Volunteer Project Catalog

Swaner Preserve and EcoCenter

Wednesday, July 29th, 8:30-10:30 am Join the Swaner Preserve & EcoCenter in this outdoor project pulling invasive weeds! Invasive weeds crowd out native species and impair habitat. This is a great way to get onto areas of the Preserve that are not open to the public. Volunteers should be able to walk over uneven ground, bend over for extended periods, work outdoors in a variety of conditions, and comply with the safety guidelines. MEETING LOCATION TBD based on plant growth. Tools and supplies are provided. Volunteers will learn invasive weed identification as well as methods for successful removal. Kids as young as 10 may accompany their parent or guardian for the duration of the project, but keep in mind the strenuous nature of the project. Unaccompanied minors must be 14+. If you have any questions regarding this, contact Rhea at rhea.cone@usu.edu.

Swaner Preserve and EcoCenter

Wednesday, August 5th, 8:30-10:30 am Join the Swaner Preserve & EcoCenter in this outdoor project pulling invasive weeds! Invasive weeds crowd out native species and impair habitat. This is a great way to get onto areas of the Preserve that are not open to the public. Volunteers should be able to walk over uneven ground, bend over for extended periods, work outdoors in a variety of conditions, and comply with the safety guidelines. MEETING LOCATION TBD based on plant growth. Tools and supplies are provided. Volunteers will learn invasive weed identification as well as methods for successful removal. Kids as young as 10 may accompany their parent or guardian for the duration of the project, but keep in mind the strenuous nature of the project. Unaccompanied minors must be 14+. If you have any questions regarding this, contact Rhea at rhea.cone@usu.edu.

Swaner Preserve and EcoCenter

Saturday, August 8th, 9-10:30 am Help bees, butterflies, and other pollinators by assisting with our demonstration garden in front of the EcoCenter! Volunteers will help with soil amendment, weeding, and pruning the pollinator garden in front of the EcoCenter to maintain it for the growing season. This opportunity is a great way to learn about native and waterwise plants that do well in Park City. Volunteers will receive instruction and guidance upon arrival from gardening professional Colie Belieu (https://yogaearthdesign.com/). Dress for the weather and for gardening. We'll provide the tools and supplies. Everyone is welcome, from beginners to Utah Master Gardeners! Can't stay for the whole time? No problem! Join for as long as you are able.

Swaner Preserve and EcoCenter

Join us for a fun-filled day of nature exploration at Swaner Preserve & EcoCenter! Volunteers will assist with leading family-friendly activity stations focused on pond exploration, wetland science, and outdoor play. This event is open-house style and runs from 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM. Volunteers will arrive at 9:30 AM to help with setup and stay until 1:30 PM for cleanup. If you have questions regarding scheduling, please email Bri at brianna.cencak@usu.edu Volunteer roles include: *Assisting with setup and takedown of activity stations *Engaging families and kids at interactive stations *Restocking and organizing supplies *Encouraging curiosity and learning through hands-on play Activity station descriptions will be emailed out to volunteers prior to the event. Volunteers will also receive a brief orientation upon arrival.

Swaner Preserve and EcoCenter

Monday, August 17th, 5:30-7:00PM Join the Swaner Preserve & EcoCenter in this outdoor project collecting native seeds! Native plants are essential for biodiversity, wildlife, pollinators, and soil health. Seeds will be used for our native seed library and restoration seeding on the preserve. Volunteers should be able to walk over uneven ground, bend over for extended periods, work outdoors in a variety of conditions, and comply with the safety guidelines. We will meet in the Demonstration Garden in front of Swaner EcoCenter. Tools and supplies are provided. Volunteers will learn native plant identification and learn how to collect and label native seeds. Kids as young as 10 may accompany their parent or guardian for the duration of the project, but keep in mind the strenuous nature of the project. Unaccompanied minors must be 14+. If you have any questions regarding this, contact Margaux at margaux.klingensmith@usu.edu.

