Do you have a passion for the ocean and its inhabitants? Marine Animal Rescue Society (MARS) is looking for volunteers like you! MARS is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization dedicated to the conservation of marine mammals through rescue, rehabilitation, research and education. We rescue dolphins and whales in distress from Palm Beach to Florida City and assist in the rescue of injured manatees all over southern Florida.

Have you ever wanted to be so near a dolphin you can hear and feel its echolocation? You may just get a chance. Our volunteers are from all walks of life and not only participate in public outreach events to spread word about conservation, but are fundamental to our ability to successfully rescue and rehabilitate dolphins and whales.

Our rescue and rehab volunteers participate in every aspect of the animals’ care – feeding, medical procedures, holding a weak animal up so it is able to breathe, monitoring behavior. Volunteers are important in the basic running of a rehab site – scheduling volunteer shifts, preparing fish, water quality control. Our volunteers are also very environmentally conscious and participate in beach clean-ups and table at public events to educate about pollution, safe boating practices, marine mammal viewing guidelines, and what to do if you see a marine mammal in distress.

To become a rescue and rehab volunteer, you need to attend a Basic Rescue and Rehabilitation Training. We have an upcoming training – March 3! Come and have a fin-tastic time with us!

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Looking for something to do on Saturday morning? Need to fill some community service hours? Help TREEmendous Miami plant some trees!

This information is provided directly from the TREEmendous website:

When: Saturday, May 20, 2006

Where: Area east of South Miami (zip code 33143)

Time: 8:30 a.m. till about Noon

Meet: Jean Willis Park 7220 SW 61 Court, South Miami, FL (the park is just west of South Miami City Hall and Library) Look for the white vans.

TREEmendous Miami, an Adopt-a-Tree partner, is looking for volunteers to help plant trees for our elderly and disabled residents. This is a great opportunity to restore the canopy in our community and educate residents about the multiple benefits of trees.

Don’t worry, you will be taught how to properly plant and care for the trees! Volunteers will meet at 8:30 a.m. for an orientation session. We then divide into teams, each lead by an experienced TREEmendous Miami volunteer tree planter.

Our tasks are usually finished about noon and we gather back at the same pre-determined location to turn in paperwork and tools, issue Community Service Certificates, and share a few laughs about our morning labors. Bring sun screen, lots of water and a shovel/rake/gloves (if you don’t have any of these tools, we can provide them).

Recommended attire: closed-toe shoes, light weight long pants, long sleeved shirt, and a shade hat.

For more details and/or questions: call or e-mail Amy, Program Coordinator at 305-378-1863 or treemendousmiami [at] mail. [dot] com.

We need your help. Come on out and have a TREEmendous day in every way!