Pinnacle Trail Workday
Warm Springs Mountain Preserve (Bath County)
Saturday, February 20, 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. (weather dependent)
Lunch provided
The Pinnacle Trail affords some of the most spectacular views to the east from Warm Springs Mountain Preserve and is utilized by Conservancy staff for field trips and guests of the Homestead Resort and others from the community for hiking.  Volunteers are needed as we construct new boardwalks and puncheons through several areas where the trail traverses a moist, mountain bog and numerous seeps. Contact Jen Rich, volunteer coordinator, at 434-951-0572 or jrich@tnc.org if you are interested in helping.

Cattail Pullers: Forks of the Rivanna (Albemarle County)
Friday, February 26: 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
What did the mouse say when the cat bit its tail? That's the end of me! Yes, that’s what we are hoping to say to the cattails at the Forks of the Rivanna site which the Conservancy has identified as a high priority conservation site due largely to its location at the confluence of the North and South Forks of the Rivanna River. The cattails are impeding flow in a recently restored stream and need to be pulled and dug up. Volunteers are required to have calf/knee high rubber boots or hip waders and must be prepared to get wet, messy and cold. Contact Jen Rich to sign up and receive more information like directions, jrich@tnc.org or 434-951-0572

Largest Seagrass Restoration in the World!
late-May to mid-June: Snorkelers and Water Lovers
The Nature Conservancy, along with several partners in the Seaside Seagrass Community Restoration Program, is once again gearing up for the largest seagrass restoration project in the world! We are looking for 100 local volunteer snorkelers and water lovers to collect millions of eelgrass seeds. For more information visit nature.org/seagrassrestoration and be sure to check out the video and slideshow. 2010 Schedule will be out in early May!
 
To get on the list to receive more information as it becomes available call or email Jen Rich, volunteer coordinator, 434-951-0572 or jrich@tnc.org.

Volunteer Preserve Visitation Committee Members
Berger Preserve, Fortune’s Cove Preserve, Bottom Creek, Gorge Preserve, Falls Ridge Preserve, Voorhees Preserve, Wildcat Mountain Preserve, Fraser Preserve
We need your eyes, ears and muscles!  With many preserves to manage around the Commonwealth, it’s not always possible to monitor them as often as we’d like. Our goal is to form volunteer visitation committees at our public access preserves to conduct routine surveys of the preserve and note visitor activities. Committee members will also help to remove debris, fallen branches or overgrown vegetation from trails as needed with hand tools. We are looking for long-term committed people to monitor between 4 and 6 times a year.

Please visit our new Preserve Monitoring Program web page for more information »

Burn Crew - Southwest Virginia and Western Mountains of Virginia
Are you interested in coming out to help with prescribed fires this year? Do you have the right qualifications? Conservancy volunteer burn crew members must meet the same standards as the Conservancy staff burn crew. Specifically, you must be a NWCG Type II Fire Fighter. This means you must posses a valid red card, or have taken courses S-130 and S-190, and be able to furnish signed task books and course certificate and have completed the pack test, which entails walking 3 miles in 45 minutes carrying a 45-pound pack. 

JOINING US FOR A WORKDAY? Please take a moment to read our tips for proper preparation and policy on schedule changes.

Proper Preparation:  Be sure to dress appropriately for your particular workday.  Generally, it is a good idea to wear long pants and hiking or work boots. You should also bring work gloves, a backpack, water and snacks (and/or lunch, if not provided).  Depending on conditions, a hat, sunscreen and insect repellent may be helpful as well.  If you have them, you may also be asked to bring additional tools/equipment.

Schedule Changes:  Predicting our project needs and weather conditions months in advance is tricky business. We will not work in thunderstorms, blizzards, tornados, hurricanes and the like.  However, progress typically continues through sprinkles, showers, sizzles and stickiness. While cancellations are rare, sometimes we must change our plans with little advance notice. If you are uncertain of the workday status please call the trip supervisor.