A club for students ages 9-17 who have an interest in the outdoors. We provide opportunities for adventure and earning volunteer service hours.
We offer free guided tours at Ocala parks and other experiences like visiting a bird banding lab, a raptor rehab and glass bottom boat tours.
In the fall we sometimes get to watch licensed banders catch, evaluate and fit birds with an ankle band before releasing. This is a fantastic opportunity to see wild birds up close and learn about the banding process and purpose. Lucky participants may get the chance to hold and release a bird! This is an experience you won't forget! The location of this event is sensitive, so email us for details. This opportunity is open to students age 9-17 and their educators. Space is limited so RSVP is required.
High school students need volunteer hours to graduate. We need help in various areas, like managing our TikTok and Instagram accounts, assisting at nature walks in Ocala, or helping at a festival. Have fun while volunteering with us!
We value students and want to give them a voice in our community. In 2021 we added board member positions for high school and college students. This worked very well. The students helped us in creating the Ocala Nature Club and earned experience being on a board. This experience and a letter of recommendation helped them stand out when applying for college. These positions coincide with the school year. If you would like to be considered, send us an email.
We are a nonprofit 501c3 organization and all positions are volunteer. Board meetings are held once per month thru zoom (1hr/month commitment).