City of Albuquerque Open Space Division. We provide opportunities for the public to participate in the conservation of public open space. Our website address is http://www.cabq.gov/openspace. Participate in conservation projects in the Bosque, Foothills or Petroglyph National Monument. The minimum age for unescorted children is 16 years old. For escorted children it is dependent on the project difficulty. Contact: Jodi Hedderig, jhedderig@cabq.gov, 897-8831 OR Jim Sattler, jsattler@cabq.gov, 452-5200

Cloud Dancers Therapeutic Horsemanship Program, 608 Bledsoe Road N.W., Los Ranchos de Albuquerque. If you enjoy being around horses, we have terrific volunteer opportunities for you. Our organization allows people with physical and mental challenges the chance to ride horses, and we need people 14 years old and older to help make their dreams come true. What we need from you:
Dependability
Willingness to be around large, hairy, sometimes smelly animals
An open mind with the ability to take instruction
Physical ability to perform occasional manual labor; can’t be afraid of dirt
An active and healthy sense of humor (this is crucial)
We hold lessons Monday, Wednesday and Thursday evenings, and Saturday mornings throughout the summer and into the fall. Potential volunteers should call 505-363-1277 or email us at CloudDancersTRP@gmail.com.

ECHO Food Bank   (Economic Council Helping Others), 300 Menaul N.W. Volunteers needed to pack food boxes for distribution to the low-income population Monday-Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Our website address is http://www.echoinc.org. Youth under the age of 16 must be accompanied by a responsible adult. Contact: Kirk Denetclaw, echodclaw@spinn.net, 505-242-6777


Explora, 1701 Mountain Road N.W. We create opportunities for inspirational discovery and the joy of lifelong learning through interactive experiences in science, technology and art. Visit us at http://www.explora.us. Volunteers sought to interact with visitors and encourage them to experiment with the exhibits, assist with activities, and help maintain the exhibit areas. Explora provides training in the inquiry technique, customer service and the exhibits. Must be at least 14 years of age to volunteer. Must complete orientation/workshop training offered only in May, prior to volunteering. Commitment of approximately 25 hours over 3 months. Contact: Drora Schub, dschub@explora.us, 505-224-8362



Interfaith Hospitality Network. We assist homeless families in the Albuquerque community to achieve and sustain independence. We accomplish this by mobilization and cooperation from faith communities to provide shelter, food and resource case management. Visit us at http://www.ihnabq.org. Opportunities available as follows for youth ages 16 and older:

o Prepare meals for homeless families at various congregations in the Albuquerque community. Dinner is prepared and served from 4:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.

o Help develop a vegetable garden for homeless at one of our congregations in the Albuquerque area.

Contact: Olga Schifani, ihndirector@gmail.com, 505-268-0331


Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, 2501 San Pedro N.E. We fund diabetes-related research and offer information and support to those living with diabetes. To learn more about us, please visit our website at http://www.jdrf.org/newmexico. Volunteers needed to perform general clerical duties such as telephone answering, data entry, mailing correspondence, photocopying, and filing. Appropriate for youth age 16 and older. Youth volunteers will be supervised at all times. Help needed anytime Monday-Friday, between 8:30 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. Contact: Elizabeth Romero, newmexico@jdrf.org, 255-4005


The Loan Fund, 423 Iron SW.  Our staff and volunteers provide loans and technical assistance to low-income entrepreneurs, small business owners, and nonprofit organizations across the state.  To learn more about us, please visit our website at http://www.loanfund.org.  We can use the help of two to four youth volunteers during the summer months. Volunteers will help with general office administration and organization tasks. Volunteers will be needed Monday-Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Appropriate for youth volunteers age 13 and older.  Contact:  Leslie Abitz, leslie@loanfund.org, 505-243-3196, ext. 29

Meals on Wheels, 5901 Harper N.E. Our staff and volunteers prepare and distribute nutritious meals to individuals to help them be more independent. To learn more about us, please visit our website at http/www.mow-nm.org. Opportunities available for youth volunteers ages 13-17 as follows:

o Volunteer in the kitchen 1-5 times per week, Monday-Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. Duties: fill containers with food servings such as salads or fruits.

o Volunteer with your parent to deliver meals to clients 1-5 times per week, Monday-Friday, 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

o Help in our office 1-5 times per week, Monday-Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. Duties: assemble packets, stuff envelopes, affix labels to sacks and lids, etc.

