Service Opportunities for Majors in
AGRICULTURE & NATURAL RESOURCES
Community service involves applying your energy, enthusiasm, skills, and desire to make a difference to social issues that concern you. It is an excellent way to gain hands-on experience, enhance job-related skills, explore career options, and meet real community needs.

· AGRICULTURAL & RESOURCE ECONOMICS:
Help cooperative farmers plan marketing and production strategies to maximize profits; help inner-city children, shelter residents, residents of an economically disadvantaged neighborhood, the elderly, or disabled residents of a group home create and maintain garden plots; work with non-profit organizations that seek to end hunger, fight for farm rights, or work to save the environment; organize local efforts to institute county-wide recycling programs.

· AGRONOMY:
Help test pollution levels in plants and soil; volunteer with non-profit organizations that address hunger and food supply issues; help an inner-city neighborhood, disabled residents of a group home, residents of a nursing home, and shelter residents design and maintain garden plots; volunteer with non-profit organizations that address environmental issues; volunteer in local, state, and national parks; work with Chesapeake Bay clean-up efforts.

· ANIMAL SCIENCES:
Volunteer in an animal hospital, wildlife sanctuary, animal rescue facility, animal shelter, or animal rights organization; volunteer with groups that bring pets into nursing homes and hospitals as pet therapy; help people homebound with HIV /AIDS or who are elderly to keep and care for their pets; invite economically disadvantaged children, residents of a homeless shelter, or disabled residents of a group home to an agricultural, county, or state fair; volunteer with non-profit organizations that address wildlife preservation and conservation issues.

· BIOLOGICAL RESOURCES ENGINEERING:
Volunteer at a local science and nature museum; volunteer with non-profit organizations that address hunger issues; consult with local farming cooperatives on environmentally safe farming methods; help an inner-city reforest their neighborhoods; participate in stream walks and tree plantings organized by local environmental groups; tutor other Maryland students taking math and science courses; be a judge in a school science fair.

· GENERAL AGRICULTURE SCIENCES:
Establish a community gardening project for retired people; study cooperative food costs in stores serving low-income neighborhoods; assist elderly with home canning and food preparation; organize an emergency food program; join tree-plantings, Bay clean-up campaigns, and reforestation projects; help inner-city residents, disabled residents of a group home, or people living in a nursing home plant garden plots; consult with inner-city residents on how to beautify their neighborhoods through plants.

· LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE:
Design a garden space as part of a community center; help community groups operate a vegetable garden on a previously vacant city lot; work with local residents in landscaping and maintaining parks and recreational areas.

· NATURAL RESOURCES MANAGEMENT:
Volunteer in a local, state, or national park as a naturalist; join the Civilian Conservation Corps; volunteer with non-profit organizations that address environmental issues, conservation, and wildlife preservation; organize fund-raisers for non-profit organizations; join stream walks, Bay clean-up campaigns, tree-plantings, and reforestation efforts of local environmental groups; take shelter residents and children on nature walks; lead local efforts to establish county-wide recycling programs.

· NUTRITION AND FOOD SCIENCE:
Consult with shelters and help them develop nutritious, high energy, inexpensive meal plans; work with non-profits concerned with hunger and food supply issues; organize food drives and donation campaigns to local, national, and international hunger relief organizations; present workshops in schools, nursing homes, homeless shelters, and drug rehabilitation centers on healthy eating; become a peer educator on campus and give presentations to students on eating disorders, health and nutrition.

Anacostia Watershed Society
Bladensburg, MD (301) 699-6204
http://www.anacostiaws.org
Contact: Josh Ungar, josh@anacostiaws.org
Organizes volunteers for environmental restoration projects on the Anacostia River and its tributaries. Projects include clean-ups, tree plantings and storm drain stenciling.

Audubon Naturalist Society
Chevy Chase, MD (301) 652-9188 ex 30
Contact: volunteer@audubonnaturalist.org
http://www.audubonnaturalist.org
An environmental education and conservation organization serving residents of the D.C. metropolitan area. Seeks to increase environmental awareness and understanding for people of all ages.

Claude Moore Colonial Farm
McLean, VA (703) 442-7557
http://www.1771.org
Contact: Jon Engle, jengle@1771.org
Serves as a living history museum portraying the life of an 18th century family farm. Offers a wide variety of educational programs including market fairs and food preservation programs.

