Volunteer
Thank you for your interest in joining our volunteer program!
If you’re looking for a meaningful volunteer opportunity with animals, Soper Creek Wildlife Rescue might be the place for you.
Soper Creek Wildlife Rescue (SCWR) is proud to partner with Heroes 4 Wildlife (H4W), a not-for-profit organization dedicated to wildlife rehabilitation and public education.
Together, SCWR & H4W support Durham Region’s only wildlife hospital, ensuring injured and orphaned wild animals get the care they need to survive and thrive. SCWR supports this mission by donating our land, facilities, hospital equipment, and other essential resources.
Volunteers Make a Difference
Volunteer roles include:
- Meal Prep for Animals: Preparing specialized diets for our permanent residents and wildlife patients.
- Wildlife Hotline: Answering community calls and providing guidance for wildlife situations.
- Rehabilitation Hospital Support: Assisting with food prep and feeding, cleaning enclosures, doing dishes, and keeping the wildlife hospital clean, safe, and sanitary.
- Permanent Animal Care: Helping with the daily cleaning, feeding, and general husbandry of our permanent resident animals at SCWR.
- Wildlife Transport & Releases: Transporting injured wildlife to SCWR and releasing rehabilitated animals back into the wild.
- Donation Pick-Ups: Collecting much-needed supplies and community donations.
- Education & Outreach: Supporting school presentations, public programs, events, and community education initiatives.
- Admin & Fundraising: Assisting with administrative tasks and helping with fundraising efforts and campaigns.
Every hour you give directly supports wildlife in need.
Why Volunteer With SCWR?
- Hands-On Experience: Gain hands-on experience in wildlife care and rehabilitation.
- Learn Valuable Skills: Learn skills for careers in animal care, conservation, or education.
- Be Part of a Community: Join a passionate, supportive community of volunteers.
- Make a Difference: Make a tangible difference in the lives of local wildlife.
“This is the best experience I have ever had. The work environment was great, the hands-on nature of working with these animals was amazing, and knowing I was helping wildlife was so rewarding.”
— SCWR Volunteer
General Requirements for Volunteering
- Age: Volunteers must be at least 18 years old to work in the wildlife rehabilitation centre. Note: Volunteers under 18 cannot work in this department due to zoonotic disease risks.
- Health & Safety: Proof of a valid tetanus vaccine and a negative vulnerable sector check are required.
- Transportation: Volunteers must have their own transportation to ensure they arrive on time for scheduled shifts.
- Time Commitment: Minimum of 4 hours per week for at least 6 months (varies by department).
- Animal Handling: Volunteers must exercise caution and sound judgment. Training sessions and written tests are provided and required before working independently with animals.
- Professional Conduct: Volunteers must act professionally and courteously when interacting with the public to support SCWR’s mission.
How the volunteer process works:
- Register for a virtual orientation session
- Attend the session to learn about our work and volunteer roles
- Complete onboarding requirements & training
- Begin volunteering with Soper Creek Wildlife Rescue
Want to learn more? Join one of our virtual orientation sessions! These sessions are one hour in length and provide an inside look at the work we do and the many ways volunteers can help at Soper Creek Wildlife Rescue. Each session concludes with a Q&A so you can get all of your questions answered.
Attending a virtual orientation is mandatory in order to join our volunteer program.
Orientation Dates:We do not have any upcoming orientation dates scheduled at this time.
We are not currently enrolling new volunteers
If you would like to be contacted about our volunteer program or when our virtual volunteer information sessions begin, please click the button below.
We’ll keep your details on file and reach out when opportunties become available!
Frequently Asked Questions
No prior experience is required. All volunteers receive training and access to our Google Classroom, which includes manuals, policies, and protocols for all positions at SCWR.
Volunteers must be 18 or older to work in the rehabilitation hospital due to safety and zoonotic disease risks.
Opportunities for Under-18 Volunteers:
Downloadable PDF: “Ways Youth Can Help”
Youth-specific events or projects
No direct wildlife handling for under-18s, but alternatives are available
Summer camp program: High school students can earn community service hours by volunteering with our summer camp program.
