Let us guide you to find a volunteer experience that explores your interests and abilities as well as the time you have to commit to volunteering. 

Our opportunities to volunteer are as diverse as our agency.  We can place you to volunteer with a chainsaw or with a keyboard -- it all depends on where you want to be and how involved you want to get.
 
Volunteer Guidelines
Our volunteer guidelines  explain what is expected of our volunteers.  DNR staff are always available to mentor and manage volunteers providing everyone with a memorable and fun experience. 

As a volunteer, we want you to be comfortable volunteering for us.  We strive to make sure each volunteer experience is the best it can be by:

• Focusing on safety first
• Agreeing on goals and expectations
• Training and guiding volunteers through leadership

Volunteer Policies
Our policies are formulated to ensure volunteers are managed well and their time and work are maximized to provide a great experience. We take special care to fit all volunteers with an opportunity that focuses on safety of the volunteer and the safety of others when serving with a state agency.  For example, some volunteers who work more than 8 hours a month  and/or will be working with vulnerable populations such as minors, must go through an extensive background check and criminal history review in order to be eligible for certain volunteer opportunities.  

Volunteer Statistics
In 2009 volunteers committed thousands of hours of their time and talents that equated to over $2 million in resources and work benefiting Iowa’s natural resources. 

These tremendous gifts help DNR to keep Iowa a great place to enjoy what nature has to offer.  Over the years, Iowans have been generous donating volunteer hours to our natural resources.