- Think of the specific tasks you need younger volunteers to help with. Then be realistic about who the ideal people who could help with these tasks are. What skills and availability would they need?
- Understand the needs of the specific age bracket you hope to recruit. Which can you meet? Social connection, belonging, making a positive difference, being valued, having fun, learning something new about nature? Use these words and images in the promotion of events.
- Make it easy to volunteer e.g. come and try days with no obligation, bring a friend, vary working bee times to suit those who work in the week. Give some flexibility or break tasks up into smaller group projects so people don’t feel they have to attend everything.
- Have a social media presence and try to post something each week or fortnight so people know your group is still active.
- Choose a project with an animal focus – koalas, black cockatoos, bees, water dragons. Show how what you are doing fits in with a bigger picture of conservation or sustainable ag. There are some great citizen science projects to get involved with throughout the year that can help young people upskill in practical skills they are interested to learn.
- Keep in touch via social media channels or texting rather than ‘phone calls.
- Don’t be desperate. If someone isn’t a good fit for your Landcare group, keep the recruitment channels open and trust there are people in your community who would be.
We will be running an in-person workshop on volunteer recruitment for Landcare group organisers in early 2026. Come and plan succession for your group and/or committee. Contact us to go on the notification list.