Dedicated Volunteers Needed

The Center always needs extra hands to help with our mission. Below are some specific positions we are looking to fill. If you'd rather hear about ongoing volunteer opportunities, or jobs as they come up that are related to specific issues, please Join our Action Network.

If you have any questions please contact us at info@wildmesquite.org or the contact person for the volunteer position you're interested in.

Immediate openings

Want to jump in right away? Here are some immediate volunteer openings:

Committee Members Needed!

20th Anniversary Committee
Help us make the most out of our 20th Anniversary Year!  We have so many fun ideas to engage the community in the celebration of our work, but we need your help to execute them.  This committee will focus on planning and organizing a variety of exciting events including a 20th Anniversary Game.

Raft the Rio Committee
Our very popular event, Raft the Rio, is scheduled for June 9th.  Help us make this the most successful (and silly) event yet.

Business Sponsorship Committee
We are working hard to engage more community businesses in our work - not just for our fundraising gala, but year round.  If you have ties to the business community, we would love your help.

On the River Committee
It's never too early to start thinking about our annual fundraising gala and our 20th Anniversary means we would like to celebrate in a bigger way than ever.  We're looking for big, bold, fresh ideas. If you've attended the gala in the past or would like to lend your organizing skills, this is the committee to join!

On-Going Volunteer Needs

  • Tabling at events: We frequently set up a SWEC table at places like the Farmers' Market and Earth Day Fair to let people know about our issues and our work, and what they can do to help. If you like talking to people, this is the job for you.
  • Help in the Eco Store:  We have some wonderful eco-centered items for sale in our Eco Shop on-site.  Do you have a passion for retail or experience in merchandising?  We would love you help to rejuvenate or store!
  • Display Your Art in the Cottonwood Gallery:  Are you an artist or photographer?  We have a great place to display your work!  Submitt samples digitally to arianna@wildmesquite.org to be considered for a show.
  • Are You Social Media Savvy?  We are lookig for a communications intern to help us reach the widest possible audience about our news, events, successes and challenges! 
  • Research: We'd like to get some information about proposed rare earth mineral mining on Otero Mesa. 
  • Photography:We need some pictures of The Mesilla Valley Bosque State Park.
  • Video Editing:We need someone to edit some videos we have so we can display them on our website and Facebook page
  • Website Help:If you have knowledge of Drupal, we could use help on specific issues on our website. For example, we need to link our Facebook page to our website.
  • Data-entry: We have a back log of canvassing data entry that we need help compiling into our new database. This task can be done anytime M-F from 9 am - 6 pm (our normal hours of operation).
  • Flyering around town: One way that SWEC likes to spread the word about its events and happenings is through flyering at key locations around town. We have over 50 locations to visit and would love for someone to help us spread the word.

If you can help, please contact arianna@wildmesquite.org or call 575-522-5552.

Issue Advocate

SWEC’s efforts to aid Mexican wolf recovery, restore the Rio Grande, and protect Otero Mesa all need enormous amounts of public support. We need help to generate the level of public interest in all of our issues that will lead to lasting protection and care for the diversity of the Southwest. What we are looking for advocates committed to one or more of our key issues, who are willing to translate their passion to the action of others. Issue Advocates would work closely with our Field Organizer to implement grassroots organizing programs. Typical actions include: assisting with tabling at events, calling SWEC supporters, writing letters to the editor, and contacting officials.

We need volunteers with good people skills, a willingness to learn, and two hours a week free to help. Enthusiasm is a must. Previous organizing experience, occasional availability on weekends, and access to a vehicle would be ideal, but is not necessary. If you think that the work that the Southwest Environmental Center is of critical importance and you’re willing to help other people understand that, then this is the perfect opportunity for you.

Contact Kevin for complete details or with any questions

Otero Mesa Volunteers

We are currently looking for volunteers to help us gain permanent protection for Otero Mesa. So much is happening with this issue that we must move quickly to educate the community about this vital area. Your participation will be indispensable in our efforts to motivate and activate our supporters and get the community as a whole involved in this cause.

This opportunity involves a variety of ways that you can help us reach out to the public:

1. Table at events-We need to talk to people about Otero Mesa, hand out literature, encourage them to write letters to and/or call policy makers, ask them to write letters to the editor, and stress the importance of their attendance and participation in Otero Mesa- related events.

2. Call our supporters-We need to call our known supporters and stress how vital it is that they make their voices be heard.

3. Attend meetings of Student Environmental Organizations-We need to talk to these organizations about how we can work together to further this cause.

4. Help with our canvass-We need help creating maps, calculating statistics, and entering data

For more information, contact Jason Burke at Jason@wildmesquite.org.

On-Going Positions available on SWEC committees

Much of the Southwest Environmental Center’s work gets done by volunteer committees. Serving on a committee is a great way to help us protect wildlife and wild places while getting to know like-minded people. We currently have openings on the following committees.
  • Membership—This committee brainstorms creative ways to increase SWEC’s membership, and develops an annual plan to do so. We’re looking for people who can help us translate general public support for our work into dues-paying members.
  • Major gifts—Can you sit down and ask your friends without batting an eye for $250 or more for a cause that you are passionate about? Then you have a rare talent, and we want you for this committee!
If you’d like to find out more, contact arianna@wildmesquite.org or call us at (575) 522-5552.