Volunteer & Intern Opportunities

If the animals are the heart of The Gress Mountain Ranch, the volunteers are its hands. They’re always ready to clean stalls or hold an animal receiving medicine. They help out at parades and fundraising events. No task is to big or too small. Take a look at the Volunteers Photo Album for more great pictures of our fantastic volunteers! If you would like to join the ranks of the amazing Gress Mountain Ranch volunteers, check out the volunteer and intern opportunities below.

Volunteer Opportunities

October 2018: We need 50-70 volunteers and Bakers for the Open Gate Farm Tour and Bake Sale on Sunday, October 21st. We also need volunteers to help with the animals during the week.  Call for more information and times to help.  You may reach us at 610-398-2122.

Animal Care Volunteers are responsible for cleaning pens, cages, stalls and pastures; feeding, exercising and providing for the general care of the animals. Volunteers also provide assistance with grounds maintenance ensuring the ranch facilities are safe and presentable for animals, guests and clients and may participate in community outreach programs such as farm tours and parades. Animal Care Volunteers will gain skills in animal handling and training techniques, and gain knowledge of animal care, behavior, and diseases.  Volunteers have the opportunity to meet new people, expand social networks, and improve social skills.

Administrative Assistant Volunteers provide administrative and record keeping support for the daily activities of the Ranch, the Board of Directors, and various committees. nor, sponsor, client, and volunteer records; prepare reports, correspondence, event fliers, and other documents as needed.  The Administrative Assistant Volunteer may also provide assistance with grounds maintenance ensuring the ranch facilities are safe and presentable for animals, guests and clients and may participate in community outreach programs such as farm tours and parades as time permit.
The Administrative Assistant Volunteer will gain knowledge about administration of a non-profit organization. Volunteers will have the opportunity to meet new people, expand social networks, and improve social skills.

Grounds Maintenance Volunteers perform a variety of tasks that ensures that the ranch facilities are safe and presentable for animals, guests and clients.  Tasks may include spring, fall, and after-storm grounds clean-ups, tree and shrub care, plantings, small repairs to pens, cages, and fences, set up and break down of tables chairs, and tents and other equipment for special events.  The Grounds Maintenance Volunteer may participate in community outreach programs such as farm tours and parades as time permit.  The Grounds Maintenance Volunteer will gain knowledge about property maintenance and will have the opportunity to meet new people, expand social networks, and improve social skills.

Intern Opportunities

The Undergraduate Human Services Intern will work with clients who come to the Ranch for Animal Assisted Activity under the supervision of Kathryn Gress, Licensed Professional Counselor, Certified Psychiatric Nurse, Animal Assisted Therapy Specialist. The Intern will spend time observing and helping to facilitate the interaction between clients and animals and will have the opportunity to engage one-on-one with clients to help them further develop life and social skills and work toward their individual goals. Through the course of these activities the intern will assist with animal care includingcleaning pens, cages, stalls and pastures; feeding, exercising and providing for the general care of the animals.  The intern may also provide assistance with grounds maintenance ensuring the ranch facilities are safe and presentable for animals, guests and clients and participate in community outreach programs such as farm tours and parades as time permits.

The Undergraduate Human Services Intern will gain experience and understanding of the challenges of working with individuals with emotional trauma, mental and physical disability and psychiatric illness.  The Intern will also gain an understanding of Animal Assisted Therapy and will gain skills in animal handling and knowledge of animal care, behavior, and diseases.  Interns have the opportunity to meet new people, expand social networks, and improve social skills.

The Marketing, Public Relations, and Community Outreach Intern will support the Ranch’s external communications which are critical for raising awareness.  The Intern will write and post messages, upload photos and video, develop marketing materials, write press releases, stories, and articles, and assist with planning and implementation of fundraising campaigns and community outreach efforts. The intern will work in close partnership with the marketing and public relations committee and various Board members.  Interns may also provide assistance with grounds maintenance ensuring the ranch facilities are safe and presentable for animals, guests and clients.

The Marketing, Public Relations and Community Outreach Intern will gain knowledge about administration, marketing and fundraising functions of non-profit organizations.  The Intern will work with Board members and have the opportunity to meet with marketing and public relations professionals.   Interns will also have the opportunity to expand social networks, and improve social skills.

The Grant Writing Intern will conduct in-depth research into grant applications and opportunities, compose and send letters of inquiry to prospective grant-making organizations and foundations, prepare proposals and grant applications that display excellent writing and editing skills.  The Grant Writing Intern may also participate in community outreach programs such as farm tours and parades.

The Grant Writing Intern will gain knowledge about administration of non-profit organizations.  Will work with Board members and have the opportunity to meet with a professional grant writer.  Interns will also have the opportunity to meet new people, expand social networks, and improve social skills.

For more information, contact Kathryn Gress at 610-398-2122. Interested students should email resume and letter of interest to Kathryn Gress at gressranch@gmail.com.