Volunteer in the Community
Volunteers are the backbone of the Environmental Defenders! Our recurring volunteer opportunities are listed below. Join our volunteer email list for monthly emails about upcoming opportunities. Check our Calendar of Events for event details.
Sterne’s Fen Restoration Workday
Fourth Sunday of the Month
9am – 11am
Help us restore the rare habitat of Sterne’s Fen. Volunteers have the opportunity to learn about restoration ecological and a unique habitat. Volunteer duties vary from season to season. Examples of restoration work includes removing invasive plants like garlic mustard, honeysuckle & buckthorn, and cutting/piling up brush.
Email Brice Alt: bricemaieralt@hotmail.com
Use-It-Again Garage Sale
Early Summer (June)
Thursday – Saturday | 10am-4pm
Volunteer at our Annual Use-It-Again Garage Sale, the Defenders community garage sale. The garage sale supports our efforts to reduce waste and fundraises for the Environmental Defenders. Volunteers help us organize, set-up, check out customers, and unload/unpack items.
The Green Bookstores
Downtown Crystal Lake | Mon – Sat, 10 – 5pm
Woodstock Square Mall | Mon – Sat, 10am – 4pm
Volunteer at our bookstores, The Green Read and The Green Spot, and support our mission to reduce waste. Volunteer responsibilities include organizing bookshelves, accepting and sorting newly donated books, and work the cashier, check out customers, and spread the word of our mission.
Email the Bookstores: thegreenreadbookstore@gmail.com
Highway Cleanup
Spring and Fall (View calendar for more info)
Saturdays at 9:30am
Support our Waste Reduction efforts and help us clean up the roadside. A group of volunteers collect litter along a 1 mile strip of highway. Our seasonal cleanup is open to children with a guardian present.
Email Waste Reduction: wastereductionCL@gmail.com
Kishwaukee Headwaters Restoration
Spring – Fall
Work days to be announced
We’re working to restore the local prairie. Volunteer with our team and help control invasive species. Planned workdays will include the control of wild parsnip and sweet clover on Defenders land and removal of invasive woody species on Soil and Water Conservation District land.
The Big Fall Book Sale
Fall (September/October)
Volunteer at our Big Fall Book Sale. Volunteers are need to load/unload donated books, set-up and organize books for the sale, and check out customers. The book sale is a fundraiser for the Environmental Defenders and directly supports their efforts and county-wide programs.
Styrofoam Recycling
To be announced
Support our Recycling efforts in the County! The Defenders exclusively runs and manages the Styrofoam Recycling Program, and we’re always look for volunteers to help. Volunteer responsibilities include sorting and bagging Styrofoam and other recyclable materials.
Email Recycling: barbjday1934@gmail.com
Green Drinks
1st Wednesday of Month
5 pm – 7pm
Help educate the community! Volunteer to help organize, set up, and host our monthly Green Drinks meetings at Duke’s Alehouse and Kitchen. Green Drinks is an internationally recognized program aiming to connect like-minded people and foster positive communication around environmental topics. Fluent in technology is appreciated.
Email the Defenders: envirodefmc@gmail.com
Specialized Recycling Drives
May – October
Saturdays 9am-12pm
The Defenders are partners of the McHenry County Department of Health Recycling Drives. Volunteers collect items from cars, collect money, and sort items to be recycled. Rain or shine, we’re there to help our community recycle specialized items!
Email Recycling: barbjday1934@gmail.com
Volunteer Sign Up
Volunteer with the Environmental Defenders! Volunteer at events like forest and prairie restoration, roadside clean-up, and recycling collections. Sign up to receive monthly emails about upcoming volunteer opportunities.
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Join an Action Team
The work of the Environmental Defenders is successful thanks to the passion and dedication to environmental stewardship of our many volunteers. You can become a member of this vital work that recognizes the important link between a healthier environment and human commitment to the causes that protect and preserve our corner of the planet.
Feel free to visit any of our Action Teams at their regular meetings and see what works best for you! However you choose to be involved, know that we can’t bring lasting change without you!