Outdoor Opportunities

For outdoor projects and workdays please contact: Cheryl Wiitala, Preserves Manager, at
(401) 331-7110 or cwiitala@tnc.org

Stewardship Workdays (scheduled in advance or as needed)
Registering is essential so we can contact you if the workday is cancelled. Upon registering, volunteers will receive directions, how to best be prepared, and a reminder of the workday via email or phone.

Please contact the appropriate person leading the work project (usually the Preserves Manager) if you have any questions or concerns about a project activity, location, or detail.

Also, if you are unable to attend a workday, please notify us. Your courteous cancellation allows for an accurate account of volunteers attending a project, which enables us to begin the project on time and with confidence that no one has been left behind as we head into the project site.

Preserve Monitoring
Preserve Monitoring is one of the most important jobs for Conservancy volunteers. The Rhode Island Chapter manages a number of preserves throughout the state. Preserve monitors are invaluable to helping keep our properties inspected and maintained. Monitors visit preserves periodically to monitor the condition of a preserve to make sure there are no problems - looking for evidence of dumping, vandalism, missing/damaged signs, damage from all-terrain vehicles, inspecting trail conditions, and picking up litter. For more information, see the Preserve Monitoring Guide (.pdf, 1.2 MB). Monitors then complete an Inspection Report (.pdf, 44 kb) and can either mail, fax, or e-mail reports to our office.

Trail Maintenance
Permission from the Conservancy is required. With a small staff and many visitors to our public preserves, we can always use a hand with trail maintenance. Keeping trails maintained helps promote the Conservancy’s presence in the community and ensures that our public preserves are accessible, friendly natural places that encourage visitation.

Activities include walking trails, trimming/brush cutting along trails, keeping trails clear of brush, fallen and overhead limbs, removal of blowdowns, marking trails, and/or clearing and maintaining waterbars. Tools commonly used are lopping shears, rakes, chainsaw, brush cutter, or other hand tools.

Please note: all volunteers participating in trail maintenance activities, and other activities which may pose a safety risk, must be registered volunteers and sign a Liability Release form for their safety before they begin.

Maintenance/carpentry/general handy person
Occasionally we may need a hand painting signs, erecting/constructing entrance signs, gates or fences. A volunteer willing to use their power tools to cut lumber for signs and posts is sometimes needed.

Photography
Photos of field trips, natural scenery, plants and animals are all useful as the Conservancy is always looking for photos to use in our chapter newsletters, website and in presentations.

Field Trip Leader
The Conservancy routinely conducts field trips to our preserves. On occasion, we need volunteers to help with or even lead a field trip. If you are knowledgeable in any of the natural history fields, and could contribute your knowledge on a particular topic, or would just like to lead a general hike, we welcome you to join us!

Litter Clean-ups
These activities could range from picking up light litter from a preserve parking lot or along a trail, to helping haul away large quantities of dumped garbage. Typically scheduled as group workdays for large cleanups, small cleanups can be accomplished as you go during a walk on our preserves.

Boundary Posting
Help promote the Conservancy’s presence in the community and ensure that our public preserves are well marked. Post signs along TNC property boundaries. Inspect boundaries and replace signs. Requires ability to read surveys and use a map and compass.

Biological Inventory/Monitoring
Piping Plover Educator/Monitor: Help our seasonal plover biologists educate beach visitors about the plovers and terns that nest on the Conservancy’s Quicksand Pond/Goosewing Beach Preserve in Little Compton during the spring and summer months. Help monitor and fence nesting areas and assist with monitoring rare plants. No experience necessary. The ability and willingness to communicate with people and an interest in rare species is a must. Project available April through August.