The Nature Conservancy in Michigan - 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 June 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 remove invasive species from the prairie fen and floodplain forest next to the River Raisin. 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 about 1 pm.

Saturday, June 21     Saturday, July 12
Saturday, June 28     Saturday, July 19
Saturday, July 5        Saturday, July 26

City of Marquette Invasive Removal Workdays
Help the Upper Peninsula Invasives Council rid Marquette of unwanted weeds. Join participants from various organizations pull invasive garlic mustard from the city on Iron Bay. Saturday workdays start at 10am and evening pulls are from 5-7pm.
Tuesday, June 17: Whetstone Creek area.

Forest Lake Basin, Alger County
Wednesday, June 18 from 10am to 3pm. Help remove invasive garlic mustard with Wisconsin Public Service.

Helmut and Candis Stern Preserve at Mt. Baldy
Wednesday, July 2 from 9am to 2pm. Help remove invasive spotted knapweed. Participants meet at the parking area on the Eagle Harbor cutoff road and hike the trail to the summit. Bring hiking shoes, workgloves, plenty of water and a bag lunch.

Hiawatha National Forest
Friday, July 11 at 10am. Eurasian Watermilfoil removal at Steuben Lake boat launch area in Schoolcraft County, located approximately 10 miles south of Shingleton, east side of M-94. Participants bring boots/waders and a sack lunch and lots of drinking water. Email Danielle Miller or call (906) 225-0399 for more information.

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

Want to help restore important natural areas in Southeast Michigan parks and recreation areas? Join the DNR, Parks and Recreation Division, Stewardship Unit for native prairie planting and invasive plant removal workdays in June:

Sunday, June 1 Waterloo Recreation Area (Washtenaw Co.), 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Saturday, June 7 Highland Recreation Area (Oakland Co.), 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Sunday, June 8 Island Lake Recreation Area (Livingston Co.), 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Saturday, June 14 Waterloo Recreation Area (Washtenaw Co.), 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Saturday, June 21 Pinckney Recreation Area (Washtenaw Co.), 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Sunday, June 22 Algonac State Park (St. Clair Co.), 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Sunday, June 29 Brighton Recreation Area (Livingston Co.), 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Most of the workdays will be spent hand pulling invasive, non-native weeds like garlic mustard but we also have a native prairie planting workday and an invasive shrub removal workday. 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).