For more information, e-mail: office@sopercreekwildlife.com
Most positions require a minimum of 4 hours per week for the season (April–September)
Some roles may have additional requirements or be more flexible depending on the department
Most volunteer positions are seasonal (April–September)
Some positions, such as permanent animal care and food preparation, are year-round
Most positions are available 7 days a week on-site
Occasional weekend events or outreach opportunities may be available
Remote volunteering is not available, except for occasional support roles such as fundraising or similar tasks.
Yes. Volunteers must provide their own transportation to ensure timely arrival for shifts. There are no public transit routes near SCWR.
Volunteers are required to wear:
Comfortable, weather-appropriate clothes you don’t mind getting dirty
Closed-toe shoes
Long hair tied back; minimal jewelry for safety
Soper Creek Wildlife Rescue t-shirt must be purchased and worn during shifts ($20 + HST)
Tetanus Vaccine: Up-to-date (within the last 10 years)
A Rabies Vaccine is not required
Volunteer shifts typically start in April. Before starting, the following steps must be completed:
Attend a mandatory virtual orientation
Complete and submit necessary paperwork
Attend an in-person orientation and complete required testing
Begin in-person training and shadow shifts
Click the “Click here to Register for a Virtual Orientation Date” button on this page and select a date that works for you.
If you’re interested in exploring a different volunteer role, this must be discussed with the owner and senior staff in advance.
For safety reasons and to reduce the risk of zoonotic disease transmission, volunteers cannot switch between departments mid-shift or mid-season. Each department has its own training requirements, and staff availability for training may be limited during the season.
Want to make a difference for the animals at Soper Creek Wildlife Rescue?
You don’t have to be a grown-up — there are lots of ways kids and families can help:
- Fundraising Adventures: Turn your birthday, school event, scout meeting, or club activity into a fundraiser! Bake sales, craft fairs, or fun challenges all help injured and orphaned animals. Every dollar counts!
- Build & Create Cozy Homes: Our animals love safe, comfy spaces. Make birdhouses, squirrel houses, knitted nests, or pouches for baby animals. Don’t worry if you’re new to crafting — we’ll show you how!
- Join Programs & Celebrate with a Party: Sign up for our programs or host a wildlife-themed birthday party! All money raised goes straight to helping our animals, so you’re having fun and saving lives at the same time.
- Collect Helpful Items: Check out our Amazon Wishlist or ask us for a list of household items we need. Blankets, towels, and small supplies all help make our wildlife comfy and safe.
- Spread the Word: Tell your friends, family, and classmates about Soper Creek Wildlife Rescue! Share posts, invite friends to events, or start your own “Wildlife Hero” campaign. The more people who know, the more animals we can help!
Tip: Even small actions make a big difference. Every little bit of help adds up to happier, healthier animals.
Still have questions or want to learn more about how you can help?
Many common questions about our volunteer program are covered — or can be asked — during our virtual orientation sessions. These sessions also include time at the end for a Q&A so you can get clarity before committing.
If you didn’t find what you were looking for here, or want to learn more about ways to help outside of our volunteer program, feel free to reach out anytime!
Attention
High School
Students!
⇐
*NEW* Retiree Volunteer Program!
Soper Creek Wildlife Rescue is excited to launch a retiree volunteer program, perfect for those looking to help out on weekdays while supporting wildlife rehabilitation. Volunteers will assist with animal care & husbandry, food preparations, facility maintenance, and education programs, all while enjoying time outdoors and staying active. No experience needed – just a love for wildlife and helping others!
Interested in Volunteering?
Join one of our virtual orientation sessions, held from January to March each year. These one-hour Zoom meetings give you an inside look at the work we do and the many ways volunteers can help at Soper Creek Wildlife Rescue. Each session concludes with a Q&A so you can get all of your questions answered.
Please note: Orientation is mandatory in order to join our volunteer program.
Join Us and Be a Hero for Wildlife
There’s nothing quite like the feeling of helping a sick, injured, or orphaned wild animal. Volunteering your time can truly make a difference—and warm your heart in the process.
Every spring, “baby season” brings a surge of orphaned or abandoned wildlife needing around-the-clock care. Our trained volunteers support Soper Creek Wildlife Rescue by helping these young animals recover and prepare for life back in the wild.
Scroll down to learn more about general requirements and the different ways to get involved with our volunteer program, and check back in Fall 2025 for updates on how to register for our 2026 orientation sessions.
