Volunteer Opportunities on the Hiawatha
Volunteers contribute their time and expertise in many ways on
the Hiawatha National Forest. Whether you're interested in fisheries
or environmental education, mountain bike trails or native plants
-- or many things in between! -- there is likely a volunteer opportunity
awaiting you here!
Current opportunities available include:
Munising Ranger District
For more information or to volunteer for any of these opportunities, please contact Autumn at 906-387-2512, ext 11.
Name of Project or Activity |
|
How many volunteers needed? |
|
|
# of days per week |
|
Adopt-A-CampSite |
Adopt one or more dispersed recreation campsites on the district. This involves keeping track of use and picking up the site when no on is there. |
1-10 |
No special skills required. |
May 15 – September 15 |
1 |
Must provide own transportation |
Adopt- a- Forest Area or Road |
Trash pick up and light maintenance on certain forest areas and roads |
Unlimited |
None |
Snow free season |
Optional |
Individuals and organizations will receive a sign marking their adopted area |
Adopt areas for pulling Nonnative Invasive species. |
Pull weeds in specific problem areas in wilderness, CRNA or other special areas. |
1-20 |
Identifying NNIS plants |
July/August before plants seed |
1-4 |
Training may be required. NNIS plants must be bagged. |
Sharptail Census |
Count breeding sharp-tailed grouse |
1 |
Good vision, hearing |
April-May |
2 |
Work alone |
KW |
Search for breeding male Kirtland’s warblers |
1 |
Good vision, hearing |
May-June |
2 |
Work alone |
Breeding Bird Census |
Breeding bird point counts along established driving routes
|
1 |
Good hearing, knowledge of bird calls |
May-June |
2 |
Work alone |
Grand Island Bears |
Assist with trapping and recording movements of black bears on Grand Island . |
1 |
Experience with radio telemetry |
June-Sept. |
4 |
Work alone |
Winter track surveys |
Identify and record tracks of selected furbearers |
1 |
Use of snowshoes or skis |
Dec. -March |
2 |
Work alone |
Beech Bark Disease (BBD) Monitoring |
Search for and report new incidents of BBD across HNF and adjacent ownerships. |
Unlimited |
Identifying Beech species and BBD complex, reporting, probably driving, |
Year-round but especially when crawlers are active (fall) |
optional |
Ability and commitment to disinfect self when BBD is encountered. FS vehicles not available, and no budget for funding mileage or stipend. |
Planting trees in special areas |
Hand-planting small trees in special areas like road cuts, OHV rehabilitation areas, abandoned utility lines, obliterated roads, etc. |
Unlimited if we have available stock. |
Tree planting and stock handling. |
Late April through early June |
Weekdays, some weekends |
FS vehicles not available. May be able to provide mileage or small stipend. |
Monitor ash seed |
Search for seed-bearing ash trees and report areas where collections would be easy. Collect Ash seed when ripe from approved trees. |
Unlimited |
Identifying Ash species, reporting, probably driving, |
Summer & Fall |
optional |
FS vehicles not available, and no budget for funding mileage or stipend. |
Reforestation surveys |
Collect data with a FS seasonal employee on seedling counts and survival. |
1-2 |
Identifying tree species, reporting |
May through August |
Weekdays only |
Rides in FS vehicle and works full 8-10 hour days. Stipend or housing possible. |
Monitor bough collection or collection of special ground plants. |
Monitor the general forest for the collection of special-use products like boughs, Lycopodium, cones, etc., for over harvesting or poor harvesting practices. |
Unlimited |
Driving and observing but not interfering |
Fall and early winter |
optional |
FS vehicles not available, and no budget for funding mileage or stipend. |
TSI or pruning |
Prune or release trees. Might be good for BSA projects near the BSA camp. |
Unlimited |
Identifying tree species, hand tools for cutting |
3-season |
optional |
FS vehicles not available, and no budget for funding mileage or stipend. |
Treatment history transfer |
Updating history databases with activities prior to 1979 from paper maps |
1-2 |
Computer database skills, GIS skills preferred. |
Year-round |
optional |
Willing to train. Stipend or housing possible. Needs security training and affidavit for computer use. |
Garlic mustard pull |
Hand pull garlic mustard and monitor past work. |
12 |
General plant ID |
June 19-21 |
6 hrs per day |
Organized event |
Garlic mustard pull |
Hand pull garlic mustard |
12 |
General plant ID |
Seasonal |
Optional |
Will require some training |
GI weed pull and native seeding |
Hand pull NNIS from sensitive areas on GI and seed |
6-8 |
General plant ID |
July 24-26 |
8 hrs per day |
Organized event |
Bay Furnace Native Plant Restoration |
Native plant re-establishment |
6 |
General plant ID |
June 11 |
6 hrs |
Organized event |
Stone Quarry Native Plant Restoration |
Native plant re-establishment around cabin |
4-5 |
General plant ID |
July 9 |
6 hrs |
Organized event |
Native Plant Garden |
General garden work (weeding, watering, collection seed, etc.) |
4-6 |
General plant ID |
May – Sept. |
At least one day per week |
Can work alone or in pairs |
National Public Lands Day |
Collect Native Switch grass seed |
10-15 |
General Plant ID |
Public lands day |
4 hrs |
Organized event |
Visitor center |
Greet visitors and answer questions, sell HIA merchandise |
1-2 |
Some customer service experience |
year round possible but mainly May - Sept. |
One day per week required |
Requires extensive training. Volunteer must be willing to commit to at least 4 months
|
Roving interpretation |
Spend time in Campgrounds answering questions and providing programs or giving guided nature walks |
1-2 |
Interpretive training and experience required |
June – Sept |
Optional |
Must provide own transportation. Some training may be required. |
Youth symposium |
Set survey nets in Petes Lake |
2 |
Physically fit |
May 11-12 |
8 hrs |
Organized event |
Rock River Canyon Wilderness |
Monitor activities in RRCW document use and any nonconforming uses.
