Stewardship Workdays
|
Join us to get outdoors, get some exercise, learn new skills, meet new people and do some volunteer stewardship!
Workdays may be planned for any day of the week. This will enable us to accommodate the availability of more volunteers, and allow for activities that may pop up. (e.g., a mild winter and early spring cause invasive plants to start growing sooner). Pop-up workdays are scheduled when volunteers are available to come. This allows us to be flexible with weather and preserve needs. This information will be shared on social media and through our volunteer newsletter, so make sure you are signed up! To participate, please register in advance by contacting us at volunteer@heinzetrust.org or by calling us at 219-242-8558. For day of event information, call Eric at (219) 916-7625. |
|
Seed Cleaning
Tuesday, Dec 10
9am - 12pm
Meadowbrook Conservation Center
Valparaiso
Over the past several months, volunteers and students have collected wildflower seeds from several of our preserves, and we need your help to remove the chaff to improve dispersal and germination. Once the seeds are cleaned, they will restore degraded habitats and enhance our native ecosystems.
Join the fun with Preserve Steward Peggy Foster at the Meadowbrook Conservation Center any time between 9am and 12pm. We will provide water, coffee, and granola bars, but we warmly encourage you to bring your own reusable water bottle.
Seed cleaning can be dusty work. People with respiratory issues may not be comfortable with this activity.
For more information, call the office at 219-242-8558 or email Christine at cmaloney@heinzetrust.org.
Invasive Species Removal
Tuesday, Dec 10
1pm - 4pm
Barker Woods
Michigan City
The historic grounds at Barker Woods were once surrounded by beautiful ornamental gardens, but unfortunately some of those exotic plants have invaded the woods around the house. Burning bush, Japanese honeysuckle, and oriental bittersweet grow prolifically around the property, especially in the areas in front of the Barker home. We will be removing these plants in our continuing partnership with Save the Dunes to restore the old-growth forest.
We will provide all the necessary equipment and gear, as well as granola bars and water, although we encourage you to bring your own reusable water bottle. Please dress appropriately for the weather and wear sturdy footwear as some of the areas are uneven.
To RSVP, please call the office at 219-242-8558 or email Christine at cmaloney@heinzetrust.org. For information about last minute cancellations, please check Facebook.
Lydick Bog Boardwalk Trail-Blazing
Sat, Dec 14, Jan 11, Feb 8, Mar 14, Apr 11, May 9 and Jun 13
Wed, Jan 22, Feb 26, Mar 25, Apr 22, May 27, and Jun 24
9am-noon EASTERN
Lydick Bog
South Bend
Let the trail-blazing begin! The trail to Lydick Bog has been marked out and we are ready to start clearing the path to prepare for the boardwalk installation. We will also remove invasive species to restore the habitat surrounding the bog with our main focus for the autumn and winter being bush honeysuckle, multiflora rose, and rubus; in the spring, we'll focus on garlic mustard.
We will host this series of Volunteer Workdays on the second Saturday and fourth Wednesday of each month (except Dec 25) now through June, so mark your calendar and ask your friends to join the fun!
All the necessary equipment and gear will be provided, as well as granola bars and water, but we encourage you to bring your reusable water bottle. Please dress appropriately for the weather and wear waterproof boots if you have them as some areas may be muddy.
Please note that the time is 9am - 12pm EASTERN time. Meet us in the parking lot at Lydick Bog and we'll hike back to the work site together. If you arrive after 9am, follow the signs south of the parking lot to find us.
To RSVP, please call the office at 219-242-8558 or email Christine at cmaloney@heinzetrust.org.
Tuesday, Dec 10
9am - 12pm
Meadowbrook Conservation Center
Valparaiso
Over the past several months, volunteers and students have collected wildflower seeds from several of our preserves, and we need your help to remove the chaff to improve dispersal and germination. Once the seeds are cleaned, they will restore degraded habitats and enhance our native ecosystems.
Join the fun with Preserve Steward Peggy Foster at the Meadowbrook Conservation Center any time between 9am and 12pm. We will provide water, coffee, and granola bars, but we warmly encourage you to bring your own reusable water bottle.
Seed cleaning can be dusty work. People with respiratory issues may not be comfortable with this activity.
For more information, call the office at 219-242-8558 or email Christine at cmaloney@heinzetrust.org.
Invasive Species Removal
Tuesday, Dec 10
1pm - 4pm
Barker Woods
Michigan City
The historic grounds at Barker Woods were once surrounded by beautiful ornamental gardens, but unfortunately some of those exotic plants have invaded the woods around the house. Burning bush, Japanese honeysuckle, and oriental bittersweet grow prolifically around the property, especially in the areas in front of the Barker home. We will be removing these plants in our continuing partnership with Save the Dunes to restore the old-growth forest.
We will provide all the necessary equipment and gear, as well as granola bars and water, although we encourage you to bring your own reusable water bottle. Please dress appropriately for the weather and wear sturdy footwear as some of the areas are uneven.