Will You Help Save Our Wildlife?
Volunteering your time to help a sick, injured or orphaned animal warms the heart like nothing else can!
Baby season in the springtime calls for around-the-clock care for infants that have been abandoned or orphaned. Our trained volunteers assist with the care of these individuals, ensuring they will be well prepared for life back in the wild.
Thinking About Volunteering?
Join one of the many virtual orientation sessions that run from January to March. These zoom meetings will allow you to learn about the work we do and the important roles different volunteers take on at the wildlife hospital.
These sessions are mandatory in order to participate in our volunteer program. They are approximately 1 hour in length with a Q&A at the end.
Inquiring during our off-season? No problem, click below to register and you will be contacted when our 2025 orientation dates are announced.
Ways to Get Involved
(and make a difference!)
- Time commitment is one 4-hour shift per week (April to September)
- Shifts are the same day and time each week for the duration of your commitment.
- Daily husbandry for patients in our care; feeding, cleaning enclosures, changing water, checking animal wellness, animal diet preparation & distribution, doing dishes, sweeping, mopping & other housekeeping tasks.
- Rabies vaccine is a bonus, but not mandatory.
- Time commitment is one 4-hour shift per week (Ideally year-round)
- Shifts are the same day and time each week for the duration of your commitment.
- Daily husbandry for our permanent residents; checking animal wellness, cleaning enclosures, changing water, animal diet preparation & distribution, doing dishes, sweeping, mopping & other housekeeping tasks.
- Rabies vaccine is a bonus, but not mandatory.
Please note: This position involves significant physical activity, including walking, lifting, and working outdoors in various weather conditions.
During busy periods, especially baby season, our phone rings frequently. Volunteers play a crucial role in answering calls, taking messages, and ensuring urgent concerns are addressed promptly. You'll screen calls to assess whether the animal requires care, provide guidance, and educate callers on appropriate actions.
Volunteers will assist with the urgent pick-up or drop-off of animals, often on short notice. Responsibilities include transporting sick, injured, or orphaned wildlife, as well as releasing rehabilitated animals back into the wild.
Volunteers will assist with delivering educational presentations at events, fairs, tours, schools, and other outreach opportunities. You'll help raise public awareness about wildlife, promote coexistence, and share knowledge about local species and conservation efforts. Opportunities include both in-house and off-site presentations.
Volunteers will assist by regularly picking up supply donations from various locations. These donations are essential for the care and rehabilitation of our wildlife patients, including food, bedding, and other critical supplies.
Volunteers in this role can expect a varied time commitment based on the activities or projects they participate in. Responsibilities may include canvassing for donations, assisting at booths during local festivals and events, and tracking donation boxes. Volunteers may also contribute to the creation of marketing materials and newsletters.
Fundraising: Organize events such as fairs and tournaments, and seek out innovative ideas to enhance fundraising efforts.
Administration: Assist with tasks such as updating databases, managing email lists, stuffing envelopes, typing forms, printing documents, and filing.
Volunteers will ensure that supplies are clean and readily accessible, maintaining the cleanliness of the nutrition building, storage areas and nurseries. Responsibilities include washing sheets, blankets, and bedding, as well as folding and organizing clean laundry. Volunteers will also ensure that appropriate caging and supplies are prepared for incoming patients.
Time commitment varies depending on the project, with ongoing site maintenance requiring 2-6 hours per week. At Soper Creek Wildlife Rescue, there are always site improvement and maintenance projects in progress.
Grounds Maintenance: Responsibilities include lawn mowing, shoveling, clearing the property, and general upkeep.
Construction & Maintenance: Tasks may involve carpentry, construction, fencing, cage repair, and other new projects as needed.
UNDER 18 and still want to help us?
There are many other ways that families and children can help our wildlife centre. Here are just a few ways to save a Wild Life:
1. Fundraising – start a fundraiser at your school, birthday party, scouts, church or club.
2. Build Needed Items – we are always in need of special build squirrel and bird houses, knitted nests and pouches.
3. Register for Programs or Book a Birthday Party – All funds generated from our programs go directly back into our wildlife centre. Without our programs, we cannot run the wildlife centre.
4. Collect Items – Visit our Amazon wishlist or e-mail us for a list of household items that can be collected to assist our wildlife friends.
