Skip to content
A group of volunteers holding flat containers of small plants pose together on the Kankakee Sands prairie.
Milkweed planting There's always something to see and do in nature! © Alyssa Nyberg/TNC

Stories in Indiana

Volunteer in Indiana

Join the volunteer community making a difference for conservation in Indiana!

Last updated April 22, 2024

Welcome to the volunteering hub for The Nature Conservancy in Indiana!

We’re delighted that you want to get involved and give your time to help preserve the diverse landscapes and waterways of our Hoosier state.

This webpage is intended to be your central resource for finding volunteering opportunities and getting in contact with the Indiana volunteer team. To learn more, scroll through the sections or select a tab that will take you directly to a specific topic. 

Volunteering for Nature (4:45) TNC volunteer Cindy Leffelman loves trails and working with other volunteers; she's put her passion into trailmaking at nature preserves in Indiana. What's your passion for nature?

Volunteer Calendar

This volunteer calendar includes TNC workdays as well as Weed Wrangles. Click the link to open it and view opportunities across the state. Each event on the calendar includes details about the event, location and times and how to RSVP. Calendar isn’t working? Email Esmé Barniskis and she’ll get it sorted out.  
 

 

TNC volunteer Cindy Leffler hikes the forest at Green's Bluff nature preserve.
Cindy Leffelman Volunteer Cindy Leffelman at Green's Bluff nature preserve. © Fauna Creative

Get Started

Volunteers are integral in helping us accomplish our conservation mission to protect the lands and waters on which all life depends, so thank you for your interest. Use this Volunteer Interest Form so that we can better accommodate your skills and interests with our volunteer opportunities.

Volunteer Opportunities

TNC volunteer Nicole Summer surrounded by her summer reading list.
Summer Reading List Volunteer Nicole Summer shares her reading list for nature learners. © Nicole Snider

Volunteer Spotlight

Summer Nature Reading List

TNC volunteer Nicole Snider shares her summer nature reading list!

To kick off the summer season, you may encounter various reading lists. These can be fun, easy reads or fun, fantasy fiction; however, this nonfiction list is for those fun, nature learners to add to your summer reading.

Maybe you’re planning a trip to a national park or a nature preserve. Maybe you want to learn a little more about the lands and waters on which we all depend. Or maybe you cannot afford a trip; either financially or you can’t afford the time, and you just want to have a little bit of an escape this season. These books may be right up your alley.

All of the book recommendations on this summer reading list are listed in no particular order and are appropriate for those ages 15+.

Contact Us

Esmé Barniskis (she/her/hers)
Volunteer and Events Specialist
indianavolunteer@tnc.org
(920) 763-6762