Contact: Pam Webb, pam-volunteer@mow-nm.org, 505-823-8061

New Mexico Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program: 1015 Tijeras Ave. N.W. Our program helps New Mexico’s citizens living in long-term care facilities regain their voice. Your support will allow us to continue serving more than 12,000 elderly and disabled adults needing advocacy and support. Learn more about the Ombudsman Program at www.nmaging.state.nm.us. We could use the help of a volunteer age 16 and older to assist with paperwork filing. Set your own schedule Monday-Friday, between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. Pleasant work environment in our downtown office location. We will provide you all the training you need. A regular commitment of 2 hours per week is ideal. Volunteers must sign a confidentiality form. Contact Nancy Hubert nancy.hubert@state.nm.us, 505-222-4500

Nicodemus Wilderness Project. We provide volunteer opportunities that empower youth to help save the environment while they develop important leadership skills. Check us out at http://www.wildernessproject.org. Contact: Rob Dudley or Yih-Ming Hsu at mail@wildernessproject.org, 505-363-0693.

The goals of the Apprentice Ecologist Initiative™ are to:

o Elevate youth into leadership roles by engaging them in environmental cleanup and conservation projects;
o Empower young volunteers to rebuild the environmental and social well-being of our communities;
o Improve local living conditions for both citizens and wildlife through education, activism, and action

Here's how to become an Apprentice Ecologist:

Option I: (Trash Cleanup-Stop Pollution)
o
Plan a trash cleanup project of a mountain, river, shoreline, beach, park, or wilderness area with help from family, friends, or teachers.
o
Remove/recycle trash from the area and take high-resolution digital photos of your project in action.

Option II: (Native Tree Planting-Stop Global Warming)

o Plan a native tree planting project in your yard, neighborhood, school, park, or other natural area. Get permission from any landowners and get native tree seedlings from a local nursery.

o Plant native trees and take high-resolution digital photos of your project in action.

Option III: (You Choose-Save the Environment)

o Be creative!

o Organize and conduct an environmental stewardship project locally, nationally, or internationally. Examples of projects that NWP Apprentice Ecologists have completed in the past include:

Starting a community or school recycling program

Protecting a terrestrial or aquatic area for native wildlife

Promoting the conservation of an endangered species or an imperiled natural area

Educating others about wildlife or conservation issues

Removing graffiti from natural areas

Taking steps to prevent pollution/contamination locally

Removing nonnative vegetation so that native vegetation can flourish

Improving awareness about the importance of using renewable energy sources

Reducing soil erosion by maintaining established trails and closing off short-cuts

Assisting the elderly with their yards by planting/maintaining vegetation that provides native wildlife habitat

The possibilities are endless!

After completing steps 1 and 2, register at:
http://www.wildernessproject.org/apprentice_ecologist/register, and upload your best photo and accompanying essay to our Global Registry of Apprentice Ecologists. We will publish your photo essay and provide links to download/print an official Certificate of Achievement and an Apprentice Ecologist heat transfer (for T-shirt). A large canvas tote bag (made in the USA with 100% certified organic cotton) printed with our logo will be awarded to the authors of the 10 best essays on an annual basis. NOTE: For projects conducted in Sandoval, Bernalillo, or Valencia counties (New Mexico), each volunteer who writes an essay will be awarded an NWP tote bag.


A $500 educational scholarship will also be awarded annually to the author of the top Apprentice Ecologist essay. (This tax-free scholarship is available to any full or part-time student [ages 13-21] who is a candidate for a degree/diploma at a primary (middle school), secondary (high school), or accredited post-secondary (undergraduate at college or university) institution from any country around the world. The award covers 1) tuition and fees to enroll in or attend an educational institution and/or 2) fees, books, supplies, and equipment required for your courses. Deadline is December 31, 2009.


