VOLUNTEER EVENTS
Join your Seattle-Tacoma CNC planning team for a fun and informative virtual session and learn how you can help wildlife and wild places by logging your observations in your backyard, local park or other natural area during this global event!
Participate in the 2024 City Nature Challenge with TNC Washington on a nature walk through the Port Susan Bay Preserve! Help the Seattle-Tacoma Metropolitan Area (including Everett, Seattle, Bellevue, Tacoma and any place within Snohomish, King and Pierce counties!) show the world how biodiverse our region is by making observations of local species during City Nature Challenge!
Join TNC Washington in celebrating Earth Day with a trip to Yellow Island Preserve, located in the San Juan Islands for a day of microplastics clean up and exploring the island.
Photo credit: Matt Axling
Join TNC Washington and other volunteers for a day out at Ebey’s Landing to explore the hiking trails and participate in a beach clean-up.
Photo Credit: Courtney Baxter
Have an eye for detail? Join TNC Washington for a volunteer opportunity to assist with a research project by sorting seeds from TNC’s Ellsworth Preserve.
We’re looking for educators, outdoor group leaders, land managers and any other movers and shakers in the naturalist and environmental education world to join us in engaging our audiences in this amazing event.
Please join The Nature Conservancy, Tacoma Tree Foundation, Environment & Well Being Lab at University of Washington, and City of Tacoma Urban Forestry as we share our progress and findings from the Greening Research in Tacoma (GRIT) project.
GRIT builds on community outreach and local engagement efforts by incorporating scientific research and collecting on-the-ground data to understand local effects of trees on air temperature in a low-tree cover urban neighborhood in South Tacoma and how people living here experience urban trees and green infrastructure.
This will be a hybrid event - feel free to join us in person or on Zoom!
Registration if attending in-person is required to join.
12:00 pm - 1:00 pm
74 Wall Street, Seattle WA and virtually on Zoom
Photo: Hannah Letinich
Have an eye for detail? Join TNC Washington for a volunteer opportunity to assist with a research project by sorting seeds from TNC’s Ellsworth Preserve.
Photo: Hannah Letinich
Photo: Hannah Letinich
5:30pm - 6:30pm
10:00am - 1:00pm
5:30pm - 6:30pm
Celebrate Earth Day with The Nature Conservancy! We’ll be out at Fisher Slough removing invasive blackberry and planting willow live stakes. There will also be an opportunity to do some birding for those interested.
Learn more about Fisher Slough
We will be outside for the entirety of the event and will require being on your feet for extended periods of time and bending. This event is suitable for most ages.
Date: Sunday, April 23rd
Time: 10am-2pm
Where: Fisher Slough, near Conway, WA
Fisher Slough is located near Conway, WA. Volunteers will need to provide their own transportation to and from the preserve. Participants will receive a reminder email with more detailed information one week before the event. Please email wavolunteer@tnc.org with questions.
Want to learn more about our work and how volunteers support our mission?
Join an info session to about the kind of activities volunteers usually perform, ask questions about volunteering and how you can get involved.
New Volunteer Info Sessions occur each month, on Zoom. Call in information will be sent after RSVP.
Note: Attending an info session is not mandatory to volunteer. Training and orientation are provided for all volunteer roles and events.
Photo: Hannah Letinich
Saturday, March 11th
10:00 AM 1:00 PM
What:
Himalayan blackberry is an invasive plant that requires removal since it competes for resources with native species. Technique involves cutting thorny shoots then digging out the root wads- requires some physical strength. This event involves being on your feet, using shovels and other tools, and walking on uneven terrain.
Where:
Fisher Slough is located near Conway, WA. Volunteers will need to provide their own transportation to and from the preserve. You will receive the exact location after registration.
Participants will receive a reminder email with more detailed information one week before the event. Transportation not included.
Come mingle with Tacoma Tree Foundation (TTF) and The Nature Conservancy (TNC) staff, volunteers, and supporters and help us collect valuable temperature data!
