Opportunities From: Montgomery County Volunteer Center

Are you retired from teaching and missing working with young people? Star Gazing Farm is an animal sanctuary that houses approximately 55 animals from 11 different species and offers a weekly work and learn program for students ages 12 and up.

We are looking for a seasoned educator who is interested in encouraging young people’s interest in animal care and welfare. Providing guidance and supervision is a key component of this volunteer job. 

The work the students perform includes:

·       Cleaning barns

·       Scrubbing and filling water troughs and buckets

·       Tidying the indoor small animal room (rabbits, chinchillas, guinea pigs)\

·       Grooming the animals

·       Assisting with animal husbandry tasks such as deworming, administering shots, hoof trimming and shearing

·       Staffing events·  

Every Saturday we allot 6 places for students to sign up to volunteer. (note: we also have occasional adults who volunteer but they generally do not work in a supervisory role). Saturday workdays run from 9am to 1pm.

These students volunteer at the farm primarily because they are animal lovers. It is a wonderful opportunity for them to have hands-on experience with both large and small animals and to exercise both their mind and their bodies in doing farm work. 

While engaging in the work itself is educational and healthy, we wish to further enrich their experience by providing both more direct supervision and weekly educational components relating to animal care and animal welfare. 

We are seeking an experienced educator who enjoys working with teens and can motivate them to go beyond just the “regular” task list. This person will act as primary supervisor for the students:

·       Making sure they understand how to use the tools available to them.

·       Checking to see that jobs are properly completed.

·       Ensuring that everyone is working safely and in a collegial manner.

·       Keeping the flow of work going yet making sure needed breaks are taken.

·       Helping students consider important questions regarding the animals they are working to help.

·       Providing a short weekly educational exercise (homework is fine!) in relation to animal care and welfare.

Other notes:

·       The supervisor is not required to perform the physical work but only to demonstrate use of tools.

·       The farm is small (4 acres) but there is a lot of walking including up and down hills in the course of a Saturday.

·       We heartily welcome retired schoolteachers and coaches.

 Not approved for MCPS SSL hours.

Are you good with tools?  Enjoy fixing things, building things, solving problems? 

Farms are a magnet for fences and equipment breaking, weeds growing, and random items floating around with apparently no actual purpose.  Our farm is no exception! 

Join our handyperson team for both project and regular maintenance. 

Retired folks especially welcome! (We know you have a lifetime of valuable skills!) 

Not approved for MCPS SSL hours.

Come out and help care for our animals.  Our Saturday workdays involve cleaning barns, putting down fresh bedding, scrubbing water buckets and troughs, keeping pastures maintained, and performing regular animal husbandry tasks such as deworming, regular exams, giving shots, hoof trims, and more. 

Requirements prior to volunteering:

(1) Please fill out our volunteer application form here: https://www.stargazingfarm.org/volunteer

(2) Attend an orientation (held every first Saturday of the month from 12:30-1:15). After filling out the application form you'll receive a link to sign up for orientation.

(3) Fill out our liability waiver form.  This form will be sent to you after you've filled out the application form. 

Thank you for your interest! 

This position is for adults.

We have quite a number of elderly and special needs animals at our sanctuary, and are looking for someone who is specifically interested in and capable of assisting with their care several times a week on an ongoing basis.  Responsibilities include: 

- Giving oral medication as instructed

- Administering shots (IM and SubQ) as instructed

- Bandaging 

- Lifting and/or moving large animals (primarily sheep and goats)

- Keeping detailed observation notes

Additional duties could include: 

- transport of animals to local veterinarians

- light cleaning of their housing areas and replenishing waters

Please fill out our volunteer application on our web site:  Volunteer Application – Star Gazing Farm Animal Sanctuary

Must have a current tetanus shot; be capable of lifting at least 60 pounds; have own vehicle and good driving record; some experience with large animals highly preferred.