Get wild for volunteering at TWE
By Lynne Marsala Basche
Wildlife, conservation and preservation, oh my! Volunteering at The Wildlife Experience (TWE) satisfies any of those interests . . . and more.
Celebrating its tenth anniversary, TWE’s goal is to instill an appreciation and respect for not only wildlife, but also for nature. TWE showcases wildlife in Castle Pines’ own backyard through fine art, natural history and interactive exhibits, as well as educating its visitors on conservation and preservation. TWE recently added classes such as fly fishing, rock climbing, and archery to complement its mission statement, which, in part, is to learn through adventure and experiences.
The success of TWE is due in large part to its dedicated volunteers, who last year alone, logged more than 15,000 hours. Volunteers can choose from working behind the scenes or directly with the public. Opportunities include being a museum ambassador and assisting with memberships and general information, working with children in Cub’s Corner or the Discovery Den, being a docent in the Globeology exhibit, assisting with changing out exhibits, working at one-time special events, or putting together mailings.
The time commitment varies by position, and volunteering at TWE is flexible. Some of the benefits of being a TWE volunteer include free general admission to the museum and movies, discounts at the gift shop and cafe, regular off-site field trips to enhance knowledge, and community service credit for students.
Monthly hour-long informational meetings, including a mini tour of the museum, general information and a question and answer session, are offered to provide an overview of TWE and the volunteer opportunities.
For information about these meetings or volunteering, contact Volunteer Services Coordinator Pamela Rhoads at 720-488-3318 or e-mail.
To learn more about The Wildlife Experience, visit
www.thewildlifeexperience.org.
