Volunteer

Our Solutions Are In Nature: July 11 – 17, 2020

2020 is a defining year for biodiversity and has been called the Biodiversity Super Year. People are working together around the world to help protect biodiversity. This July, nature explorers and biologists used a smartphone app called iNaturalist (an online, crowd-sourced species identification system) to catalog and photograph flora and fauna on LTC preserves and working forests. First and second place prizes were awarded for documenting the most species.

Here’s how it went:

• Thirty-two preserves visited.
• 319 species documented.
• One new county record found (false nettle, Boehmeria cylindrical).

We call that a success!

Thanks to the University of Michigan Bio station for their support and to all of the participants and foray leaders for making this event a success, despite the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic. Check back for future Bioblitz celebrations.

Great for families, Citizen Science efforts enable us to learn what is on the land and what we are protecting. Whether you have special skills in birding, plant or wildlife identification, carpentry, or want to learn a new skill, you can get involved on your own time, in your way. Volunteer opportunities include:

• Vernal Pool Monitoring
• Forest Health Surveying
• American Kestrel Nest Box Monitoring
• Bird or Bat Surveying

Or you can host a work party or BioBlitz at a preserve you love and want to take care of. Bring us your passion, ideas, family, and friends, and we can put you to work!

Be our eyes on the ground and feet on the trail. These volunteers commit to a long-term role to care for a particular nature preserve or working forest reserve. They often visit the property throughout the year, clearing trails and walking off track along remote boundary lines.

They clean up trash along roadsides, maintain logo signs, and repair anything on the ground that needs TLC. They report back to us twice a year and let us know when a property needs staff attention. We are currently looking to fill this volunteer position at several preserves throughout our service area.

Already a Land Steward? Tell us what you saw out there.

Our Thursday volunteer group helps with fieldwork at our properties, from trail clearing and building boardwalks to invasive plant removal. This group really will do anything. Join us if you want to meet new people and laugh a lot!

Each October, the Independence Hunt is organized by Operation Injured Soldiers. This weekend is an opportunity for veterans and those with disabilities to participate in a guided hunting experience on private land (including Little Traverse Conservancy properties).

With your help, these men and women can have access to the outdoors that they love — and need — and will also provide a deer-camp experience where these hunters can relax, socialize, and recharge. We are looking for experienced hunters to guide a disabled veteran on a Little Traverse Conservancy nature preserve.

If you would like to help in another way, we are looking for donations to help fund travel expenses and deer processing fees for these hunters. Your tax-deductible gift will allow these handi-capable hunters to get outdoors and do something they dearly love and have selflessly earned.

Occasionally we host work days to build trails, boardwalks, parking areas or similar work. We will add you to our email list to be notified as these arise.

Want to help out in the education department or lead a community field trip? Can you help distribute our publications and maps? Or do you have a particular skill you’d like to share? We’d love to hear more. Give us a call or click on the Volunteer button above, and we will contact you.

Want to help your neighborhood and your community look a little nicer? Join us by adopting a nature preserve roadside. It can be a great way to involve the family and teach them about taking care of their community. Add it to your daily walk and contribute to our mission without taking much time from your day.