By MOLLY DAVIDSON / Staff Writer

PELHAM—If you like nature, working with animals or are looking for a volunteer opportunity, the Alabama Wildlife Center could be for you. The AWC is offering monthly informational orientations about the numerous volunteer opportunities available.

“Our volunteer orientations are a way for new people that are interested in the work of the Wildlife Center to come and to learn what we do,” AWC Executive Director Doug Adair explained.

During the two-hour orientation sessions, potential volunteers learn about the mission, history and daily operations of the AWC, are given a tour of the facility and clinic and learn about the numerous roles volunteers fill.

“(Volunteer opportunities) run the gamut, from administrative support, to IT support, to direct animal care, to carpentry skills,” Adair explained. “Across the board we have opportunities for volunteers.”

The AWC has volunteer opportunities for a wide range of ages as well, although those younger than 18 must be accompanied by an adult, Adair explained.

“We have high school students that are earning service hours, we have college students that are interested in a potential career with animal care or nonprofits and we have retired folks who still want to be engaged in the community and make a difference,” Adair said. “Everyone is welcome, we would love for everybody to learn about who we are and what we do.”

Volunteer orientations are held on the first Sunday of each month from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. and are free with Oak Mountain State Park admission. The next orientation will be Sept. 7, to register, visit Awrc.org.

“We are blessed with literally hundreds of amazing and dedicated volunteers,” Adair said. “Because volunteers are so important to what we do, they have an opportunity at the Wildlife Center to really make a difference from the very beginning.”