Ways to Get Involved: Youth Programs

Interested in a summer of fun and learning? Carolina Wildlife Care invites high school students ages 15-17 interested in biology, wildlife conservation and veterinary medicine to apply for the Summer Junior Volunteer Program. Junior volunteers work closely with CWC staff and experienced volunteers providing hands-on care for a variety of wildlife at the center. The Junior Volunteer Program gives students an opportunity to explore careers in wildlife conservation and environmental science. During the summer, teens may participate in special activities such as "Camp Wild Things" and be assigned care responsibilities for one of the center's wildlife ambassadors. Junior volunteers are selected through a competitive application and interview process. Applicants should be prepared to commit to a minimum of five hours per week for eight weeks during the summer. Please complete a Summer Junior Volunteer application> and return it to the Volunteer Services before May 31st for consideration.

• Supply Drive: Individual students, classrooms, schools, scout troops or church groups can hold supply drives to ensure that CWC has the food and other materials so important to saving wild lives. Many of these supplies are everyday items. Click here to print a flyer to have your own CWC Supply Drive.
  
  
• Collecting Aluminum Cans: Soda cans, cat food tins, and tin foil can all be recycled at CWC and turned into cash to feed the animals. Placing a recycling box at your parent's office or church with a sign that you're recycling to help wildlife is a great way to help the environment and wildlife too! Click here to print a really cool collection box sign.
  
  
• Collecting Ink Cartridges and Cell Phones: Just like soda cans, ink jet cartridges and cell phones can be turned into money for the animals at Carolina Wildlife Care. By spreading the word in your neighborhood, school, and parent's office that you're collecting these items for Carolina Wildlife Care, you will be helping us feed and provide care to hundreds of animals each day. Another good thing… you're keeping more out of the landfills which means fewer trees have to be chopped and more animals will keep their homes! Click here to print a really cool collection box sign.
  
  
• Nest Boxes: Shoe boxes and 18-pack soda boxes make perfect nest boxes for our opossums and squirrels. Collecting nest boxes and bringing them to the center is a great way to make sure our little critters have a home away from home!
  
  
• Songbird Nest Boxes: Our songbirds and flying squirrels feel safe and snug when tucked away in a wooden nest box. This is a great project for scouting groups needing to earn a badge. And if CWC has an abundance of nest boxes, they provide a great way for CWC to earn money by selling them in our gift shop. Click here for bluebird nest box plans.
  
  
• Host a Lemonade Stand or Bake Sale: Some of CWC's VIP's have gotten really creative for the critters and put together lemonade stands or bake sales to help the animals at the wildlife center. The money raised by selling tasty treats can be donated to CWC or used to purchase yummy foods off the CWC Wish List for the animals!
  
  
• Wrap It Up for Wildlife: Get everyone involved… your family, classmates, church group… in giving back to help wildlife! Set up a gift wrapping booth around the holidays at a local mall, bookstore, or some other place. By wrapping presents for donations to help Carolina Wildlife Care, you can give wildlife the best present of all… the gift of life!!!

CWC VIP's are recognized for their efforts and compassion in CWC's quarterly newsletter "Wild Things" and highlighted on the Kid's Club page of the Carolina Wildlife Care website.