Rio Grande Food Project, 600 Coors N.W. We provide emergency food to individuals and families. Visit our website at http://www.rgfp.org. Volunteer opportunities available as follows:
o Perform data entry on Monday, Wednesday, or Friday, between 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. Minimum age: 17
o Pack food boxes and restock shelves. Volunteers under the age of 12 must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian.
Contact: Ann Wegman OR David Whiteley, rgfp@comcast.net, 505-836-9558


Roadrunner Food Bank, 5840 Office Blvd., N.E. (near I-25 and Jefferson). Thanks to our many volunteers, Roadrunner Food Bank is able to distribute over 15 million pounds of food each year throughout New Mexico. Check us out at http://www.rrfb.org. Contact: Christina Berlin, Christina@rrfb.org, 505-349-8825
 
Volunteer Hours: Monday – 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
                                Tuesday – Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
                       Saturday – 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. 

 
o We ask that you commit to at least 2 hours each time you volunteer.
o Please let us know at least one day in advance:
 
ü Date you will be volunteering
ü Time you will arrive
ü Duration you will be staying on that day
ü Number of people in your group
 
o When volunteering, you will be helping out in our offices, re-packing cereal, sorting canned and dry goods, packing boxes for distribution, or re-stocking shelves in our warehouse, and warehouse maintenance. 
o All volunteers must wear closed-toe shoes (no sandals or flip flops) and are not permitted to wear headphones in our warehouse. 
o Children are welcome at Roadrunner:
Ø Children 10–15 years old must be accompanied by 1 adult per 7 children.
Ø Children under 10 years old must have 1 adult per 2 children.
Ø Please limit volunteer time to 1 ½ hours


SAFE House Thrift Store, 1301 San Mateo N.E. We shelter and empower survivors of intimate partner domestic violence. To learn more about us, please visit our website at http://www.safehousenm.org. Volunteers needed to help at our thrift store located at 1301 San Mateo N.E. (near San Mateo & Lomas). Our store hours are Monday - Friday, 9:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., and Saturday, 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Duties: sort, tag, and display donated items on the sales floor; light cleaning duties, load and unload the recycle bin and assist with loading and unloading of furniture. Minimum age: 16. Contact: Crystal Hollon, 505-265-9233, chollon@safehousenm.org


Talking Talons Youth Leadership, Tijeras, N.M. We are an environmental education group that connects with elementary, middle, and high school youth, using non-releasable animals in the delivery of a science-based curriculum. Learn more about us at http://www.talkingtalons.com. WILDFEST ‘09 will be held at the Roosevelt Middle School in Tijeras on Saturday, July 25, 2009. This year’s WILDFEST will continue to feature the wildlife and environmental education activities popular at previous WILDFESTs, and is also expanding to include a health fair. Talking Talons strives to improve the health of the planet, wildlife, and ourselves; now WILDFEST will incorporate all three! We need volunteers to help contact and coordinate with vendors, make and paint signs, set-up tables, etc. Volunteers will be needed immediately to help with the planning stages, as well as the day of the event to help with setting-up/tearing-down and helping coordinate things! Contact: Jacqui Ortega, jacqui@talkingtalons.net, 505-281-1133


Tree New Mexico. We are dedicated to ensuring sustainable forests in urban and rural communities and natural areas through restoration, public education and advocacy. Learn more about us at http://www.treenm.com. Want to help save our precious Bosque? Tree New Mexico is seeking volunteers to help care for plant stock at the Native Plant Nursery in Albuquerque. Volunteers (youth to adults) are needed immediately to assist in watering, weeding, planting and clean-up activities spring through late summer. To learn more about this program and how to get involved, contact Tree New Mexico, office@treenm.com, 505-265-4554.


Watermelon Mountain Ranch. We are a no-kill animal rescue located in northern Rio Rancho.  We also work with community youth organizations.  WMR needs volunteers to interact with the animals at the Ranch and during off-site events. Volunteers under age 15 must be accompanied by an adult.  We hold new volunteer orientation at the Ranch every Saturday at noon.  For more information, visit our website at http://www.wmranch.org, or contact Karen Kever, dogma1793@aol.com, 505-980-1150