Land Protection Update Landowner's Guide to Protection Land Management Resources Farmland Protection Program Sustainable Forestry Program Native Plant Restoration Program Find a Preserve Preserve Rules Hunting Permission/ Information Donate Online Ways to Give Areas of Need Get Involved Volunteer Questionnaire Get Involved Thank you for visiting the Grand Traverse Regional Land Conservancy’s website, and for your interest in volunteering! We invite you to explore the volunteer opportunities available in our 5-county service area and to join over 150 other volunteers who are dedicating their time and skills to help preserve, protect and maintain significant natural, scenic, and farm lands in Antrim, Benzie, Grand Traverse, Kalkaska, and Manistee counties. We literally could not protect land without the help of volunteers! Volunteers fulfill the vast and growing stewardship and communication needs that we assume with each new land protection project – be it a new nature preserve or a landscape-level protection effort. Our volunteers work alongside, and in partnership, with our staff. We strive to give our volunteers the support, guidance, and tools they need, and then give them space to innovate and lead to accomplish the tasks at hand. Our volunteers’ passion and dedication - combined with the talent, experience and expertise they lend – inspires us to continue our efforts to build a conservation and stewardship ethic around conserved lands and within our broader community. Please take a moment to explore some of the opportunities presented below, and consider joining our committed volunteers in helping to preserve and protect the very best of what northern Michigan has to offer. Volunteer Opportunities Generally, the work of our volunteers falls into three main categories: Docents: Our docents lead hikes and host other educational events on our preserves. If you would like to share your knowledge or experience of the outdoors - anything ranging from orienteering to animal tracking, cast iron cooking to canoeing, or plein air painting or nature photography – click here to fill out a volunteer questionnaire. We welcome partnerships with members from paddling clubs, camera clubs, rock & mineral clubs, hiking clubs, Audubon Clubs, or folks with culinary flair who have a "taste" for the edible landscape. "Friends of" our nature preserves: "Friends" groups are committed corps of volunteers who effectively adopt one of our nature preserves. Volunteer responsibilities include preserve monitoring; maintaining and restoring trails, natural habitats and preserve infrastructure; and serving an accessible and helpful public "face" of the preserve on behalf of the Conservancy. For information about existing Friends groups and opportunities and needs for new Friends groups, please contact our Volunteer Program Coordinator, Rolf von Walthausen, at 231-929-7911 or by email. Skill-based volunteers: We are excited to partner with skilled volunteers with backgrounds and expertise in a variety of areas. Whether you are handy with a hammer, can artfully wield a video camera, have experience in graphic design or communications, or have experience with natural resource inventories or site management, we would love to explore a way to work together. School or community groups: We are happy to partner with volunteer groups from schools and other organizations. Please contact our Volunteer Program Coordinator, Rolf von Walthausen, at 231-929-7911, or email Rolf for information about projects, field work days, and experiential learning opportunities. What You Can Expect From The Conservancy As A Volunteer We will: Provide you with an orientation of who we are & what we do, including an overview of our 20-year comprehensive land protection vision, our land management plans, and an introduction to land preservation tools Offer ongoing training in the proper use of equipment, plant/animal identification, outdoor skills and monitoring of natural areas Provide you with a name badge for identification, a Conservancy hat & t-shirt, a compass, and a volunteer handbook Keep you informed of upcoming projects & events Introduce you to Conservancy staff, community partners, and a broader network of Conservancy Friends and volunteers Provide application materials to mini-grants for attendance at conferences, seminars and educational opportunities, so that you can independently brush up your skills Be available for questions and welcome your comments and suggestions Thank you for your time, respect the skills and experiences you bring to your work, and appreciate the contributions you make toward accomplishing our mission What We Expect From You As A Volunteer Commit to at least one project or area of service Attend the orientation session and stay informed via meetings or email Become familiar with the mission, policies, and procedures of the Conservancy Represent the Conservancy in a manner that reflects well the advancement of our mission, or interests in the community and the trust we place in you Care for, help maintain and return tools & equipment that you use Take advantage of opportunities to upgrade and sharpen your skills whenever possible Learn a lot, contribute your ideas and suggestions, and have fun! For more information about the Grand Traverse Regional Land Conservancy’s Volunteer Program, contact Rolf von Walthausen, Volunteer Program Coordinator, at 231-929-7911 or by email.