Join us for a day of fun and learning in the Tacoma mall neighborhood! TTF and TNC are working with University of Washington researchers, and the City of Tacoma to learn about the urban heat island effect and its relationship to tree canopy coverage. On August 11, you're invited to help with this project by collecting temperature data at various spots across the neighborhood. There will be a central meeting hub, food, and a neighborhood walking tour. Each data collection session will begin with an introduction to the project and brief data collection training. Don't miss this chance to learn more about the G.R.I.T. project!
Please come prepared to walk around the streets of Tacoma! Bring your cell phone for navigation. Wear sturdy walking shoes and bring sun protection, hat, and a water bottle. Snacks and extra water provided!
There are three two hour shifts to sign up for
Data Collection Session 1, 8:00 am - 10:00 am
Data Collection Session 2, 11:00 am - 1:00 pm
Data Collection Session 3, 2:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Sign up through the link below!
Join the Mountains to Sound Greenway Trust on Cle Elum Ridge on July 16th for a weed pulling party! Human and animal traffic moving along the Towns to Teanaway trails can spread noxious weeds! Let's do our part to keep the trails clear, and care for the land they cross.
Located just a latte away from Seattle, the mountain communities of Ronald, Roslyn and Cle Elum are experiencing a steadily growing stream of visitors seeking connection with the outdoors. Recreational tourism generates $305 million annually within Kittitas County, supporting approximately 1,700 local jobs. As these numbers grow, so does the need for a well-designed trail system that can absorb user impacts, direct visitors away from wildlife habitat and sensitive areas, keep ongoing maintenance costs low, and connect the downtown centers with nearby public lands. Since 2017, the Greenway Trust has chaired the Implementation Group dedicated to designing, constructing, and maintaining such a trail system.
Join Skagit Land Trust near Rockport, WA at The Nature Conservancy's Smith Preserve on Friday, 7/8 from 10:00am-2:00pm. Our goal for the work party will be to remove a large patch of policeman's helmet, a non-native weed.
NOTE: Access to the work party site requires walking up and down a steep slope covered in brush. Please take this into account when deciding whether to sign up for this event.
Please fill out the Google Form below to RSVP. Sign-ups within 24 hours of an event's start time will not be accepted. If you sign up after the event is full, you will be added to a waitlist. Jonathan Worley, the Stewardship AmeriCorps Member with Skagit Land Trust, will reach out to you with more information as the event approaches.
Okanogan Land Trust and The Nature Conservancy invite you to a Barker Mountain Volunteer Day on Saturday, June 25th from 9:00am to 2:00pm. We will be removing old interior fencing that presents a danger to wildlife and fractures habitats. Volunteers will have the opportunity to improve the landscape and enjoy nature in a place usually closed to the public. Barker Mountain offers great views of the Cascades and possibilities for wildlife/bird viewing throughout the day!
We will meet at Beyer's Market in Tonasket and caravan/carpool to Barker Mountain, as parking space is limited and the work site is difficult to find. Please arrive arrive early as the group will leave promptly at 9am.
This event will involve walking up to several miles over dense shrub steppe with minimal incline. Please bring leather gloves suitable for handling barbed wire, lunch, and plenty of water. We will provide extra water, light snacks, and tools. Bring fence pliers if you've got 'em. Trail-worthy shoes, long pants, long sleeved shirts, hats, and sunscreen are recommended.
Email info@okanoganlandtrust.org or call (509) 557-6306 with questions
What:
Volunteers will help tie back and stomp down reed canary grass at our Fisher Slough Preserve
Where:
Fisher Slough is located near Conway, WA. Volunteers will need to provide their own transportation to and from the preserve. You will receive the exact location after registration.
Why:
Back in April at our Earth Day volunteer event volunteers planted willow live stakes. Since then, the reed canary grass (RCG) has begun to over grow them. RCG grows very tall in the warmer months, making it difficult for the new plantings to get the sunlight they need for growth. Volunteers will spend the day tying back and stomping down the grass to keep it at bay temporarily and help the new willows grow.
Grab your rainboots or waterproof boots and see you there!
Participants will receive a reminder email with more detailed information 1 week before the event. Transportation not included.
