New Volunteer Guide
Thank you for your interest in the Tennessee Wildlife Federation! There are a few different ways to engage with our outreach programs. See below for more information about our programs, ways you can help, and a guide for how to find the opportunity that fits you.
***If you know where you would like to volunteer and have not yet filled out the interested volunteer page, please click here***
Hunting and Fishing Academy (HFA)
Hunting and Fishing Academy provides hands-on instruction in the art of being an outdoorsman to hunters and anglers of all ages, races, and genders. No matter your skill level or phase of life, Hunting and Fishing Academy has a way for you to get outside with confidence.
There are three pathways in the Hunting and Fishing Academy (HFA). See our event calendar to learn more about the variety of topics that are covered.
| Virtual Classes Free live stream classes that allow anyone to learn new skills and refresh old ones from the comfort of their home. |
Adult Workshops A low-cost learning option perfect for those seeking an in-depth, tactile experience. Workshops across Tennessee provide valuable hands-on experience in various topics. |
Youth and Family Experiences Holistic hunting and fishing experiences for youth ages 9-16 teach safety, species information, and include pursuits to harvest wildlife. |
Ways to Volunteer with HFA
Virtual Class Instructor
Beginner Level: Beginner Instructors will sit in on a virtual class with a Hunting and Fishing Academy On-Staff Field Rep or an advanced volunteer. This volunteer will observe the process of conducting a virtual class and be on-hand to answer participant questions.
- Low involvement, little experience required
Advanced Level: Advanced Instructors will be provided teaching resources by the Hunting and Fishing Academy Team. They will conduct the virtual class and answer participant questions.
- Low involvement, advanced experience required
Workshop Instructor
Beginner Level: Beginner Instructors will observe an Adult Workshop led by an On-Staff Field Rep. This volunteer will observe how the workshop is conducted and will be asked to answer questions, help participants and encourage connection with the group.
- Low involvement, little experience required
Advanced Level: Advanced instructors will act as a support to the primary workshop instructor. They will be asked to help with the instruction portion, provide demonstrations, and help engage with the participants.
- Low involvement, advanced experience required
Expert Level: Expert Instructors will help with any preparation needed before the workshop, and might be asked to reach out to participants before the class. Volunteers will lead the class by providing instruction on the workshop topic and the importance of conservation, as well as providing demonstrations, and encouraging discussion and engagement with the group.
- Medium involvement, proficient experience required
Youth and Family Experiences Volunteer Roles
Cook: A cook is involved in the preparation process of the youth experience. They will stay at the base camp site to prepare meals and be an additional set of helping hands. This role is ideal for someone who wants to help out but is not interested in going out with the participant families.
- Low involvement, little experience require
Support: These volunteers will join the family experience knowing that they are there to help with whatever is needed at the moment whether it is helping families, staying back at the base camp, etc. This role is ideal for a volunteer interested in being a guide or a hunt master, but wants more experience.
- Low involvement, little experience required
Guide: Guides instruct families on how to hunt the target species in order to prepare them for hunting in the future. These volunteers are relied on to run the experience in a safe and educational environment. These volunteers will be asked to help set up the base camp site and to instruct families on target species calls and tracking.
- Medium involvement, advanced experience required
Hunt Master: Hunt Masters instruct families on how to hunt the target species in order to prepare them for hunting in the future. These volunteers are relied on to run the experience in a safe and educational environment. They will be the point of contact for families leading up to the event regarding logistics and questions specific to their event.
- Medium involvement, proficient experience required
Additional Requirements: must attend a Hunt Master Volunteer Training Workshop
Tennessee Scholastic Clay Target Program (TNSCTP)
Tennessee Scholastic Clay Target Program (TNSCTP) provides youth ages 9 through the 12th grade and college an opportunity to participate in the three main shotgun shooting disciplines—trap, skeet, and sporting clays—with peers from across the state.
