Volunteer at Tiger Creek Preserve

Babson Park, Central Florida

Ridge Rangers volunteer to remove invasive natal grass at Tiger Creek Preserve. — Ridge Rangers Volunteer Ridge Rangers volunteer to remove natal grass an invasive species at our Tiger Creek Preserve. © Cheryl Millett/TNC

Volunteer Overview

Tiger Creek Preserve is one of four campus preserves under TNC Florida's Center for Conservation Initiatives, advancing conservation through education and training, outreach and volunteerism, science and research, and land stewardship.

Apply for a volunteer position at Tiger Creek Preserve to help extend support in providing birding data collection, vegetation management, and education outreach.

Wildlife Monitor
Preserve Ambassadors
Trail Ambassadors
Workampers
Content Editor

For more details on these positions, read below under “Current Volunteer Position Listings” by expanding the tabs.

How to Apply

To apply for volunteer positions at Tiger Creek Preserve, please email Ginny Hamilton, Outreach and Volunteer Specialist.

To have the latest information about preserve updates, educational events and volunteer opportunities sent directly to your inbox, we invite you to subscribe to our preserve e-newsletter.

In person work

Tiger Creek Preserve

674 Pfundstein Rd, Babson Park, FL 33827, USA

DATE

Ongoing

Multiple dates and varied times

TIME

Hiking trails open year-round during daylight hours.

Reach out to Ginny Hamilton for specific volunteering dates and time at the Tiger Creek Preserve.

CONTACT

Ginny Hamilton, Outreach and Volunteer Specialist

Email: v.a.hamilton@tnc.org

Email Ginny Hamilton to Apply

Viewing

Current Volunteer Position Listings

Select a position of interest

Participate in seasonal wildlife monitoring programs at Tiger Creek Preserve and Saddle Blanket Scrub Preserve. Locate and record locations and numbers of populations present. All data is collected by sight and recorded for the research coordinator to be shared in annual reports. Additional training from Audubon required for certain opportunities. Current opportunities include: Bald Eagle Monitoring, Scrub-Jay Monitoring, Christmas Bird Count (one day only) and more.
Welcome guests visiting the preserve, answer any questions visitors might have about trails or facilities during their stay, make recommendations for how to be safe while exploring the wilderness, and share information about what visitors can expect to see or experience during their visit. They may observe visitor behavior to document trends, maintain trails, and document happenings on the preserve to be shared via social media, in order to improve the visitor experience.
Work with preserve staff to strategically manage vegetation growth to allow for safe access along an assigned trail. Activities may include clearing debris, pulling invasive species, and pruning using loppers and hand pruners. Volunteers receive training in invasive plant identification, proper pruning methods to promote plant health, and other areas.
Live on site with water, sewer and electric RV hookups in exchange for 32 hours a week of volunteering. Volunteer opportunities may include but are not limited to: road/trail/grounds maintenance, janitorial duties, office assistance, assisting with visitor engagement, outreach, events, volunteer coordination, and place-based education.
Assist with creating and editing content to be shared from Tiger Creek Preserve in internal and external communications. This can be done remotely but does require the volunteer to have access to internet and email. Duties include: one time media creation opportunities, newsletter contributions and more.

Directions to Tiger Creek Preserve

Directions to the Pfundstein Trail Entrance

Street address for the Pfundstein Trail entrance, closest to the office and the entrance to the George Cooley Trail: 674 Pfundstein Road, Babson Park, FL 33827

From the North on State Highway 27:

Travel approximately four miles south of the intersection with Highway 60 in Lake Wales.
Turn left onto County Road 640 (at the stoplight, look for a sign for Babson Park and Webber College; Fatboy's BBQ is on the corner.)
Go 2 miles to SR 17 (Scenic Highway) and turn right. Go through Babson Park.
At the top of the hill, turn left at N. Lake Moody Road.
At the stop sign, turn left onto Murray Road.
Go 2 miles and take a left onto Pfundstein Road. The George Cooley Trail is 100 yards on the left.
To visit the Highlands Trail, continue on Pfundstein Road and turn left at The Nature Conservancy sign. There is a Hiker Parking area just ahead on the right.
If you wish to visit the office, take the gravel drive past the “Hiker Parking” sign. Go through the open gate to a “Visitor Parking” sign. Keep left for parking.

From the South on State Highway 27:

Travel four miles north of Avon Park to State Road 17 (Scenic Highway).
Turn right at the stoplight and take S.R. 17 through the little town of Frostproof, around Lake Moody and up the hill.
At the top of the hill, turn right at Murray Road.
Go 2 miles and take a left onto Pfundstein Road. The George Cooley Trail is 100 yards on the left.
To visit the Highlands Trail, continue on Pfundstein Road and turn left at The Nature Conservancy sign. There is a Hiker Parking area just ahead on the right.
If you wish to visit the office, take the gravel drive past the “Hiker Parking” sign. Go through the open gate to a “Visitor Parking” sign. Keep left for parking.

Directions to the Wakeford Trail Entrance

Street address for the Wakeford Trail entrance, closest to Creek Bluffs Loop Trail: 8373 Wakeford Road, Lake Wales, FL 33898

From the Pfundstein Road main entrance:

Head southwest on Pfundstein Road 0.3 miles.
Turn right onto Murray Road for 2.2 miles.
Turn left onto State Road 17 South for 4.5 miles.
At the stoplight, turn left onto Highway 630 East for 4.8 miles.
Turn left onto Walk in Water Road at the stop sign and follow for 5.3 miles.
At the hiker sign, turn left onto Wakeford Road and follow 0.6 miles to the gate on the left just before the road dead ends to enter the “Hiker Parking” area. This is approximately a 30-minute drive.

From the North on State Road 60:

Turn south onto Walk-in-Water Road (opposite Boy Scout Camp Road) and follow 3.6 miles.
Turn right onto Wakeford Road and follow 0.6 miles to the gate on the left just before the road dead ends to enter the “Hiker Parking” area.

View All Opportunities

Want to learn more about Tiger Creek Preserve?

Check out more information around things to do at Tiger Creek Preserve, or get more details about the history, local events, and updates.

Visit Tiger Creek