Volunteer with us!
Saint John's Outdoor University and the Abbey Arboretum rely on a dedicated crew of volunteers for all of our work. For most jobs, experience is not required, but enthusiasm and an interest in the environment definitely are!
Have a group interested in service-learning? Sign up for one of the opportunities below or contact us for other options.
Join the Volunteer Email List (best way to learn about all volunteer opportunities)
Land Stewardship
Record Abbey Conservation Corps Volunteer Hours
(NOT maple syrup hours! See below for maple syrup)
Be part of a team donating time, talent, and treasure to land stewardship projects in the 2,944-acre Abbey Arboretum. As part of the growing Abbey Conservation Corps, participate in land stewardship projects such as: tree planting/care, invasive species removal, prescribed fire, trail maintenance and more.
Wednesday Workdays
1:00 - 3:00 p.m.
We are excited to be able to invite our ACC volunteers back to campus! We'll meet in Science Lot 1 and participants will drive individually to work sites. No experience necessary.
Sat, Apr 27 Spring Tree Planting
9 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.
Help plant more than 1500 red and white oak seedlings in the Abbey Arboretum. No experience needed; come and go as you are able. Lunch provided. Meet at the Sugar Shack.
Prescribed Fire (spring and fall)
Prescribed fires help to replenish the nutrients in the soil and fend off invasive species. We will have various shifts with jobs for everyone! No experience is necessary to volunteer, but volunteers must be 18 years or older. More information about prescribed burns and a schedule of potential dates will be updated on the Prescribed Fire web page during the burn season (typically April-May and Oct-Nov).
Saint John's Maple Syrup
Maple Syrup Season Information Enter Maple Syrup Volunteer Hours
Hundreds of volunteers make the Saint John's Maple Syrup operation possible. Full production years will occur every other spring where volunteers can help with anything from tapping trees, collecting sap, cooking syrup or washing buckets to working at a Maple Syrup Festival or assisting with education activities. The volunteer season for syruping is typically in March and April.
Education & Program Support
Be in the center of it all and sign up to help with a number of community events, lead tours, or help with preK-12 field trips.
Or stay more in the background and write articles for Sagatagan Seasons, take photos for events or marketing, or assist with grant-writing and fundraising.
Volunteer Training
For most volunteer opportunities, no experience is required and training can be provided the day of. But if you enjoy learning about the natural world, sharing knowledge with others and support conservation, consider becoming a Minnesota Master Naturalist Volunteer. Saint John's Outdoor U typically hosts one of the 40-hour classes annually and there are many additional training opportunities throughout the state.