|
1-2 |
Hiking, using maps. |
May 15 – Nov. 14 |
1 |
Some training may be required |
Monitor road closures |
Check gates and berms on closed roads to see if closures are still effective. Also document any illegal OHV use. |
1-2 |
Map reading. |
Anytime during the snow free season |
Flexible |
FS Vehicle may not be available |
Trail Maintenance |
Brushing, trimming, sign repair and other light maintenance of trails |
2-4 |
|
Seasonal |
Optional |
Equipment training required |
Rapid River/Manistique Ranger District
For more information or to volunteer for any of these opportunities, please contact the individuals listed in the last column.
Name of project or activity |
Brief Description |
How many volunteers needed? |
Skills Required |
Time Frame
|
# of days per week |
Special Instructions |
Supervisor
/FS Contact
|
Beech Bark Disease (BBD) Monitoring |
Search for and report new incidents of BBD across HNF and adjacent ownerships. |
Unlimited |
Identifying Beech species and BBD complex, reporting, probably driving, |
Year-round but especially when crawlers are active (fall) |
optional |
Ability and commitment to disinfect self when BBD is encountered. FS vehicles not available, and no budget for funding mileage or stipend. |
Tom at
906-474-6442
OR
Tim, Lauri or Gerred at
906-387-2512 |
Planting trees in special areas |
Hand-planting small trees in special areas like road cuts, OHV rehabilitation areas, abandoned utility lines, obliterated roads, etc. |
Unlimited if we have available stock. |
Tree planting and stock handling. |
Late April through early June |
Weekdays, some weekends |
FS vehicles not available. May be able to provide mileage or small stipend. |
Tom at
906-474-6442
OR
Tim, Lauri or Gerred at
906-387-2512 |
Beech Bark Disease (BBD) Monitoring |
Search for and report new incidents of BBD across HNF and adjacent ownerships. |
Unlimited |
Identifying Beech species and BBD complex, reporting, probably driving, |
Year-round but especially when crawlers are active (fall) |
optional |
Ability and commitment to disinfect self when BBD is encountered. FS vehicles not available, and no budget for funding mileage or stipend. |
Tom at
906-474-6442
OR
Tim, Lauri or Gerred at
906-387-2512 |
Planting trees in special areas |
Hand-planting small trees in special areas like road cuts, OHV rehabilitation areas, abandoned utility lines, obliterated roads, etc. |
Unlimited if we have available stock. |
Tree planting and stock handling. |
Late April through early June |
Weekdays, some weekends |
FS vehicles not available. May be able to provide mileage or small stipend. |
Tom at
906-474-6442
OR
Tim, Lauri or Gerred at
906-387-2512 |
Monitor ash seed |
Search for seed-bearing ash trees and report areas where collections would be easy. Collect Ash seed when ripe from approved trees. |
Unlimited |
Identifying Ash species, reporting, probably driving, |
Summer & Fall |
optional |
FS vehicles not available, and no budget for funding mileage or stipend. |
Tom at
906-474-6442
OR
Tim, Lauri or Gerred at
906-387-2512 |
Monitor butternut trees and fruits |
Search for Butternut trees and also seed-bearing Butternuts and report. Collect nuts when ripe from approved trees. |
Unlimited |
Identifying Butternut trees, reporting, probably driving, |
Year-round for finding trees, Fall for collecting nuts |
optional |
FS vehicles not available, and no budget for funding mileage or stipend. |
Tom at
906-474-6442
OR
Tim, Lauri or Gerred at
906-387-2512 |
TSI or pruning |
Prune or release trees. Might be good for BSA projects near the BSA camp. |
Unlimited |
Identifying tree species, hand tools for cutting |
3-season |
optional |
FS vehicles not available, and no budget for funding mileage or stipend. |
Tom at
906-474-6442
OR
Tim, Lauri or Gerred at
906-387-2512 |
St. Ignace/Sault Ste. Marie Ranger District
For more information or to volunteer for any of these opportunities, please contact the number listed with each.