To RSVP, please call the office at 219-242-8558 or email Christine at cmaloney@heinzetrust.org. For information about last minute cancellations, please check Facebook.
Lydick Bog Boardwalk Trail-Blazing
Sat, Dec 14, Jan 11, Feb 8, Mar 14, Apr 11, May 9 and Jun 13
Wed, Jan 22, Feb 26, Mar 25, Apr 22, May 27, and Jun 24
9am-noon EASTERN
Lydick Bog
South Bend
Let the trail-blazing begin! The trail to Lydick Bog has been marked out and we are ready to start clearing the path to prepare for the boardwalk installation. We will also remove invasive species to restore the habitat surrounding the bog with our main focus for the autumn and winter being bush honeysuckle, multiflora rose, and rubus; in the spring, we'll focus on garlic mustard.
We will host this series of Volunteer Workdays on the second Saturday and fourth Wednesday of each month (except Dec 25) now through June, so mark your calendar and ask your friends to join the fun!
All the necessary equipment and gear will be provided, as well as granola bars and water, but we encourage you to bring your reusable water bottle. Please dress appropriately for the weather and wear waterproof boots if you have them as some areas may be muddy.
Please note that the time is 9am - 12pm EASTERN time. Meet us in the parking lot at Lydick Bog and we'll hike back to the work site together. If you arrive after 9am, follow the signs south of the parking lot to find us.
To RSVP, please call the office at 219-242-8558 or email Christine at cmaloney@heinzetrust.org.
Ongoing Volunteer Opportunities
Native Garden Helper
Shirley Heinze Land Trust is in search for volunteers to help maintain the native garden outside our offices at Meadowbrook Nature Preserve in Valparaiso. Tools can be provided, but volunteers are welcome to bring their own. There are no set dates or times for this project. Volunteers are welcome to come as it fits in their schedule; we just ask you to let us know when you are coming by calling the office at 219-242-8558 or emailing volunteer@heinzetrust.org.
Adopt-a-Trail Program
This program is designed for volunteers to help maintain the 17 miles of hiking trails on Shirley Heinze Land Trust nature preserves. Individuals, families, or groups agree to maintain a section of trail at one of the preserves. Scouts, fraternities, sororities, and school groups are encouraged to participate. Volunteers are asked to make a 6-month commitment and may engage in the following activities:
Preserve Steward
Volunteers are available to apply for the Preserve Steward program after completing 6 months of Adopt-a-Trail. Preserve Stewards assume oversight responsibility for a specific Shirley Heinze Land Trust preserve. We need preserve stewards at all of our preserves, but currently these have the biggest need: Ivanhoe South Nature Preserve in Gary, Gordon and Faith Greiner, and Cressmoor Prairie Nature Preserves in Hobart, John Merle Coulter Nature Preserve in Portage, and the Little Calumet River Project Area in Chesterton.
Stewards may engage in some of the following activities:
If you are interested in any of these opportunities or have questions, please contact us at volunteer@heinzetrust.org or 219-242-8558.
Shirley Heinze Land Trust is in search for volunteers to help maintain the native garden outside our offices at Meadowbrook Nature Preserve in Valparaiso. Tools can be provided, but volunteers are welcome to bring their own. There are no set dates or times for this project. Volunteers are welcome to come as it fits in their schedule; we just ask you to let us know when you are coming by calling the office at 219-242-8558 or emailing volunteer@heinzetrust.org.
Adopt-a-Trail Program
This program is designed for volunteers to help maintain the 17 miles of hiking trails on Shirley Heinze Land Trust nature preserves. Individuals, families, or groups agree to maintain a section of trail at one of the preserves. Scouts, fraternities, sororities, and school groups are encouraged to participate. Volunteers are asked to make a 6-month commitment and may engage in the following activities:
- Walk the trail at least once a month
- Provide staff with routine updates on the current conditions and needs of the trail
- Pick up litter and debris
- Help maintain boardwalks, bridges, and benches
- Trim grass, brush, and low-hanging limbs
Preserve Steward
Volunteers are available to apply for the Preserve Steward program after completing 6 months of Adopt-a-Trail. Preserve Stewards assume oversight responsibility for a specific Shirley Heinze Land Trust preserve. We need preserve stewards at all of our preserves, but currently these have the biggest need: Ivanhoe South Nature Preserve in Gary, Gordon and Faith Greiner, and Cressmoor Prairie Nature Preserves in Hobart, John Merle Coulter Nature Preserve in Portage, and the Little Calumet River Project Area in Chesterton.
Stewards may engage in some of the following activities:
- Visit and monitor sites
- Help maintain trails and parking lots
- Assist with ecological management (requires training)
- Remove invasive species
- Monitor and report native species, interesting plants, birds, frogs, etc.
- Collect and distribute native seeds, plant trees, etc.
- Participate in workdays, events, and training opportunities associated with the preserve
If you are interested in any of these opportunities or have questions, please contact us at volunteer@heinzetrust.org or 219-242-8558.