The Nature Conservancy - Volunteer Opportunities

Sign up to Volunteer!

Before volunteering, please fill out a Volunteer Profile, telling us your interests, skills, and availability.

Read the Volunteer Update

Volunteers removing buckthorn at Ives Road Fen Preserve

Read the October 2008 edition of the Volunteer Update. Learn about invasive species, upcoming workdays and other news. To sign up, email ddmiller@tnc.org or fill out a volunteer profile.

Volunteer Profile

Fill out the Volunteer Profile to tell us your interests.

Volunteer Coordinators

East Michigan Sites:
Rebecca Hagerman
eastmichigan@tnc.org

West Michigan Sites:
Lara Rainbolt
westmichigan@tnc.org

Shiawassee Sites:
Heidi Frei
shiawassee_mi@tnc.org

UP Sites:
Danielle Miller
upmichigan@tnc.org

Volunteers continue to be an important component of The Nature Conservancy’s work in Michigan. There are a variety of ways you can volunteer with everything from answering phones and research projects to removing invasive species, monitoring preserves, and potential internships. In addition to your financial support, we hope you will become a volunteer and make a contribution of your time and talents to Michigan’s future.

Curious how volunteers make an impact? Read The Kirtland's Warbler in Michigan, written by Amber Hursh, former External Affairs intern.

Workdays

Register for workdays online or contact your local Volunteer Coordinator listed below. Registrants will receive a confirmation letter with directions and a list of things to bring and wear. Someone will contact you if the workday is cancelled.

Ives Road Fen Preserve Lenawee County
Help cut and drag invasive shrubs from the prairie fen next to the River Raisin. You will be amazed at how much area we can clear in just four hours. This is the peak of the butterfly season. Workdays include ice cold drinks and chocolate chip cookies fresh from the oven. Volunteer Crew Chiefs lead all of these workdays. The following dates start promptly at 9 am and end at 1 pm.

Saturday, October 18
Saturday, October 25
Saturday, November 1
Saturday, November 8

Indoor Opportunities and Ongoing Projects

Michigan Preserve Monitor

West Michigan Operations Assistant

Partner Postings

The Nature Conservancy in Michigan works with several partners around the state, both public and private. Those interested in posting volunteer opportunities with The Nature Conservancy, please contact Danielle Miller at ddmiller@tnc.org. Opportunities may be posted on a rotating basis.

MI Stewardship Network
Webmaster

Grant Writer

Writer and Researcher

Volunteer Program Assistant

Michigan Department of Natural Resources

Join the Parks and Recreation Division, Stewardship Unit as we collect native prairie grass and wildflower seed in October to restore high quality prairie remnants within these parks:

Saturday, October 4: Bald Mountain Rec. Area (Oakland Co.), 9 a.m. to noon
Sunday, October 5: Island Lake Rec. Area (Livingston Co.), 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Saturday, October 11: Highland Recreation Area (Oakland Co.), 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Sunday, October 12: Algonac State Park (St. Clair Co.), 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Wednesday, October 15: Island Lake Rec. Area (Livingston Co.), 3:30 to 6:30 p.m.
Saturday, October 18: Pinckney Rec. Area (Washtenaw Co.), 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Saturday, October 18: Sterling State Park (Monroe Co.), 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Sunday, October 19: Highland Recreation Area (Oakland Co.), 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Sunday, October 19: Fort Custer Rec. Area (Kalamazoo Co.), 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Saturday, October 25: Waterloo Rec. Area (Washtenaw Co.), 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Sunday, October 26: Fort Custer Rec. Area (Kalamazoo Co.), 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Sunday, October 26: Brighton Recreation Area (Livingston Co.), 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.

All of these workdays will be spent hand collecting seed from native prairie grasses and wildflowers. Seeds will be used to restore tallgrass prairie, lakeplain prairie, and oak savanna ecosystems throughout southern Michigan. For workday details, to get directions, and to register, please visit www.michigan.gov/dnrvolunteers; and click on "Calendar of Volunteer Stewardship Workdays" under "Current Volunteer Opportunities". Hope you can join us!

Questions? Please contact Laurel Malvitz at 248-359-9057 or malvitzl@michigan.gov for additional information.

Nature picture credits (top to bottom, left to right): Photo © Conservancy Staff (Americorps volunteers); Photo © Conservancy Staff; Photo © Chuck Pearson/Volunteer Crew Chief (Volunteer removing buckthorn).