Ways to Volunteer with TNSCTP
Join a TNSCTP Team:
Interested in joining a team or starting a new team? Contact the TNSCTP Program Manager, Dillon Barnes, at dbarnes@tnwf.org.
There are over 80 school and county teams across the state. Most teams begin practicing in February and March depending on the weather, but some teams practice year-round.
Regional, state and national tournaments are held in May, June, and July, respectively. Joining a TNSCTP team requires a higher level of involvement but can be an incredibly rewarding experience. The two types of volunteers that make up a team roster: are listed below.
Adult Volunteer: Running a team in addition to coaching athletes makes a coach’s job even more difficult. The best teams delegate administrative and logistical tasks to adult volunteers. Volunteer structure and level of involvement differs by team. Below is a list of common volunteer roles. Individuals may serve in multiple roles and the team determines how those roles are assigned.
- Team Administrator: The team administrator works with the head coach and the Tennessee SCTP staff to manage team administrative tasks. They are the point of contact between the team and Tennessee SCTP regarding season and tournament registration.
- Treasurer: This may be a shared role responsible for ensuring timely payment of all team expenses and dues. For a school-based team, this individual may work with the school bookkeeper to reconcile accounts and ensure payment but may not actually submit payment. The treasurer should maintain financial records and provide regular financial reports to the team.
- Additional Support: Teams will always appreciate an extra set of hands to help with tasks as needed. Other ways an extra volunteer can help is by providing snacks for team practices, a scorekeeper who can help the team at tournaments, a fundraising chair to help support the team’s financial needs, or a mindset coach to grow athletes’ mental game.
- Low to high involvement, beginner experience required
Additional Requirements: must pass a background check
Coaches: The essential functions of a coach are to: ensure safety, teach mechanical skills, promote fundamentals of good sportsmanship, and manage team dynamics. Coaching staff structure differs by team. Some teams assign coaches to specific squads, age groups or disciplines. For larger teams, it may be advantageous to assign coaches to specific disciplines. This allows the coach to specialize in a discipline and it allows athletes to get in-depth instruction.
- High involvement, advanced to proficient experience required
Additional Requirements: must pass a background check and shotgun coach certification
Tournament Support
Tennessee SCTP holds numerous competitions across the state from March to June. The TNSCTP team takes on additional paid staff members to help at tournaments but volunteers are appreciated if volunteer hours are needed by an individual. To learn more about being a paid contract staff member at TNSCTP events, contact the TNSCTP Program Manager, Dillon Barnes, at dbarnes@tnwf.org.
Runner: A runner is an extra set of hands to help as needed during a tournament. These volunteers might be asked to help with tasks such as collecting scorecards from fields, bringing water or lunch to tournament staff, counting scorecards, helping with event registration or parking, cleaning up fields, etc. If an individual wants to help more at tournaments but lacks experience, they may be paired with a bank supervisor to shadow.
- Medium involvement, beginner experience required
Score Keeper: Scorekeepers are always welcome at TNSCTP events. A scorekeeper will either be assigned a field or be on hand to help score as needed. These volunteers may be asked to score trap, skeet, doubles trap, doubles skeet, extended yard-line trap, or be a trapper for super sporting. Scorekeeper training is available as needed. If an individual wants to help more at tournaments but lacks experience, they may be paired with a bank supervisor to shadow.
- Medium involvement, beginner experience required
Bank Supervisor: Bank supervisors are responsible for ensuring all safety precautions and rules are being followed, as well as ensuring fields are running on time. Bank supervisors will report to the Event Director and are expected to be familiar with the rules and regulations of the event they are helping with.
- Medium involvement, advanced to proficient experience required
Other Opportunities
Hunter for the Hungry: Social media ambassador
Contact Matt Simcox at msimcox@tnwf.org to learn more.
Conservation Policy/ Grassroots Volunteer
Contact Bill Cooksey at bcooksey@tnwf.org to learn more.
Have more questions? Contact our volunteer manager, Michaela Sandoval, at msandoval@tnwf.org to get help finding the right role for you.
