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 buckthorn and honeysuckle from the fen prairie and enjoy summer wildflowers and butterflies. Email Chris to join us at one of the workdays, all led by Volunteer Crew Chiefs. Workdays include ice cold drinks and chocolate chip cookies fresh from the oven. The following dates start promptly at 9:00 a.m. and end at 1:00 p.m.

• June 13 (Saturday)
• June 20 (Saturday)
• June 27 (Saturday)
• July 4 (Saturday)
• July 11 (Saturday)
• July 18 (Saturday)
• July 25 (Saturday)

Upper Pennisula Workdays: Contact Chris Cantway via email or at (906) 225-0399 ext. 4015 to register.

• June 18 (Thursday) — 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
  Vermillion Point Nature Preserve (Chippewa Co.)
  Spotted knapweed pull with The Nature Conservancy
  and Little Traverse Conservancy
• July 24 (Friday) — 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
  Pt Aux Chenes (Mackinac Co.)
  Invasive plant removal with The Nature Conservancy
  and Hiawatha National Forest
• July 30 (Thursday) — 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
  Indian Point (Delta Co.)
  Invasive plant removal with The Nature Conservancy
  and Hiawatha National Forest
• August 3 (Monday) — 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
  Grand Marais (Alger Co.)
  Invasive plant removal with The Nature Conservancy
  and Central Lake Superior Land Conservancy

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. 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 (DNR)

Want to help restore important natural areas in Southeastern Michigan parks and recreation areas? Join the DNR’s Parks and Recreation Division, Stewardship Unit as we plant native prairie seedlings and remove invasive garlic mustard to restore these high quality ecosystems within these parks:

• June 6 (Saturday) from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. — Waterloo Recreation Area (Washtenaw Co.)
• June 7 (Sunday) from 1:00 to 4 p.m. — Pinckney Recreation Area (Washtenaw Co.)
• June 13 (Saturday) from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. — Highland Recreation Area (Oakland Co.)
• June 13 (Saturday) from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. — Island Lake Recreation Area (Livingston Co.)
• June 14 (Sunday) from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. — Algonac State Park (St. Clair Co.)
• June 20 (Saturday) from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. — Brighton Recreation Area (Livingston Co.)
• June 27 (Saturday) from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. — Highland Recreation Area (Oakland Co.)
• June 28 (Sunday) from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. — Brighton Recreation Area (Livingston Co.)

We will be pulling garlic mustard at most of the workdays, but will be planting at Waterloo Recreation Area on June 6, Pinckney Recreation Area on June 7 and Highland Recreation Area on June 13. Both of these activities require many hands and will really benefit these high-quality native ecosystem.

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-Draper at (248) 359-9057 or via email for additional information.

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