[{"countryCode":"hti","countryName":"Haiti"},{"countryCode":"mmr","countryName":"Myanmar"},{"countryCode":"png","countryName":"Papua New Guinea"},{"countryCode":"pri","countryName":"Puerto Rico"},{"countryCode":"hkg","countryName":"Hong Kong"},{"countryCode":"usa","countryName":"United States"},{"countryCode":"bol","countryName":"Bolivia"},{"countryCode":"pry","countryName":"Paraguay"},{"countryCode":"bhs","countryName":"Bahamas"},{"countryCode":"cri","countryName":"Costa Rica"},{"countryCode":"slb","countryName":"Solomon Islands"},{"countryCode":"gab","countryName":"Gabon"},{"countryCode":"mng","countryName":"Mongolia"},{"countryCode":"chn","countryName":"China"},{"countryCode":"pan","countryName":"Panama"},{"countryCode":"bra","countryName":"Brazil"},{"countryCode":"gtm","countryName":"Guatemala"},{"countryCode":"chl","countryName":"Chile"},{"countryCode":"col","countryName":"Colombia"},{"countryCode":"ecu","countryName":"Ecuador"},{"countryCode":"arg","countryName":"Argentina"},{"countryCode":"vir","countryName":"Virgin Islands"},{"countryCode":"ury","countryName":"Uruguay"},{"countryCode":"eur","countryName":"Europe"},{"countryCode":"syc","countryName":"Seychelles"},{"countryCode":"tza","countryName":"Tanzania"},{"countryCode":"blz","countryName":"Belize"},{"countryCode":"zmb","countryName":"Zambia"},{"countryCode":"ken","countryName":"Kenya"},{"countryCode":"ind","countryName":"India"},{"countryCode":"nzl","countryName":"New Zealand"},{"countryCode":"can","countryName":"Canada"},{"countryCode":"cub","countryName":"Cuba"},{"countryCode":"ven","countryName":"Venezuela"},{"countryCode":"nic","countryName":"Nicaragua"},{"countryCode":"nam","countryName":"Namibia"},{"countryCode":"dom","countryName":"Dominican Republic"},{"countryCode":"hnd","countryName":"Honduras"},{"countryCode":"mex","countryName":"Mexico"},{"countryCode":"zaf","countryName":"South Africa"},{"countryCode":"fsm","countryName":"Micronesia"},{"countryCode":"aus","countryName":"Australia"},{"countryCode":"jam","countryName":"Jamaica"},{"countryCode":"per","countryName":"Peru"},{"countryCode":"idn","countryName":"Indonesia"}] [{"stateCode":"al","stateName":"Alabama"},{"stateCode":"ak","stateName":"Alaska"},{"stateCode":"az","stateName":"Arizona"},{"stateCode":"ar","stateName":"Arkansas"},{"stateCode":"ca","stateName":"California"},{"stateCode":"co","stateName":"Colorado"},{"stateCode":"ct","stateName":"Connecticut"},{"stateCode":"de","stateName":"Delaware"},{"stateCode":"dc","stateName":"District of Columbia"},{"stateCode":"fl","stateName":"Florida"},{"stateCode":"ga","stateName":"Georgia"},{"stateCode":"hi","stateName":"Hawaii"},{"stateCode":"id","stateName":"Idaho"},{"stateCode":"il","stateName":"Illinois"},{"stateCode":"in","stateName":"Indiana"},{"stateCode":"ia","stateName":"Iowa"},{"stateCode":"ks","stateName":"Kansas"},{"stateCode":"ky","stateName":"Kentucky"},{"stateCode":"la","stateName":"Louisiana"},{"stateCode":"me","stateName":"Maine"},{"stateCode":"md","stateName":"Maryland"},{"stateCode":"ma","stateName":"Massachusetts"},{"stateCode":"mi","stateName":"Michigan"},{"stateCode":"mn","stateName":"Minnesota"},{"stateCode":"ms","stateName":"Mississippi"},{"stateCode":"mo","stateName":"Missouri"},{"stateCode":"mt","stateName":"Montana"},{"stateCode":"ne","stateName":"Nebraska"},{"stateCode":"nv","stateName":"Nevada"},{"stateCode":"nh","stateName":"New Hampshire"},{"stateCode":"nj","stateName":"New Jersey"},{"stateCode":"nm","stateName":"New Mexico"},{"stateCode":"ny","stateName":"New York"},{"stateCode":"nc","stateName":"North Carolina"},{"stateCode":"nd","stateName":"North Dakota"},{"stateCode":"oh","stateName":"Ohio"},{"stateCode":"ok","stateName":"Oklahoma"},{"stateCode":"or","stateName":"Oregon"},{"stateCode":"pa","stateName":"Pennsylvania"},{"stateCode":"ri","stateName":"Rhode Island"},{"stateCode":"sc","stateName":"South Carolina"},{"stateCode":"sd","stateName":"South Dakota"},{"stateCode":"tn","stateName":"Tennessee"},{"stateCode":"tx","stateName":"Texas"},{"stateCode":"ut","stateName":"Utah"},{"stateCode":"vt","stateName":"Vermont"},{"stateCode":"va","stateName":"Virginia"},{"stateCode":"wa","stateName":"Washington"},{"stateCode":"wv","stateName":"West Virginia"},{"stateCode":"wi","stateName":"Wisconsin"},{"stateCode":"wy","stateName":"Wyoming"}]