Volunteers will help pull new and emerging policeman's helmet along the shoreline at Foulweather Bluff Nature Preserve. Policeman's helmet reproduces by seed. Each plant can produce up to 800 seeds. The seeds are ejected over 20 feet from the capsule. Seeds can germinate underwater and can be viable for 18 months or more. An annual with a shallow root system, this plant pulls up easily.
Foulweather Bluff is located near Hansville on the north end of the Kitsap Peninsula. There is a one-mile hike through the forest with 20 feet of elevation gain before emerging onto the sandy beach. Due to parking limitations, this event will be capped at six volunteers. Volunteers are responsible for their own transportation. This is a family friendly event.
How to sign up: Email wavolunteer@tnc.org if interested.
Volunteers will help remove and cut back scotch broom, an aggressive weed that displaces native and beneficial plants, causing loss of grassland and open forest. Spend the day outside and help native plants on this site thrive.
The Dupuis Preserve is located near Darrington, WA. Due to site conditions, this event is not suitable for youth. Stream crossings are likely so bring your rubber boots or hip waders if you have them! Volunteers are responsible for their own transportation to and from the preserve.
Email wavolunteer@tnc.org if interested.
Volunteers will be helping us map invasive plants in the Central Cascades Forest. This is an ongoing project that volunteers can participate on at any time after completing their volunteer forms and reviewing a virtual training. Participants can also choose to join us for a guided hike to learn about identifying invasive plants in the field.
What?
Volunteers will be helping us pulling a noxious weed known as Policeman’s helmet/Jewelweed/Himalayan Balsam at our Smith Preserve.
Where?
Fisher Slough is located near Conway, WA. Volunteers will need to provide their own transportation to and from the preserve. You will receive the exact location after registration.
Why?
Spotted jewelweed has spread rapidly since it was first documented in Washington. Plants are widespread in certain lowland areas and appear to still be increasing. Seedlings of spotted jewelweed can form dense carpets that can compete with native species and are difficult to control. Spotted jewelweed is able to hybridize with the Washington native, spurless jewelweed. At Fisher Slough, we’ve started to notice the species growing in between the cattails, likely spread from another wetland area via Fisher Creek. At this site, we are attempting to remove sections of non-native cattail to encourage the establishment of native wetland plants. Removing the jewelweed will help prevent it from spreading into areas we are targeting for native establishment. It will also prevent the seeds from flowing into the Skagit River, which serves as critical wildlife and salmon habitat.
Safety
The safety of our staff and volunteers is the highest priority so we will be following The Nature Conservancy’s COVID Safety Guidelines. This includes wearing facial coverings when we cant work a minimum of 6 feet from each other, completing a self-certification health form, etc.
How to sign up:
To RSVP for this event, fill out the form below. You will receive an email confirmation from us and a more detailed instructions one week before the event. There is limited capacity for this event! If you sign up and are no longer able to attend please notify us at wavolunteer@tnc.org.
Participants will receive a reminder email with more detailed information 1 week before the event. Transportation not included.
Photo by Keith Lazelle
Join The Nature Conservancy in Washington in supporting our LGBTQ community! We’ll have a virtual booth in the celebration at Seattle Pride 2021, so stop by our booth and participate in the raffle to win The Nature Conservancy hoodie.
Interested in volunteering with The Nature Conservancy, but not yet ready to commit? Want to learn more about our work and how volunteers support our mission? Join us for one of our monthly new volunteer information sessions!
Come tune in and learn about building edible landscapes with Kate Doughty, Farm and Sustainability Manager in auxiliary enterprises at Central Washington University.
Join The Conservancy's own forest partnerships manager, Darcy Batura, to learn about the state of forest health in eastern Washington and what TNC is doing to help.
At The Nature Conservancy’s Ellsworth Forest Preserve, we are linking these concepts by using soil environmental DNA data to inform our restoration efforts and mitigate the impacts of climate change. Learn how this type of innovative paired science and management can help to establish best practices for restoration efforts globally to ensure the conservation of the planet for our lifetime and beyond.
Want to learn more about our work and how volunteers support our mission? Join us for one of our monthly new volunteer information sessions!
Join Emily Howe, PhD, Aquatic & Estuarine Ecologist for a discussion on how we are working to better understand the intersection of climate change, snowpack, and land management in our region.
