Cornell Cooperative Extension

Erie County

Volunteer

letters forming the word "volunteer" on a cork board


Volunteers are very important to Cornell Cooperative Extension of Erie County. Almost 300 individuals volunteered their time to a variety of Extension activities, contributing thousands of hours last year!

Through duties as diverse as teaching others to prune trees or make compost, answering callers' questions on consumer or gardening issues, mentoring young people as they acquire new skills, or serving as board members or on committees that guide our work, volunteers represent Extension's far-reaching roots in our community.

Ongoing opportunities appear below, with contact names for additional information. Some programs may require specialized training to participate; upcoming training dates are listed where known.

Ongoing Volunteer Opportunities

Prospective volunteers complete an application form. In addition, those who volunteer to work with vulnerable populations (children, individuals with disabilities, etc.) will be asked to consent to a criminal background screening at Cooperative Extension's expense, as a means of ensuring the safety and security both of our volunteers and of the people we serve through our programs. To receive a volunteer application form, contact erie@cornell.edu.

Program Committee Member

Program Committees are made up of individuals who have an interest or experience in one of our main program issue areas ( Agriculture, Environment, Nutrition Health & Safety, or 4-H Youth Development) and who choose to share their time and talents with CCE-Erie as volunteer advisers. Program Committees meet monthly; individual members generally serve for a term of 3 years, although 2 and 1 year options also are considered. Program Committee members do not need to be Erie County residents unless they wish to serve as a representatives to the Board (in which case county residency is required). 

4-H Volunteer

4-H offers youth aged 5-19 from throughout Erie County a variety of special interest clubs, afterschool programs, short-term enrichment offerings, a public speaking program, Environmental Appreciation Days, summer programs, and an annual youth-run Fair. There are many short- and long-term opportunities for volunteer involvement, depending upon the skills you care to share and the time you wish to commit to volunteering.

  • 4-H Club & Fair Programs
    Share a craft or a special skill with young people, help lead a 4-H Club, or spend a day as an evaluator for 4-H Fair or public speaking competitions. Individuals with knowledge of agriculture, plant science, animal husbandry, entomology, and textile/clothing construction are always welcome, but if you have a different expertise you'd like to share, please contact Caitlyn Riley at 716-652-5400 ext 130 or cmr348 @cornell.edu to talk about your ideas! Orientation for new leaders and volunteers is provided on an ongoing basis throughout the year. Call for upcoming dates

Master Gardeners

Training is offered every 2-3 years. The Master Gardener program, offered throughout the U.S. and Canada, provides avid gardeners with many hours of intensive home horticulture training. In return, they share their knowledge and enthusiasm for gardening with others by volunteering to assist with garden lectures, exhibits, demonstrations, school and community gardening, phone diagnostic service, research, and many other projects. Master Gardener Volunteers at CCE-Erie staff a HotLine and answer gardening questions for callers. For more information, contact Jolie Hibit at 716-652-5400 ext 176 or jah663@cornell.edu.

Seed-to-Supper Educators

Seed-to-Supper is a series of free gardening classes for beginner vegetable gardeners. This five-session training program will prepare volunteer educators to teach free gardening classes throughout Erie County. Volunteers will become familiar with the Seed-to-Supper curriculum and learn hands-on activities to use when teaching the classes in their communities. Course materials including slide shows, participant manuals and handouts are provided to volunteers to run the classes. Training is held in February and March. For more information or an application, please contact Sharon Bachman at 716-652-5400 ext 150 or sin2@cornell.edu.

Climate Stewards

If interested in this program, please contact erie@cornell.edu.

CommuniTree Stewards

If interested in this program, please contact erie@cornell.edu.

Contact

CCE of Erie County

erie@cornell.edu
716-652-5400

Last updated July 7, 2025

Volunteer

Additional Volunteer Opportunities Through Cornell

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Master Naturalist

Master Forest Owner

Master Food Preserver

If interested in this program, please contact erie@cornell.edu.

CCE Erie Volunteer Application Form

Prospective volunteers complete an application form. In addition, those who volunteer to work with vulnerable populations (children, individuals with disabilities, etc.) will be asked to consent to a criminal background screening at Cooperative Extension's expense, as a means of ensuring the safety and security both of our volunteers and of the people we serve through our programs.

To receive a volunteer application form, contact erie@cornell.edu.

Association Volunteer Policy

CCE (Cornell Cooperative Extension) Association Volunteers are individuals who support CCE activities as a casual, elected, enrolled or supervising volunteer. Individuals who receive payment beyond expenses incurred during performance of service (whether such payment be in the form of cash, goods, lodging, food, etc.) are not considered volunteers.

Any member of the general public, students, former program participants, current or retired employees of CCE may serve as CCE Association Volunteers with the following restrictions:

  • Youth under the age of eighteen may serve in only those volunteer roles that do not require a signed volunteer agreement and may do so only with signed parental consent. Youth engaged in service learning or community service activities are considered to be program participants and are not considered to be CCE Association Volunteers for the purposes of the Association Volunteer Policy.
  • An employee of CCE may not volunteer in a capacity that is the same or essentially similar to that individual’s paid work assignment
  • Enrolled or supervising volunteers are required to submit a Volunteer Application prior to serving in a volunteer capacity and may also be required to authorize a Criminal History Check and/or Department of Motor Vehicle Check. Upon acceptance as a CCE Volunteer, volunteers will be asked to sign a Volunteer Agreement which includes the Volunteer Code of Conduct.