How to Dress for Volunteering

Lakeshore Nature Preserve volunteers spend approximately 2–3 hours outdoors, sometimes in tall grass or brushy vegetation and on uneven terrain. Mosquitoes and ticks are present in the summer; snow and ice is likely in the winter. It is very important to dress properly for a comfortable and safe volunteer experience.

We provide tools and work gloves.

Required:

  • Wear clothes that you don’t mind getting dirty.
  • Sturdy closed-toed shoes or boots
  • Long pants (not leggings which do not provide as much protection)

Optional, but recommended:

  • Long-sleeved shirt (even a lightweight one for summer)
  • Heavy socks
  • Hat (for sun or cold)
  • Jacket (not flannel or fleece—burs cling to them)
  • Long underwear in the winter
  • Waterproof or winter boots in the winter
  • Sunscreen and/or insect repellent
  • Bottle of drinking water

DO NOT wear or bring:

  • Sandals or flip-flops
  • Shorts
  • Flannel or fleece shirts or jackets (burs cling to them and are difficult to remove)
  • Dress clothes (or other clothes you don’t want to risk snagging, ripping, or staining)
  • Pets
  • Cell phones should be kept safe in a bag or pocket

 

For more information, please contact Volunteer & Outreach Coordinator Bryn Scriver at bryn.scriver@wisc.edu or 608-220-5560.