More Volunteer Opportunities

View All Opportunities
View All Opportunities
[{"countryCode":"hti","countryName":"Haiti"},{"countryCode":"mmr","countryName":"Myanmar"},{"countryCode":"png","countryName":"Papua New Guinea"},{"countryCode":"pri","countryName":"Puerto Rico"},{"countryCode":"hkg","countryName":"Hong Kong"},{"countryCode":"usa","countryName":"United States"},{"countryCode":"bol","countryName":"Bolivia"},{"countryCode":"pry","countryName":"Paraguay"},{"countryCode":"bhs","countryName":"Bahamas"},{"countryCode":"cri","countryName":"Costa Rica"},{"countryCode":"slb","countryName":"Solomon Islands"},{"countryCode":"gab","countryName":"Gabon"},{"countryCode":"mng","countryName":"Mongolia"},{"countryCode":"chn","countryName":"China"},{"countryCode":"pan","countryName":"Panama"},{"countryCode":"bra","countryName":"Brazil"},{"countryCode":"gtm","countryName":"Guatemala"},{"countryCode":"chl","countryName":"Chile"},{"countryCode":"col","countryName":"Colombia"},{"countryCode":"ecu","countryName":"Ecuador"},{"countryCode":"arg","countryName":"Argentina"},{"countryCode":"vir","countryName":"Virgin Islands"},{"countryCode":"ury","countryName":"Uruguay"},{"countryCode":"eur","countryName":"Europe"},{"countryCode":"syc","countryName":"Seychelles"},{"countryCode":"tza","countryName":"Tanzania"},{"countryCode":"blz","countryName":"Belize"},{"countryCode":"zmb","countryName":"Zambia"},{"countryCode":"ken","countryName":"Kenya"},{"countryCode":"ind","countryName":"India"},{"countryCode":"nzl","countryName":"New Zealand"},{"countryCode":"can","countryName":"Canada"},{"countryCode":"cub","countryName":"Cuba"},{"countryCode":"ven","countryName":"Venezuela"},{"countryCode":"nic","countryName":"Nicaragua"},{"countryCode":"nam","countryName":"Namibia"},{"countryCode":"dom","countryName":"Dominican Republic"},{"countryCode":"hnd","countryName":"Honduras"},{"countryCode":"mex","countryName":"Mexico"},{"countryCode":"zaf","countryName":"South Africa"},{"countryCode":"fsm","countryName":"Micronesia"},{"countryCode":"aus","countryName":"Australia"},{"countryCode":"jam","countryName":"Jamaica"},{"countryCode":"per","countryName":"Peru"},{"countryCode":"idn","countryName":"Indonesia"}] [{"stateCode":"al","stateName":"Alabama"},{"stateCode":"ak","stateName":"Alaska"},{"stateCode":"az","stateName":"Arizona"},{"stateCode":"ar","stateName":"Arkansas"},{"stateCode":"ca","stateName":"California"},{"stateCode":"co","stateName":"Colorado"},{"stateCode":"ct","stateName":"Connecticut"},{"stateCode":"de","stateName":"Delaware"},{"stateCode":"dc","stateName":"District of Columbia"},{"stateCode":"fl","stateName":"Florida"},{"stateCode":"ga","stateName":"Georgia"},{"stateCode":"hi","stateName":"Hawaii"},{"stateCode":"id","stateName":"Idaho"},{"stateCode":"il","stateName":"Illinois"},{"stateCode":"in","stateName":"Indiana"},{"stateCode":"ia","stateName":"Iowa"},{"stateCode":"ks","stateName":"Kansas"},{"stateCode":"ky","stateName":"Kentucky"},{"stateCode":"la","stateName":"Louisiana"},{"stateCode":"me","stateName":"Maine"},{"stateCode":"md","stateName":"Maryland"},{"stateCode":"ma","stateName":"Massachusetts"},{"stateCode":"mi","stateName":"Michigan"},{"stateCode":"mn","stateName":"Minnesota"},{"stateCode":"ms","stateName":"Mississippi"},{"stateCode":"mo","stateName":"Missouri"},{"stateCode":"mt","stateName":"Montana"},{"stateCode":"ne","stateName":"Nebraska"},{"stateCode":"nv","stateName":"Nevada"},{"stateCode":"nh","stateName":"New Hampshire"},{"stateCode":"nj","stateName":"New Jersey"},{"stateCode":"nm","stateName":"New Mexico"},{"stateCode":"ny","stateName":"New York"},{"stateCode":"nc","stateName":"North Carolina"},{"stateCode":"nd","stateName":"North Dakota"},{"stateCode":"oh","stateName":"Ohio"},{"stateCode":"ok","stateName":"Oklahoma"},{"stateCode":"or","stateName":"Oregon"},{"stateCode":"pa","stateName":"Pennsylvania"},{"stateCode":"ri","stateName":"Rhode Island"},{"stateCode":"sc","stateName":"South Carolina"},{"stateCode":"sd","stateName":"South Dakota"},{"stateCode":"tn","stateName":"Tennessee"},{"stateCode":"tx","stateName":"Texas"},{"stateCode":"ut","stateName":"Utah"},{"stateCode":"vt","stateName":"Vermont"},{"stateCode":"va","stateName":"Virginia"},{"stateCode":"wa","stateName":"Washington"},{"stateCode":"wv","stateName":"West Virginia"},{"stateCode":"wi","stateName":"Wisconsin"},{"stateCode":"wy","stateName":"Wyoming"}]

Upcoming Events

View All Events
View All Events

Stories from Indiana

Indiana Chapter forester Chris Neggers and daughter Diana, 2019.

Prescribed Fire Explained

Indiana Chapter forester Chris Neggers explains to his 6-year old daughter Diana the difference between good fire and bad fire.

By Chris Neggers

Fireflies in flight

Fireflies

The charming firefly is a bright addition to summer memories.

TNC staff jump for joy at the Kankakee Sands groundbreaking!

Indiana Nature Notes for June

Nature Notes articles are inspired by the many different plant and animal species found at Kankakee Sands in Newton County, Indiana.

By Alyssa Nyberg