Every Share Helps!

Interested in conservation volunteering but can’t afford, or don’t want to go abroad? No problem! Here’s a look at a just a few of the organizations available in the United States!

American Conservation Experience

The American Conservation Experience is a nonprofit organization which is focused on allowing American and international volunteers to experience challenging outdoor projects in many of America’s National Parks, forests, and wilderness areas throughout the United States. Projects are focused on restoring America’s most beautiful natural areas. The American Conservation Experience is challenging and offers a diverse, positive experience for ecological and environmentally minded persons.

Past projects have included working on the creation and maintenance of trails, rock work, and ecological restoration including re-vegetation and rehabilitation. 

Duration: 12 weeks or longer

Locations: Arizona, California, Nevada, New Mexico, and Utah

For more information, check out:  www.usaconservation.org

American Hiking Society

The American Hiking Society is an organization dedicated to hikers and the trails they are able to enjoy in the United States. 

The organization maintains 3 pillars:

1. Public policy and advocacy
2. Volunteerism and stewardship
3. Outreach and education

Volunteers Vacations allow individuals to partake in a series of trail building projects on America’s public lands. Trips include backpacking, hiking, and trail creation and rehabilitation, and typical camp chores and maintenance. Projects are rated on a fitness level, so there are options for everyone. Alternative Break programs are available for colleges and universities.

Duration: 1 week

Location: across the United States

For more information, check out:  www.americanhiking.org

Catalina Island Conservancy

The Catalina Island Conservancy is a private nonprofit organization which works for the responsibility of humans to the land by conservation, education, and recreation in the island of Catalina. Volunteers work towards the conservation of Catalina, including land, water, and the protection of endangered animals. 

Volunteers can sign up to work in a group or as individuals. Previous group volunteers have included the Sierra Club, Alternative Spring Break Programs, and AmeriCorps NCCC. 

Volunteer work for groups includes:

• Trail maintenance and construction
• Fence building, island maintenance
• Non-native plant removal
• Nurturing of native vegetation 

Volunteer work for individuals includes:

• Working in the plant nursery
• Maintaining fire enclosures
• Beach clean-ups
• Administrative assistance
• Visitor information
• Invasive weed removal
• Photography/artistry

Duration: One day+

Location: Catalina Island, California

For more information, check out: www.catalinaconservancy.org

Grand Canyon Trust

The Grand Canyon Trust is a nonprofit conservation organization focused on the collaborative, common sense solutions to problems plaguing the Grand Canyon area’s natural resources, from Arizona to Colorado to Utah.

Their work ranges from science-based conservation research and restoration to non-native species removal, botanical inventory, attempting to eliminate the human impact on the natural landscapes, and traditional Native American gardening and farming.  Specific projects for volunteers include beaver restoration, plant identification, assessing habitat conditions at the end of livestock grazing seasons, resorting cultural and ecological scenic value to the vast landscape, building fences, and controlling erosion. There are a variety of trips available for volunteers who differ in physical capabilities, ranging from easy to challenging. 

Duration: 1-9 days

Location: Greater Grand Canyon area

For more information, check out: www.grandcanyontrust.org

Have you worked on a conservation project in the U.S. or abroad? Post your experiences below!

Images courtesy of Wikimedia Commons and creative commons, YoUtUt.