Get Involved
See our event calendar for all upcoming volunteer opportunities!
Volunteer Program Areas
Merry Lea Teaching Farm
Do you enjoy getting your hands dirty, working in the orchard, harvesting produce from the greenhouses or the education garden, working with farm animals, starting seeds, or more? Join us at the farm!
Education & Outreach
Does the thought of teaching people of all ages about environmental education excite you? Do you love helping with special events such as Nature Fest? Jump into the education side of Merry Lea today!
Administrative Support
Would you rather work behind the scenes? We have various opportunities ranging from envelope stuffing to updating bulletin boards, working registration tables, laminating papers and more!
Stewardship
Is your ideal day spent outside in the woods, walking trails, or removing invasive species? Opportunities occur year round and include seed collection and cleaning, prescribed burning, invasive plant removal, and more. Help us maintain and restore our 1,189 acres of land!
Other Skills
Do you have other skills that you would like to share, such as arts & crafts, photography, cooking, writing, or more? Let us know! We are always seeking more creative individuals to help us out.
Youth & Family
Check out various opportunities that are great for families or youth! Some opportunities include popping & serving popcorn during Enchanted Forest, changing out our seasonal Storywalk trail, and more.
— Upcoming Volunteer Opportunities —
We’re always looking for great volunteers who have a passion for nature and learning. Contact Foy Spicer at fspicer@goshen.edu or call (260) 799-5869.
To see upcoming opportunities, click the + sign next to the opportunities (listed below) that you are interested in to learn more and to see available dates!
To register for any stewardship volunteer opportunities, click on the “Register now” button to visit our DoubleKnot calendar! Meeting location of these events will be based on where the greatest need is during that time.
Fire is an integral component of many ecosystems found in NE Indiana, including some at Merry Lea! We incorporate fire into our land management planning for a variety of reasons.
Join Merry Lea's Natural Resources Manager Freya Berntson, and Blue Heron Ministries Restoration Ecologist John Brittenham, for an indoor training session to learn about the history, ecology, and methodology of prescribed burning in our region.
We'll discuss why and how prescribed fire is conducted at Merry Lea and other similar sites in the region.
This training will offer a good foundation for understanding the big picture of prescribed fire. It is highly recommended to attend this training if you would like to volunteer for prescribed fire events, but not required.
- October 30, 5pm-8pm (Thursday)
To register, email Freya at freyakb@goshen.edu.
Some of the ecosystems at Merry Lea benefit from prescribed fire, and it takes a crew of people to make fire happen in a safe way! Volunteers of all backgrounds and experience levels are welcome to participate in this activity.
If you are interested, but not sure you are ready to actively participate, you are welcome to come observe a fire as well.
Reach out to Freya at Freyakb@goshen.edu to get on the email notification list for Prescribed Fire at Merry Lea. Freya will follow up with additional information.
Quotes & Testaments
“I enjoy volunteering because I get to be out in nature learning about the area I am working in, and sometimes helping to take care of it.” –Tristan, Youth Volunteer
“I enjoy volunteering at Merry Lea and seeing children’s fear of the natural environment turn to comfort in it. They gain a new responsibility to care, respect, and protect the land, plants, and creatures who live here. God’s creations are so beautiful! It is relaxing and comforting to walk the trails and breathe in the phytoncides from plants and trees which increase my immune system and lower my blood pressure and stress level!” – Russ, Education Volunteer
“I enjoy being outdoors and love helping kids discover amazing things in nature at all of Merry Lea’s Teaching sites! – Becky, Education Volunteer
Volunteering Over The Years
