Knowing some things ahead of time will help you have a great visit to Amboy Marsh.
Most importantly, there is a porta-potty, but no water available.
There is a gravel parking lot for visitors right off Morman Road. Park there and begin your hike.
Volunteer at Amboy Marsh and Gremel
Work for an hour or as long as you wish! We will be cutting, lopping, digging and removing invasive honeysuckle and pulling other invasives. Wear clothes for working in the woods. Spray your pants legs for ticks! You can drive or walk to the work site. PPE required. Bring goggles and gloves and loppers, if you have them. Please message or email if you can help and if you have questions. Thank you! amboymarsh@illinoisaudubon.org
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What is a volunteer?
Volunteers are people from all walks of life, all ages and stages. What they have in common is the desire to make a difference in their community – and in their own life – by giving of their time. Volunteers are involved in virtually every aspect of society including health, education, social services, youth, sports and recreation, culture, the arts and the environment. Some volunteers give just one hour of time each month or less; others devote many hours each week. Volunteers are involved in once-off events, as well as ongoing activities. Some choose to volunteer out in the community; others are virtual volunteers and do their volunteering from the comfort of home. Volunteers can work on their own or with others, do hands-on work or volunteer at an administrative or leadership level. Volunteers play a vital role in our society. Volunteers are engaged in delivering services and programs that improve and enhance the life of our communities.
Volunteering is generally considered an altruistic activity where an individual provides services for no financial gain. Volunteering is also renowned for skill development, and is often intended to promote goodness and improve quality of human life, and in our case, improve our natural areas. Volunteering may have positive benefits for the volunteer, and this is most definitely true for Amboy Marsh volunteers - the oft heard comment is “I feel like part of the family here”.
The verb was first recorded in 1755. It was derived from the noun volunteer, in C.1600, "one who offers himself for military service," from the French voluntaire. In the non-military sense, the word was first recorded during the 1630s.
Volunteers are people just like you.
Why do I want to volunteer? Volunteering has much to offer people from all types of backgrounds and all walks of life. People volunteer for many different reasons. Some of the reasons people choose to volunteer include a desire to:
• Do something they really enjoy
• Give something back to their community or society
• Make use of special interests and talents
• Learn new skills and/or develop new interests
• Make new friends
• Find out more about an area of work they are considering as a career
• Have a chance to take some responsibility and make decisions
• Gain valuable training and experience which may lead to paid employment
• Be an active citizen
We cherish the volunteers who have given of their time and energy to help us meet the challenge of habitat restoration at Amboy Marsh and Gremel!