2010 Volunteer Projects

The revamping of the volunteer program includes a set volunteer schedule for 2010 so that you may schedule in advance volunteer activities on The Teller. However, there are also ongoing needs throughout the year that will count toward your hours. Volunteers may:

• Sign up for Ongoing Projects throughout the year
• Sign up for Specific Projects on certain days
• Or a combination of both

*Note: This year, there will be no last minute projects for those looking to complete their hours for hunting or walking.

Volunteer Ongoing Projects

Please contact Lauren by March 15 if you are interested in helping with one of the following projects.

Teller Trail Docents
All year
Unlimited number of volunteers. Hours tracked by volunteer. Teller Trail (access from Woodside Fishing Access parking lot).

The Teller Trail is open to the public for walking, fishing and birding. Despite our efforts, we have had problems with trespassing onto private property, dogs without leashes and vandalism. Because we only have a small staff of 4 people, Teller would like volunteers to walk the area to be our eyes and ears. We also have Teller informational sheets to pass out to trail users. The Teller Trail is a beautiful river trail area that you will surely enjoy recreating on, while "volunteering." J

TNT Event Assistance
March - June
TNT Committee Interest Meeting: Tuesday, March 9 at 10:00 a.m
Number of volunteers to be determined by need. Hours tracked by volunteer. Work can be completed at home or at The Teller's office.

The TNT Dinner & Auction held in June is Teller's only fundraising event. The event consists of a catered dinner and live and silent auction. We need help with determining a theme, creating centerpieces, making signs, picking up auction items, etc. Your assistance is key to putting on this event. We will have a TNT Committee interest meeting Tuesday, March 9 at 10:00 a.m.

Office Yard Maintenance
May - September
Number of volunteers to be determined by need. Hours tracked by volunteer. The Teller office.

Thanks to Mel Holloway, the Lawn Mowing volunteer position for The Teller's Quast office has been filled. However, our flower beds are in constant need of weeding throughout the summer. Volunteers will be responsible for the care of yard and will come out on their own on an as needed basis.

Specific Volunteer Projects

Pre-registration is required on a first-come, first- served basis for the following projects. Volunteers who sign up as a project leader will receive double credit for hours reported (Ex. 4 hour project - project leaders will earn 8 hours of volunteer time).  Project leaders will arrange to meet with Teller staff ahead of time to get directions for that project, including tools needed, location, etc.

SPECIFIC PROJECTS SCHEDULE (See Calendar)

Annual Exterior Spring Clean Up
April 10
4 - 6 volunteers. 8 am to 12 noon. The Teller office.

The Teller's office, the Quast House, needs leaves raked and bagged, flower beds cleaned and small maintenance completed for the upcoming spring/summer season.

The Teller Open House
April 24
4 - 6 volunteers. 8:30 am to 12:30 pm. Meet at the Chaffin Home.

The Teller Open House is a celebration of Earth Day that will offer guided bus tours of Teller's main property to the general public. We need up to 2 volunteers to help with the sign-in of guests, 1 volunteer to help with parking and up to 2 volunteers to sell Teller hats.

Debris and/or Fence Removal
May 8
May 11
4 - 8 volunteers. 8 am to 12 noon. Locations to be determined.  

While The Teller has had tons of debris and miles of abandoned fence removed from the property, we still have several areas that contain debris and old barbed-wire fence that are not pleasing to the eye as well as being hazardous to wildlife. Volunteers will be directed to locations where clean up efforts will take place.

Teller Trail Clean Up
May 19
4 - 6 volunteers. 8 am to 12 noon. Teller Trail.

After the spring high water flooding of the Bitterroot River, the Teller Trail needs debris cleared, trash removed, signs replaced and any other maintenance completed for the busy summer season.

Noxious Weed Dig: Houndstongue
May 15
June 5
June 8
4 - 8 volunteers. 8 am to 12 noon. Locations to be determined.       

The noxious weed, Houndstongue, consistently pops up on Teller. Teller will provide shovels to dig up the roots. Please help us remove this pesky plant!

TNT Program Packets
June 17
4 - 6 volunteers. 1 pm to 4 pm. The Teller office.

The TNT Dinner & Auction is Teller's only fundraising event. The Thursday before the event includes organizing, stuffing and alphabetizing program packets for TNT guests.

TNT Set Up
June 18
8 - 12 volunteers. 1 pm to 4 pm. The Teller - Slack Barn.

The TNT Dinner & Auction is Teller's only fundraising event. Set up the Friday before the event includes setting up tables, chairs and tents, organizing the check in and checkout room, putting up lights, signs and displays and anything else that can be done.

TNT Set Up
June 19
4 - 8 volunteers. 9 am to 12 noon. The Teller - Slack Barn.

The TNT Dinner & Auction is Teller's only fundraising event. Set up the Saturday morning of the event includes laying out silent and live auction items and posters, setting up tables and centerpieces and anything else that needs to be done.

TNT Dinner & Auction Event Assistance
June 19
10 - 12 volunteers. 4:30 pm to 9:30 pm (time varies on job position). The Teller - Slack Barn.

The TNT Dinner & Auction is Teller's only fundraising event. The night of the event, we need up to 12 people helping with parking, check in, the silent and live auctions, raffle sales and the check out of guests.

TNT Clean Up
June 21
4 - 6 volunteers. 9 am to 12 noon. The Teller - Slack Barn.

The TNT clean up involves taking down tables, chairs, signs and displays, removing trash and anything else that needs to be done.

Riparian Fence Bucket Brigade
July 10*
July 28*
August 14*
6 - 8 volunteers. 8 am to 12 noon. The Teller - Riparian Fence Exclosure (will provide directions/carpooling).

The bucket brigade includes carrying buckets full of water to drench new and struggling native plants inside the riparian fence area. This may be necessary due to predicted low water levels for the summer of 2010.  In 2008 we had at least three days during the summer for this volunteer watering project.
*If the proposed date approaches and we recognize no need to water, we will change the work party to another need, such as weed pulling.

Annual Fall Clean Up
August 18
4 - 8 volunteers. 8 am to 12 noon. The Teller office.

The Teller office, the Quast House, needs leaves raked and bagged, flower beds weeded and cleaned and small maintenance completed in preparation for the winter.

Duck Blind Clean Up and Dressing
August 28
4 - 8 volunteers. 8 am to 12 noon.  The Teller -  main property (meeting place to be determined).

Each year, Teller offers duck hunting to Block Management, volunteer and donor hunters.  The hunts take place in established hunting blinds that require annual maintenance including new camouflage netting, cattail cutting and structural repairs.  This fun day in the field also gives volunteers a better understanding of the various blind locations.  

*Note:  Each of these volunteer project dates are firm.  Should weather preclude the activity, Teller will notify registered volunteers at least 24 hours prior to the day scheduled. 

Please sign up as soon as possible. Contact Lauren at (406) 961-3507 or Lauren@tellerwildlife.org.

Thank You Teller Volunteers!