Department of Natural Resources—Tree-Mendous Maryland
Annapolis, MD (410) 260-8510
Contact: Terry Galloway, tgalloway@dnr.state.md.us
http://dnr.state.md.us/forests/treemendous
Provides protection for the Chesapeake Bay and rebuilds its natural ecosystem through the planting of trees, shrubs, and seedlings on public lands throughout Maryland.

Earth Share
Bethesda, MD (240) 333-0300
http://www.earthshare.org
Contact: Cheron Carlson, Cheron@earthshare.org
A fundraising organization that supports the work of all 60 member agencies that work to protect the world’s environment, health, and natural resources.

ECO Recycling Center
University of Maryland (301) 405-0297
Contact: Bridget Bystry, bcbystry@wam.umd.edu
http://www.inform.umd.edu/ECO
Serves as the campus recycling center and supports environmental efforts on campus.

Food Research and Action Center
Washington, DC (202) 986-2200 Ext. 3013
Contact: Ellen Teller, eteller@frac.org
http://www.frac.org
A non-profit, public interest law firm and advocacy center seeking lasting solutions to hunger, malnutrition, and poverty in the U.S.

Garden Harvest
Glyndon, MD (410) 526-0698
http://www.gardenharvest.org
Contact: Clara Larsen, garharvest@aol.com
An organic farm operating year-round that works to alleviate hunger by growing fruits and vegetables for community agencies. Teaches about sustainable agriculture, nutrition, and hunger and homelessness.

Greenpeace
Washington, DC (202) 462-1177
http://www.greenpeaceusa.org
Contact: Toni Wright, Toni.Wright@wdc.greenpeace.org
Works to preserve and protect the earth through non-violent direct action, grassroots organizing, lobbying, public education, and research.

H.B. Owens Science Center
Lanham, MD (301) 918-8750
Contact: Martin Tillett, MTILLETT@umd5.umd.edu
http://www.pgcps.org
Provides enhanced science programs for Prince George’s County public schools through a planetarium, nature trail, and computer labs. Looking for volunteers interested in the care of reptiles, arthropods, and amphibians.

Maryland National Capital Park and Planning: Clearwater Nature Center
Clinton, MD (301) 297-4575
Contact: Sandra Lyon, karen.marshall@pgparks.com
http://www.pgparks.com/places/nature/clearwater.html
Encourages Marylanders to enjoy, respect, and appreciate nature.

Natural Resources Conservation Service: U.S. Department of Agriculture
Washington, DC (202) 720-6794
Contact: Fred.Jacobs@usda.gov
http://www.nrcs.usda.gov
Administers programs to help people conserve, improve, and sustain our natural resources and environment.

National Student Campaign Against Hunger and Homelessness
Washington, DC (202) 546-8195
Contact: Kathleen Barr, kbarr@studentsagainsthunger.org
info@studentsagainsthunger.org
http://www.nscahh.org
Works to sustain a coalition of student-community activists to understand the causes of poverty and to initiate positive change through service and action to solve problems of hunger and homelessness.

Student Conservation Association, Inc.
Charlestown, NH (603) 543-1700
Contact: internships@sca-inc.org
http://www.thesca.org
Provides opportunities to volunteer for the conservation of national parks. Positions are all-expense paid, including weekly stipend, housing, insurance, scholarships, and often college credit. While the association is based in New Hampshire, opportunities are available in Virginia.

National Aquarium in Baltimore
Baltimore, MD (410) 576-3886
Contact: volunteer@aqua.org
http://www.aqua.org
One of the most sophisticated and technologically advanced aquariums in the world. This center has 10,000 animals on display to promote knowledge on the aquatic environment. Check website for volunteer application.

Washington Animal Rescue League
Washington, DC (202) 726-2556
Contact: Erika Lexington, Erika@warl.org
http://www.warl.org
An animal shelter that finds homes for unwanted pets. Low-cost hospital for low-income residents of Washington, Maryland, and northern Virginia.

Community Service-Learning
1120 Stamp Student Union, University of Maryland, College Park 20742
301-314-CARE—http://www.csl.umd.edu—terpservice@umd.edu

Please Note: Inclusion in Community Service-Learning (CSL) resources is not to be interpreted as an endorsement for any agency or organization listed here. As with any off-campus opportunity, the University is not responsible for any personal injury or loss that might result from your participation. Participants are strongly encouraged to read and implement the Good Questions to Ask and PARE handouts available through CSL. Lastly, be aware of any special requirements or skills necessary to perform the service requested (i.e. construction, carpentry, landscaping) and do not feel compelled to execute tasks which are beyond your capabilities.

8/05