Name of project or activity |
Brief Description |
How many volunteers needed? |
Skills Required |
Time Frame
|
# of days per week |
Special Instructions |
|
None available at this time! Check back! |
|
|
|
|
|
Hiawatha National Forest Forest-wide
For more information or to volunteer for any of these opportunities, please call 906-786-4062
Name of project or activity |
Brief Description |
How many volunteers needed? |
Skills Required |
Time Frame |
# of days per week |
Special Instructions |
|
None available at this time! Check back! |
|
|
|
|
|
If you don't see the opportunity you're looking for listed here, please feel free to directly contact the District that interests you and inquire about other possibilities!
INDEPTH: Volunteering on the Hiawatha
Hiawatha National Forest, located in the beautiful upper peninsula
of Michigan, is a favorite place for many outdoor enthusiasts. Summer
or winter, recreation opportunities abound on the National Forest,
attracting visitors from around the country.
Perhaps due to the scenic beauty and recreation opportunities,
many people also enjoy volunteering on the Forest. Each year,
the Forest hosts a variety of volunteers. Some are local individuals
and groups who want to support a particular recreation opportunity
or management effort. Other volunteers are new to the area, but
very often they are people who have visited here before and feel
compelled to donate their time to help maintain a trail, campground
or other resource that interests them.
Recreation volunteers often volunteer to brush trails, assist
in our visitor center, or help in Wilderness patrols. Some individuals
have acted as trail rangers on Grand Island. Another organization
(Friends of Valley Spur) formed specifically to help support and
maintain the Valley Spur Trail System (skiing and mountain biking).
In the area of resource management, volunteers have participated
in a variety of projects. For example, several individuals have
worked with US Forest Service fisheries biologists to support fish
stocking, while the local Lions Club built an accessible fishing
piers. Others have assisted with bird surveys.
Another example of resource volunteers is the group of individuals
who have helped with botany programs. Projects have included native
plant garden maintenance, seed gathering, and removal of invasive
plants.
Adopt-A-Forest/Adopt-A-Road is another volunteer opportunity. Similar
to Michigan's adopt-a-highway trash pick-up program, Adopt-A-Forest
program allows volunteer individuals and groups to adopt a segment
of Forest road or trail, or even a recreation site. They're then
responsible for litter pick-up at least twice a year. Signs recognizing
the adopters are posted on either end of the adopted road segment.
National Public Lands Day, held annually in September, offers
another opportunity for volunteers to get involved. NPLD activities,
often coordinated at the district level, have ranged from trash
pick-up to native seed collection to removal of non-native plants.
How do you decide what's for you? Often it works best for an
individual to consider her abilities and interests first and foremost. Do
you enjoy indoor work or outdoor labor? Are you good with people? Or
maybe you're better suited to a resource oriented task? Is there
a particular trail or location that you want to support?
Once you've thought about your interests and abilities, contact
the District Office. You'll be able to talk with staff who can
suggest what opportunities are available and determine whether
there is a volunteer opportunity that fits you.
Once you and the Forest Service staff have agreed upon a project,
they will have you sign a simple volunteer agreement which describes
the project and the responsibilities of both parties. The Forest
is adamant about safety issues, so expect to cover those concerns,
too.
If it should happen that there is NOT a volunteer opportunity
available that meets your needs, don't lose heart: Check back
periodically, since new projects and needs arise continually.
What sort of time commitment is necessary? Volunteer activities
are available to meet a wide range of time constraints. Some events,
like a National Public Lands Day event, might be very time specific
and brief. Other volunteer projects might take one or two days
of work. Occasionally, needs are seasonal or yearround. So no
matter how much or little time you want to commit to volunteering
on the Forest, there is likely something that meets your schedule.
What are the benefits of volunteering? Since most volunteers
offer their time to projects that they're passionate about, often
the biggest reward is the satisfaction of involvement. Volunteerism
is a great way to learn the importance of community involvement,
to meet people who share your interests, and to spend time working
outdoors.
In addition, each year the Forest recognizes its volunteers. Each
district does things a bit differently, but the message is the
same: We appreciate all the hours, efforts and enthusiasm you
dedicate to caring for your National Forest!
So if you've got some free time and the desire to contribute to
the Hiawatha National Forest, consider volunteering. District
staffs look forward to talking with you about what opportunities
might be available in their area, so give us a call!
Volunteering in the Forest Service's Eastern Region
Public involvement plays
an important part in managing our national forest lands. Many Region
9 forests, grasslands, and prairies rely more and more on volunteers
to assist with campgrounds and other programs. Concerned citizens
help the forest to provide better wildlife habitat, identify and
preserve historic sites, and build and maintain trails. We extend
a warm welcome to all who wish to volunteer on Region 9 Forests,
Grasslands, Prairies.
Volunteer Opportunities Include (but not limited to):
- Campground Hosts
- Trail Construction
- Litter Pick-Up
|
