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Delaware

Volunteer

Six people pose together during a stream cleanup event. They are holding large black plastic trash bags and carrying long orange grabbers.
Delaware Volunteers Volunteers clean up trash in the First State National Historical Park during the bi-annual Steam Stewards Watershed Clean. © John Hinkson/TNC

Get Involved with Delaware

Thank you for your interest in dedicating your time to conserving nature! Find volunteer work or sign up to become a volunteer by filling out the short interest form below.

Current Volunteer Openings

There is more than one way to volunteer for The Nature Conservancy in Delaware. In addition to participating in scheduled volunteer events and work days, we have several ongoing volunteer opportunities.

Contact devolunteer@tnc.org for more information about current opportunities or fill out the interest form below to receive regular updates.



Several young people bend over on rocks in the forest collecting pieces of trash from the floor.
Fall Watershed Clean-up Young volunteers celebrate River Days during the Stream Stewards Fall Watershed Clean-up at First State National Historical Park. © John Hinkson/TNC
A person kneels on one knee pulling a plastic tree tube over a skinny tree trunk. A person stand behind watching.
Maintenance Day A volunteer places a tree tube shelter over a newly planted seedling for protection from deer during a volunteer maintenance workday. © John Hinkson/TNC

Guide to iNaturalist

Join a growing group of community scientists using our iNaturalist fact sheet.

Become A Community Scientist

We are creating a community science database of all kinds of life—from lichens to ants, mushrooms to plants, birds to mammals and everything in between for our preserves in Pennsylvania and Delaware.

TNC's roots began with local citizens and scientists concerned about special places and species. That legacy continues today. Across our lands, we are utilizing iNaturalist—a digital platform that gives users an opportunity to share and discuss their findings.

Of the 14 preserve projects in iNaturalist, nine have observations recorded; help us increase that number and our understanding of the species—good and bad, native as well as invasive—that can be found on TNC lands across the state. This information can also help guide and inform our conservation staff's management and monitoring decisions.

A person in outdoor gear stands on a cleared trail in the forest.
Tracey Haines TNC volunteer in Delaware © Molly Anderson/TNC

2023 Delaware Volunteer of the Year

Tracey Haines

Tracey Haines’ love of nature from a young age—and her recognition that it is under threat today—led to her interest in conservation and wanting to get involved with local organizations. “I’ve always appreciated nature and cherish it today as a place to de-stress, get some exercise, and admire the beauty of it all,” says Tracey. The Nature Conservancy is proud to present Tracey with the title of 2023 Delaware Volunteer of the Year thanks to her deep commitment to TNC whether leading guided hikes or assisting with preserve maintenance activities and trash cleanup events. “This volunteer work helps me to be ‘part of the solution’,” she adds.

After moving to southern Delaware a few years ago, Tracey began exploring TNC’s public preserves (McCabe and Ponders Tract) while simultaneously becoming a Delaware Master Naturalist. As Tracey learned more about conservation threats like loss of habitat and biodiversity to development, threats to our water and concerns about invasive species, she was intrigued to see the work TNC has been doing to respond to these various pressing challenges our environment is facing today.

Tracey has an affinity for the conservation and restoration efforts at the Ponders Tract of Permberton Forest Preserve. She says seeing these tangible efforts in “real time” helped her better understand conservation practices like using controlled burns to encourage growth of native species, many of which face threats from invasives and a changing climate.

“At Ponders Tract... I deeply value what TNC is doing there, in that an old logging site is being turned back into a mixed hardwood forest,” Tracey observes. “It’s going to be so exciting to watch the great progress over the next years to come. It’s easy to already see the differences from the planted pines from logging times to the areas TNC has begun to restore.  These changes are also providing important habitat for many species, including birds, bugs, amphibians, and other wildlife.”

After learning so much about TNC’s efforts at Ponders Tract, Tracey began volunteering to lead guided hikes to share her knowledge with others. “I really enjoyed leading a tour (and future tours!) there to share what I’ve learned and engage with interesting participants who asked great questions. Their questions challenged me to learn even more about the property and TNC efforts there,” she observed.

People give their time to assist TNC for numerous reasons and Tracey is no different.  “One important motivator for volunteering is that I feel like I’m being a part of the solution to conservation challenges,” she notes. “Also, volunteering with TNC is a great way to meet wonderful and interesting people, including staff, volunteers, and event participants. I’m not retired yet but when I am I look forward to having even more time to volunteer with TNC!”

Please join us in congratulating Tracey as the 2023 Delaware Volunteer of the Year and be on the lookout for future guided hikes led by Tracey in southern Delaware.

For more information about volunteering in Delaware, fill out the short form below and we'll be in touch with opportunities!

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