Volunteer at Hormel Nature Center

---

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:

• Staff the Interpretive Center — There are always days that we are looking for help, specifically on the weekends. Fill out our volunteer contact form and we will add you to our email list. 
• Tours — Give tours driving one of our electric vehicles along the Nature Center trails.​
• Trail Clean-up - Help keep our trails litter free by volunteering your time to pick up any sort of trash found on our property
  
• Combat Invasive Species — Learn to identify and remove buckthorn, queen anne's lace, honeysuckle, reed canary grass, and other invasive species.
  
• Animal transport — Bring birds of prey to and from the Raptor Center at the University of Minnesota St. Paul campus.​

United Way Volunteer Calendar

Check out the United Way Mower County Volunteer Calendar to see what opportunities we have available and to sign up. 
Note: Our events will always show up on the calendar - never under the "show more" option. 

If you would like to sign up to be on our Volunteer Contact List, please use the form below to fill out your information. Thank you! 

---

Special Award Recipients 2022

​2022 Nature Center Volunteer of the Year:
Phil Burkhart has been such a reliable and enthusiastic volunteer for the nature center! He absolutely loves to donate his time to give trail tours via our passenger golf carts to get people out in nature who otherwise would not be able to. His eagerness to help out whenever he can has not gone un-noticed. Congratulations Phil!

2022 Sigurd Olson Leadership Award:
Lee Bjorndal has been a pillar in taking the Jay C. Hormel Nature Center to the next level. He served as a Friends Board member for 6 years and helped make decisions on the betterment of our facilities and programming to keep our nature center moving forward. Even though his time on the board has come to an end he still helps out as a volunteer whenever we need a trail vehicle driver, or someone to help out at the front desk. Congrats Lee on your Leadership Award! 
 
 

---

Recipients of the Volunteer of the Year Award and
Sigurd Olson Conservation & Leadership Award, 1988-2020

​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.

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
Harold Langton 
Terry Taylor
Terry Dorsey 
​Kurt Mueller 

---

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!