HOW TO HELP:
Volunteering

SMA does not have specific funding to support volunteers but has worked successfully with volunteers on many levels to advance our common goals in the Sierra. We do our best to meet the needs of volunteers and enable them to contribute to our work in the Sierra or in our Chihuahua offices. In the past, we have worked with self-reliant volunteers to develop grant funding for their projects, offered Spanish training and housing in exchange for volunteer services, and made other arrangements with short- and long-term volunteers.

Skilled Volunteering

Skilled volunteers are welcome to contact us with proposals. Volunteer biologists, organizers, ethno-botanists, graphic designers, internet and computer specialists, and videographers have all made significant contributions to SMA and the communities we serve. Spanish language skills are essential for most volunteer positions, especially field work. Our resources are extremely limited, but self-supporting, self-reliant and highly skilled volunteers can make a big difference.

We have worked with self-reliant volunteers to develop grant funding for their projects.

Past volunteers include Biologist Andrew Miller who is finishing his MS in Forestry at Northern Arizona University on the ethno-ornithology of the Sierra Madre with support from a grant through SMA.

Interested volunteers should review our website and send a resume and letter specifying how they can contribute to our programs in the Sierra, how they can support themselves, how long they can serve, and what their needs are (financial, travel, benefits, equipment, special considerations). SMA chooses volunteers based upon alignment of the needs of SMA and our partners and our abilities to support volunteer efforts. We also can refer volunteers to other organizations in the region. Volunteers willing to spend at least one year in the Sierra or Chihuahua are preferred.

Contact randy@sierramadrealliance.org or call 011 52 614 415-5912 for more information on current volunteer needs.