Volunteer Stewardship Days
Sustaining Land for the Long Term
Caring for land is a long-term commitment. The work doesn’t end after a piece of land is restored. It still requires tending, care, and management — in other words, stewardship.
The lands we steward are the lands we own and actively manage. From forests and wetlands to river corridors and prairies, each property carries its own history and potential. Our role is to care for these places in ways that strengthen both environmental health and community benefit over time.
It’s Not Just a One-Time Job
A central part of our stewardship work focuses on water. Many of our properties lie along streams, rivers, and floodplains that are critical to the health of our region’s waterways. By restoring floodplains, reconnecting rivers to their natural flows, and reestablishing native vegetation, we help slow and filter water as it moves across the landscape. These efforts reduce erosion, improve water quality, and create vital habitat for fish and wildlife.
After the land-moving work — the big, hefty restoration projects — management continues. Major disturbances are often required to restore properties, and though they are necessary, invasive species thrive on disturbance. As such, we need to keep a careful eye and a close hand on our restored properties to keep non-native species out.
Stewardship means showing up, year after year, to keep areas healthy. We monitor each property, track changes over time, and adapt our management to meet evolving conditions. This long-term presence ensures that the lands in our care continue to function as intended—supporting clean water, healthy habitats, and climate resilience.
Community Involvement
Just as important, stewardship is about connection. Through volunteer opportunities and hands-on experiences, we invite people to take part in caring for these places. Because when people feel connected to the land, they help carry its future forward.
This work unfolds over time, guided by science, shaped by experience, and grounded in a deep commitment to the land. Want to get more involved? Sign up to be a volunteer!