Please note that there are several more opportunities (better suited for individuals) on the Get Involved/Volunteer page of our website, www.bridgingthegap.org.

 

All volunteer opportunities require scheduling in advance by calling 816-561-1087 unless another contact number is listed. 

 

Highlights for August-November:

 

Coming Right Up!

Dreamscape Makeover – Sustainable Landscaping Project

Friday, Aug. 21 or Saturday, Aug. 22

Volunteer to help install the Dreamscape Makeover sustainable landscaping project! Work alongside landscape experts and learn how to transform your own yard into a sustainable paradise! The Dreamscape Makeover is designed with native, drought-tolerant plants as well as sustainable ornamentals that thrive in our area despite erratic weather patterns. It will highlight features that help conserve rainfall and will only require simple, water-thrifty maintenance. Volunteers can help 9 AM to 4 PM one or both days, full days or half days. For information or to volunteer, contact Keep Kansas City Beautiful at 816-561-1086 or kkcb@bridgingthegap.org.

 

Fall Internships

Bridging The Gap is offering several internships this fall that support several BTG programs. For information, see the Get Involved/Volunteer section at www.briidgingthegap.org.

 

Rain Garden/Bio-Swale Installation Project

Saturday, Sept. 12, English Landing Park, Parkville, Mo.

Join Keep Kansas City Beautiful and landscape experts to plant a rain garden and bio-swale to address problems with storm water runoff at English Landing Park in Parkville, Mo. Learn skills that can help you solve storm water problems at your home and in your community. English Landing Park, Parkville, Mo., 9 AM to 1 PM. To sign up, contact Keep Kansas City Beautiful at 816-561-1086 or kkcb@bridgingthegap.org.

 

National Public Lands Day
Saturday, Sept. 26, 9:00 AM to Noon, Blue Springs Lake Region in Jackson County’s Fleming Park

Join us as Bridging The Gap hosts a working celebration of one of the Kansas City region’s most scenic public areas! Clean up litter, remove invasive plants and provide tree care in one of our region's best-loved parks. This project is a joint effort of Heartland Tree Alliance, Kansas City WildLands and Keep Kansas City Beautiful, affiliates of Bridging The Gap. Registration deadline is September 16, 2009.  To sign up, contact Amy Smith at 816-561-1061, ext. 122 or e-mail amy.smith@bridgingthegap.org.


Heartland Tree Alliance Tree Care Workdays - October 10 or November 14
This volunteer opportunity is for anyone who loves trees! No special training required. Locations to be determined.  For information or to sign up, contact Bill Grotts bill.grotts@bridgingthegap.org or 816-561-1061, ext. 110.

 

Heartland Tree Alliance Fall Tree Planting Event - Saturday, October 24, 9:00 AM-Noon

Come help Heartland Tree Alliance plant trees for everyone to enjoy! Everyone is invited to help plant trees on public property. Training is provided prior to planting. For information or to sign up, contact Bill Grotts bill.grotts@bridgingthegap.org or 816-561-1061, ext. 110. Note: The maximum number of participants from any one group for this event is 10 in order to ensure that a wide variety of volunteers can participate.

Kansas City WildLands Annual Honeysuckle Battle

Saturday, November 7, 9:00 AM to Noon
To Battle! Our largest workday of the year focuses on removing invasive exotic honeysuckle. This is a GREAT group workday! Tools and equipment provided. Contact Linda Lehrbaum, 816-561-1061, ext. 116 or e-mail linda@bridgingthegap.org

 

Kansas City WildLands Single-Site Workday (Groups Only)

Mutually Convenient Date between August 22, 2009 - March 15, 2010

Volunteers will remove honeysuckle, an invasive plant, from a public land site in the metro area, helping native plants flourish. These workdays can be arranged with our Kansas City WildLands Program Manager on a mutually convenient date. Now scheduling group workdays for August 22, 2009 through March 15, 2010. A guaranteed minimum of 15 volunteers is needed to set up one of these special workdays. Contact Linda Lehrbaum, 816-561-1061, ext. 116 or e-mail linda@bridgingthegap.org.

 

Kansas City Tree Site Identification Volunteers

Be part of the solution to climate change! The city of Kansas City, Missouri is undertaking a climate protection plan that includes the goal of planting 120,000 additional trees over the next 10 years. This first stage requires identification of available planting sites. Heartland Tree Alliance offers a wonderful opportunity to be part of this ambitious, important effort. Driving is not required to complete this project. This can be done on a volunteer’s own time or organized as a special group workday. For more information or to sign up, contact Bill Grotts, 816-561-1061, ext. 110 or e-mail bill.grotts@bridgingthegap.org.

 

Community Recycling Centers

The Community Recycling Centers need you to help reduce the amount of trash going to the landfill! Sign up to volunteer at one of our recycling centers, and you’ll help conserve resources, reduce waste and meet other citizens who care about the environment. The centers operate every week and are almost completely staffed by volunteers. Scheduling is flexible – whatever amount of time you have to give is appreciated! This is a great opportunity for individuals or groups. (Groups can be scheduled on Saturdays.) Current Kansas City locations: 91st and Hillcrest and Metro North Shopping Center. Call 816-561-1090 to sign up or email Amy Smith at amy.smith@bridgingthegap.org

 

Additional information of interest:

o        Since many individuals are focusing on ways to combat climate change, I am highlighting one related opportunity that is good for individuals:

Sustainability Speakers Needed! Do you have a desire to help educate others about steps they can take to live more sustainably? We are looking for volunteers with significant public speaking experience or who are very comfortable with public speaking to give short presentations to community groups about specific solutions to our planet’s environmental challenges. For information, call Amy Smith at 816-561-1061, ext. 122 or email amy.smith@bridgingthegap.org.  

·         For those of you who keep information on file about all types of volunteer opportunities (including those for individuals or those that require an ongoing commitment), please see www.bridgingthegap.org (Get Involved) for information about those.

Thank you so much for sharing these opportunities with your students!

Laura O'Brien, Volunteer Coordinator

Bridgng The Gap - Connecting Environment, Economy, Community

816-561-1061, ext. 109

www.bridgingthegap.org

 

Join us in creating a more sustainable world! Bridging The Gap offers numerous volunteer opportunities throughout the year for both individuals and groups. See www.bridgingthegap.org for information about how you can get involved in recycling, tree care days, ecological restoration, litter prevention projects, environmental events, making sustainability presentations, and more.