Volunteer

Yes, we are! Your time and monetary donations do benefit our charitable organization. You can confirm our nonprofit status on Guidestar, the gold-standard for registered nonprofits.

RNR has a progressive volunteer program that provides one-on-one time with our 21+ animals. There are three levels of animal care volunteer opportunities — Level 1 (Agent Alpaca), Level 2 (Private Piggy), and Level 3 (Deputy Donkey) — and volunteers must start at Level 1 and work their way up, earning more responsibility as they advance. If you're not able or willing to physically help care for the animals, there are still plenty of other ways to volunteer your time: social media, marketing, fundraising, grant writing, event planning, and more. Have a special talent that's not listed here? Let's chat — we're always open to a conversation about how to further involve our community.

All prospective volunteers must fill out our RNR Volunteer Application form and attend a Volunteer Orientation and tour. This will help you learn about our program, the benefits to the animals and community, and the commitment involved.

The minimum age is 14 years old. Any volunteer under 18 must have their parent or guardian's express permission, and all relevant waivers and forms must be completed by the parent or guardian.

Volunteer positions require a monthly commitment of at least 3 hours, with a minimum of 1 hour per visit to the ranch. Volunteer Level 1 can volunteer anytime between 8:30am and 5:30pm once they've gone through orientation and received permission to work independently. Volunteer Levels 2 and 3 should plan to volunteer at meal times (8:30am and 5:30pm every day) if they'd like to help feed the animals. Online sign-up sheets are provided after orientation to coordinate coverage and avoid over-staffing any single shift.

Not automatically. We accept most applicants, but we can't guarantee a spot for every individual. At different times throughout the year we may have more applicants than positions available, and sometimes an applicant's availability doesn't match the program's schedule.

Yes and no. We don't require any previous animal experience — we just need your willingness to learn and love. If you do have a background in animal care, we may consider fast-tracking you through the progressive levels. Let us know if you have any special talents or skills you think would be useful to RNR. We do adhere to the golden rule of volunteering: if you commit to doing something, do it!

Orientation sessions are scheduled based on incoming applications. Typically they're held on Saturday or Sunday, and we do our best to accommodate the most schedules.

Yes — we always need help at our fundraisers! Our main fundraising event is in October, and we need a lot of hands on deck. You don't need to attend an orientation for these projects, though the tasks for fundraisers may not include hands-on activity with the animals. Examples include: registration, cashiering, check-in, stuffing bags, and flyer distribution.

If accepted, training dates and volunteer schedules are usually assigned within the same month. You'll hear from us within one week of submitting your application. We look forward to having you join as soon as is feasible!

Absolutely! Email us to schedule a private Farm Tour where you can meet our animals, give them treats, and help feed during breakfast or dinner. A donation of $60 (for 1–5 guests) is suggested; for larger groups please inquire further. Breakfast is at 8:30am and dinner at 5:30pm every day. If you're interested in a weekend stay, check out our vintage Airstream Airbnb at airbnb.com/h/robinsnestramona.

There are a few other ways you can lend a hand: • Become a recurring donor — monthly, predictable gifts (no matter the size) ensure the animals are consistently fed and cared for. • Contribute leftover fruits and vegetables for the pigs and tortoises. As long as they're not rotten or moldy, we can accept most produce — but no potatoes or onions. Piggy favorites: ripe bananas (peel and all), pumpkin, watermelon. Tortoise favorites: romaine, collard and mustard greens, fresh-cut bermuda or fountain grass, cactus pads (spines removed), hibiscus and dandelion flowers. Horses and alpacas love carrots and apples. • Check out the needed and wanted items on our Amazon Wishlist. • Become an individual or corporate sponsor for our annual Music Fest Fundraiser in October — email us for details. • Make a one-time donation. Every little bit helps, and we appreciate your support!

Unfortunately, RNR is unable to verify hours for court-ordered community service at this time. Please contact the court for a list of participating nonprofit organizations.