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 May 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, May 17          Saturday, June 7
Saturday, May 24          Saturday, June 14
Saturday, May 31          Saturday, June 21
                                    Saturday, June 28

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.
Thursdays, May 22, & 29: Whetstone Creek area. Park on Fisher Street.
Saturday, May 31: Schneider Court, along the Dead River.
Tuesday, May 20 & Saturday, May 24: Sugarloaf and Hawley Streets.

Forest Lake Basin, Alger County
Wednesday, June 18 from 9am to 3pm. Help remove invasive garlic mustard with Wisconsin Public Service.

Hiawatha National Forest
Friday, May 30 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

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 invasive garlic mustard removal and native prairie planting in May:

Saturday, May 3 Island Lake Recreation Area (Livingston Co.), 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Sunday, May 4 Highland Recreation Area (Oakland Co.), 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Saturday, May 10 Bald Mountain Recreation Area (Oakland Co.), 9 a.m. to noon
Saturday, May 17 Waterloo Recreation Area (Washtenaw Co.), 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Sunday, May 18 Pinckney Recreation Area (Washtenaw Co.), 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Saturday, May 24 Brighton Recreation Area (Livingston Co.), 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Saturday, May 31 Fort Custer Recreation Area (Kalamazoo Co.), 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Saturday, May 31 Algonac State Park (St. Clair Co.), 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Some of the workdays will be spent hand pulling invasive, non-native weeds like garlic mustard but we also have many native prairie planting workdays as well. 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).