Volunteer Opportunities
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The Jay C. Hormel Nature Center could use your help! There is always a need for volunteers from the community to assist all year round. There are many ways you can support the nature center:
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If you are interested in helping volunteer with the Nature Center, please fill out the form below! We will contact you with more information about becoming a volunteer. Thank you!
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Special Award Recipients 2018
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2018 Nature Center Volunteer of the Year
Larry Dolphin: "I have been very fortunate to have worked at the Nature Center for 28 years. I am thankful I still can be part of the Nature Center as a volunteer. I still enjoy teaching, and I wanted to continue to help teaching youth, especially the bird unit for 5th grade and the 7th grade water unit. This is one place I know I can make a difference and experience it first hand. It may be self serving, but it is all so meaningful to me. My vision has always been to make this earth a better place for all. In my retirement my vision hasn't changed. Like all of you, we want the best for our children, grandchildren, and all life on this planet. I am just trying to do my part like many of the volunteers and staff at the Nature Center. The Nature Center is a jewel in this community. In my mind it is the number one jewel in Southern Minnesota. There are so many people that have stepped up to the plate and made it a great place to visit and enjoy. It makes me feel good, and I am very thankful to be able to continue to play a small role and be part of the wonderful work that continues to go on at the Nature Center."
2018 Sigurd Olson Leadership Award
Ron Walth: “Finding an organization like the Jay C. Hormel Nature Center which not only is managed and directed by extremely dedicated staff and supported by the hard working board of the Friends of the Jay C. Hormel Nature Center is like finding a treasure. Being invited to assist as a volunteer to help further their conservation and educational efforts, is very rewarding. Being part of providing the people of Austin the opportunity to enjoy, explore and learn about nature in the beautiful surroundings of the Nature Center is very exciting, especially when you see the excitement in the children’s faces and hear the children’s happy voices when they discover or experience something new in nature. As expressed by one of my grandsons on his first visit to the pond: “Wow! This place is awesome!”.”
Greg Larson: "The reason I volunteer is that Larry Dolphin asked me to consider joining the board before my first term. I grew up on a family farm in Freeborn County, Minnesota. When I was younger we had a lot of different types of livestock so we had pastures and a large grove of trees. As we got rid of the livestock the pasture land and the grove of trees were reduced. This meant the areas for wildlife was reduced, just on our own farm. I know this has happened across the country. The Jay C. Hormel Nature Center is a wonderful area for families to still get a chance to walk in nature and the quiet. We recently had a chance to take a nice walk in one of our nice August days and we saw a deer and enjoyed the quiet of our walk. Along with the education programs for our youth and the programs we have for Seniors, the Nature is an important part of our community!"
Larry Dolphin: "I have been very fortunate to have worked at the Nature Center for 28 years. I am thankful I still can be part of the Nature Center as a volunteer. I still enjoy teaching, and I wanted to continue to help teaching youth, especially the bird unit for 5th grade and the 7th grade water unit. This is one place I know I can make a difference and experience it first hand. It may be self serving, but it is all so meaningful to me. My vision has always been to make this earth a better place for all. In my retirement my vision hasn't changed. Like all of you, we want the best for our children, grandchildren, and all life on this planet. I am just trying to do my part like many of the volunteers and staff at the Nature Center. The Nature Center is a jewel in this community. In my mind it is the number one jewel in Southern Minnesota. There are so many people that have stepped up to the plate and made it a great place to visit and enjoy. It makes me feel good, and I am very thankful to be able to continue to play a small role and be part of the wonderful work that continues to go on at the Nature Center."
2018 Sigurd Olson Leadership Award
Ron Walth: “Finding an organization like the Jay C. Hormel Nature Center which not only is managed and directed by extremely dedicated staff and supported by the hard working board of the Friends of the Jay C. Hormel Nature Center is like finding a treasure. Being invited to assist as a volunteer to help further their conservation and educational efforts, is very rewarding. Being part of providing the people of Austin the opportunity to enjoy, explore and learn about nature in the beautiful surroundings of the Nature Center is very exciting, especially when you see the excitement in the children’s faces and hear the children’s happy voices when they discover or experience something new in nature. As expressed by one of my grandsons on his first visit to the pond: “Wow! This place is awesome!”.”
Greg Larson: "The reason I volunteer is that Larry Dolphin asked me to consider joining the board before my first term. I grew up on a family farm in Freeborn County, Minnesota. When I was younger we had a lot of different types of livestock so we had pastures and a large grove of trees. As we got rid of the livestock the pasture land and the grove of trees were reduced. This meant the areas for wildlife was reduced, just on our own farm. I know this has happened across the country. The Jay C. Hormel Nature Center is a wonderful area for families to still get a chance to walk in nature and the quiet. We recently had a chance to take a nice walk in one of our nice August days and we saw a deer and enjoyed the quiet of our walk. Along with the education programs for our youth and the programs we have for Seniors, the Nature is an important part of our community!"
Recipients of the Volunteer of the Year Award and
Sigurd Olson Conservation & Leadership Award, 1988-2018
We again would like to salute our past volunteers!
The commitment of volunteers and Friends help the Jay C. Hormel Nature Center succeed.
These special volunteers have been recognized for dedicating their time and efforts to fulfilling the needs of the Nature Center.
These special volunteers have been recognized for dedicating their time and efforts to fulfilling the needs of the Nature Center.
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Joanne Gellerman
Harold Carlstrom Ann Bundy Julie Champlin Jane Reeve Bob Shaw Dorothy Owens Winifred Morgan Karen Zech Vern Gavin Dick Smaby Keith Snyder Knowles Dougherty Jan Thomas Don Burgess |
Merlene Stiles
Lucille Moore Dick Nordin Marva Blake Gordy Kuehne Lucy Gotz Bob Roberts Dale & Phyllis Vandenover Lloyd & Ramona Swenson Dr. Mike Williams John Beckel Dave Cole Al Layman Dick Dixon |
Jenny Smith
Steve & Mya Vietor Dorothy Schulz Elden & Jean Huemann Mark & Barb Owens Milly Burroughs Gary Zimmerman Greg Larson Annette Mueller Laura Merten Terry Taylor Cindy Bellrichard Janet Anderson Quin Brunner |
Colleen Weimer
Ruth Collette Chris Anderson Ron Walth Gary Ray Rich & JoAnn Aho Alice Tylutki Pete Mattson Arlen Schamber Duane Champlin Leon Krebsbach Mike Skiba Robin Airey Larry Dolphin |
Thank you to all of our hardworking volunteers who have donated their time to help the Nature Center put on quality events and programs throughout the year!