Swaner Preserve and EcoCenter

Wednesday, September 2nd, 8:30-10:30AM Join the Swaner Preserve & EcoCenter in this outdoor project collecting native seeds! Native plants are essential for biodiversity, wildlife, pollinators, and soil health. Seeds will be used for our native seed library and restoration seeding on the preserve. This is a great way to get onto areas of the Preserve that are not open to the public. Volunteers should be able to walk over uneven ground, bend over for extended periods, work outdoors in a variety of conditions, and comply with the safety guidelines. MEETING LOCATION TBD based on seed maturity. Tools and supplies are provided. Volunteers will learn native plant identification and learn how to collect and label native seeds. Kids as young as 10 may accompany their parent or guardian for the duration of the project, but keep in mind the strenuous nature of the project. Unaccompanied minors must be 14+. If you have any questions regarding this, contact Margaux at margaux.klingensmith@usu.edu.

Swaner Preserve and EcoCenter

Wednesday, September 16th 5:30-7 pm Help bees, butterflies, and other pollinators by assisting with our demonstration garden in front of the EcoCenter! Volunteers will help with soil amendment, weeding, and pruning the pollinator garden in front of the EcoCenter to maintain it for the growing season. This opportunity is a great way to learn about native and waterwise plants that do well in Park City. Volunteers will receive instruction and guidance upon arrival from gardening professional Colie Belieu (https://yogaearthdesign.com/). Dress for the weather and for gardening. We'll provide the tools and supplies. Everyone is welcome, from beginners to Utah Master Gardeners! Can't stay for the whole time? No problem! Join for as long as you are able.

Swaner Preserve and EcoCenter

Saturday, September 19th, 2026 Shifts are available in multiple slots between 9am-noon. This is intended to stagger participants and account for folks doing multiple projects for the community-wide day of service. Lend a helping hand during Park City's community-wide day of service by picking up trash along the Swaner Preserve boundaries. If not removed, much of this garbage ends up on the Swaner Preserve which can be dangerous for wildlife and detrimental to the functions of the wetland. We will meet at the Swaner EcoCenter- parking and directions can be found here: https://extension.usu.edu/swaner/directions. Volunteers will be supplied gloves, bags, trash grabbers, and a location of where to head for trash cleanup. Locations around the Preserve can be accessed on foot or by vehicle for those looking to tackle different areas. Volunteers will collect trash around and on the Swaner Preserve in bags and bring them back to the EcoCenter or set dropoff points for collection. September is Utah’s Statewide Watershed Cleanup Month! Trash weight will be submitted to Pack it Out Utah 2026. https://extension.usu.edu/waterquality/outreach/pack-it-out-utah Questions? Contact Rhea at rhea.cone@usu.edu or 435-797-8956

Swaner Preserve and EcoCenter

Inspire, engage, and create during Sunday Craft! The Sunday Craft Volunteer supports Swaner EcoCenter staff during our busiest weekend hours. This is one of our most popular programs and is very kid-focused, so being comfortable interacting with children and guiding them through simple craft activities is especially helpful. No prior art or teaching experience necessary! Key Responsibilities: — Invite and assist children in creating a themed nature and/or upcycled craft. — Maintain a clean and safe craft area, including setup and cleanup. — Engage children with nature topics, encouraging exploration and curiosity. Volunteer Commitment: — Flexible! Volunteers can sign up for a one-time shift or participate regularly. — To ensure everyone has an opportunity to volunteer, we kindly ask that individuals sign up for no more than two shifts per month. — Each sign-up spot is for ONE volunteer only. If more than one person would like to volunteer (such as a parent and child), each person must sign up for their own spot. Time Commitment: — Volunteers must arrive at 10:30 AM—30 minutes before start time—to set up and review instructions. Expect to stay 15 minutes after for cleanup. — Sunday Craft takes place from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM every Sunday at Swaner EcoCenter. Qualifications: — Ages 12 and up — Friendly, patient, reliable, and a good communicator — Comfortable in a busy, kid-focused environment Benefits: — Invitation to Swaner events and activities for volunteer — Gain hands-on experience working with children — Support a fun, educational program at Swaner — Meet other volunteers and connect with the community