Volunteer Program Information

Volunteers are a vital a part of what we do. They help keep our gardens beautiful, our natural areas safe and welcoming, and they care for our rare habitats. With over 3,500 acres of parks and nature preserves, we have many different opportunities throughout the county.

While you are enjoying the nature and activities in our parks and preserves, you can integrate volunteering into your play. Tend the perennial gardens while your kids splash at the Rolling Hills Water Park, pull some garlic mustard on your next woodland walk in Leonard Preserve, or take a tour of the Historic Grist Mill at Parker Mill and photograph children in rapt attention.

Calendar of Events (PDF) -  (or Live) - Find out about upcoming Volunteer Stewardship events, nature hikes, and programs for all ages!  

Nature Steward - Learn about Michigans plants, animals, and ecosystems from naturalists and help preserve and protect them.

Nature stewards get their hands dirty, actively caring for habitats. This work involves cutting or pulling invasive species and going on nature hikes with naturalists to collect or distribute native seeds. Nature stewards work closely with staff learning about ecological restoration, native species, and habitats.

Stewardship can be light work or physically demanding depending on the task. All ages and physical ability levels are welcome. Time commitment can range from just showing up at one of our calendar workdays, to a regular commitment of 5-10 hours per month (or more if you want!).

Photomonitoring - Photodocument the transformations that happen as we care for our lands and waters.

Photomonitoring seeks to duplicate the same photo frame over the course of many seasons to document the transformation that happens as we care for our lands and waters. It can be quite remarkable to watch a shrub thicket change to a prairie in the course of a few years.

General nature photography is also welcome. Beautiful shots of landscape & flowers help us tell the story of the special moments and one-of-a-kind experiences found in our nature preserves.

This volunteer opportunity is very flexible in time and commitment level.

Preserve Monitor - Help us keep an eye on things, while enjoying some fresh air and exercise.

Preserve monitors are folks in the community that hike the trails on a regular basis, and report any maintenance needs back to staff. Their feedback is valuable in keeping our natural areas welcoming and safe. Some of them pick up trash along the trail, but this is optional. Others with specific botanical or animal knowledge report wildlife observations.

For more information about Washtenaw Countys Natural Areas Volunteer program:

Swift Run Monitor - Check for dog tags, answer questions, and remind patrons of park rules.

Keep in touch

Many other opportunities are available. Fill out a Volunteer Profile to let us know your interests, skills, and availability.

We can email you our free quarterly newsletter with the latest calendar of events, simply join the listserve.

Groups are Welcome

We look forward to organizing a Volunteer Workday(s) for your group. Opportunities are available for all group sizes, age ranges and ability levels. We can have rewarding and productive workdays with a group of eighty 4th graders, twenty college students, as well as ten senior citizens.

Please fill out our group volunteer sheet, and a Volunteer Coordinator will be in touch soon.