Volunteer with our Bird by Bird Program

Do you love birds? Do you want to share that love with elementary school students and communities? Become a Bird by Bird volunteer!

The Bird by Bird program is looking for reliable and passionate adults to help foster meaningful experiences for youth to connect to nature and nourish a love of birds and wildlife.

Our volunteer slots are currently filled, however we will be looking for more volunteers June 2025. 

Example volunteer roles

Classroom Bird Watching Support

  • Provide expertise in bird identification and the use of binoculars and field guides in the classroom.
  • Lead bird walks around school grounds and the school's neighborhood.
  • Lead the classroom's participation in Project FeederWatch.
  • Lead an activity related to preventing bird window collisions (e.g. creating decals) and explain the importance of this.
  • Assist teachers in implementation of Bird by Bird's outdoor curricula.
  • Some knowledge of Minnesota's common birds and their identification is desirable.
  • Must be comfortable interacting with elementary-aged students.
  • Some experience with or knowledge of engaging with children in an educational setting is helpful.
  • Experience using eBird is helpful, but not required.

Bird Feeder Maintenance

  • Ensure feeders are delivered, stocked, and cleaned throughout the year.
  • Demonstrate how to clean a bird feeder and explain why this is important to students.
  • Coordinate with schools to access feeders for refilling and maintenance.
  • Communicate to Education Coordinator if additional supplies are needed or bird feeders become damaged.
  • No prior knowledge necessary.

Community Event Facilitator

  • Plan and lead bird-related events for the communities near our site schools

    • Example events:

      • A bird walk on the weekend at a local library or other venue at/near the school. This could be led by the event facilitator or they could recruit a bird guide.
      • Share Fair Night: students present a poster on a local bird that they studied to classroom families and posters get displayed at local library
  • Assist DNR staff with seasonal events, such as Twin Cities Bird Festival.
  • Some knowledge of Minnesota's common birds and their identification is desirable, but not required.
  • Experience with event planning is helpful.
  • Volunteers should be comfortable interacting with the public.

Logistical support

  • As needed support for tasks such as: preparing classroom kits of binoculars and field guides, preparing bird feeders for classrooms, assisting with event preparation, etc.
  • No prior knowledge or experience necessary.
Time commitment 

  • Single day or continuous volunteer projects are available with varying time commitment.

  • Some volunteer roles will require participation in an orientation and training.

  • Contact Benjamin Gieseke, Wildlife Education Coordinator, at [email protected] or (651) 259-5091 to learn more.

Volunteering sites 

  • School programs take place at or near various elementary school locations in the St. Paul and Minneapolis Public School districts. School programs begin in September 2025 and end in May 2026.

  • Some tasks may take place at event locations around the Twin Cities or at the DNR office in downtown St. Paul.

  • Volunteers must be able to transport themselves to assigned schools, community event, and field experience sites. Travel reimbursement available if needed.

Sign up 

  • Complete a Bird by Bird Program application

  • Create a volunteer profile.

  • Please note that this application will time out after 30 minutes of no activity.

  • Make note of the username and password you create for this site so you can go back to update your profile and apply for other DNR volunteer opportunities.  This will be your DNR Volunteer profile from now on. Log in to MyImpactPage.com to access anytime.

FAQ
I can’t commit to the entire school year, I’m only available certain times is that okay?

Yes!

What are the benefits of being a volunteer?

  • You will help inspire a love for birds and nature in a new generation!

  • You will benefit from both mental and physical health benefits from time connecting to nature.

  • Participate in reducing the nature gap in our cities and schools.

  • Build community with other volunteers.

  • You might get to see some cool birds!

Do I have to be an expert birder?

You certainly don’t have to be an expert, though for some volunteer roles it will be very helpful to have some knowledge of the common urban species and how to recognize them, as well as experience using binoculars, field guides, and eBird.

For more information: Contact Benjamin Gieseke, Wildlife Education Coordinator, at [email protected] or (651) 259-5091.  

 

the logo for the Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund, which is two cartoon loons against a blue background Funding for this program was provided by the Minnesota Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund as recommended by the Legislative-Citizen Commission on Minnesota Resources (LCCMR) and the MN DNR’s Nongame Wildlife Program. 

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