volunteers make essential contributions to BFEC programs, they also receive the benefits of spending time outdoors.
Kenyon student and community volunteers are essential to the work of the Brown Family Environmental Center.
Elementary School Field Trips
Every year, nearly 1,000 elementary school children take field trips to the BFEC to connect with nature and learn about science through hands-on exploration. The program would not be possible without the 50+ volunteers that sign up annually for the fall or spring field trip season. Learn more about field trip volunteer opportunities.
BFEC Gardens
From spring until fall, the BFEC gardens are a busy place. The wildlife garden features over 60 species of native plants that attract birds and butterflies. Volunteers help with planting, weeding, growing seedlings, composting, and greeting visitors. Contact our Facility Coordinator and Office Administrator, Jill Kerkhoff at kerkhoffj@kenyon.edu to sign up.
Trails and Invasive Plant Removal
The 9-mile trail system at the BFEC needs regular attention, as does our invasive plant control effort. Volunteers remove fallen branches or trees, trim back invading vegetation, remove patches of invasive exotic plants and replace missing trail markers. This work can be physically demanding, but it also has its rewards. Contact Noelle Jordan at jordan2@kenyon.edu to learn more.
Bluebird Monitoring
The BFEC installed a dozen Bluebird nesting boxes in 1999 to assist this colorful species that is threatened by invasive bird species. The trail now includes 35 nesting boxes, from which over 1,000 young bluebirds have fledged over the years. Volunteers walk BFEC trails to monitor nesting boxes in order to limit disturbance by invasive species and other pests, adding to long-term data about nesting success in the process. Contact Noelle Jordan at jordan2@kenyon.edu to learn more.
Special Events and More
Every year the BFEC hosts a variety of special events including the Earth Day Festival and our Fall Harvest Festival. These events wouldn't be possible without the help of dedicated volunteers!
There's never a shortage of tasks to complete at the Resource Center year-round. If you're looking for another way to contribute, contact us about what's going on behind the scenes.