Volunteer Opportunities
Note: Conditions sometimes change, so for activities that do not require registration or a sign-up, be sure to check with the event contact person before heading to the event!
Registration for Project AWARE is now open! This annual weeklong canoeing / camping / river clean-up targets a different waterway in Iowa each year. This year’s event runs July 9-14 and targets the Iowa River between Tama/Toledo and the Kosta Access near Marengo. Canoe Rental and meals are covered by registration fee. Educational programs are offered in the evenings. Do a day or the whole week. Registration closes April 15. to register, or for more info, go to: https://www.iowaprojectaware.org/the-cleanup/
Sun, April 2 9:00AM-10:30 AM Brush clearing at the Sycamore Greenway in Iowa City. Join other IMN grads and friends to remove invasive plants from the Sycamore Greenway. To sign up or for more info, go to https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10c0f48acab2fa4fdc25-brush3#/
Sun April 16, 10:30 AM-12:00 Noon Iowa Master Naturalists biannual roadside clean up. Join fellow IMN grads to clean up our adopted stretch of Highway 151 between the south side of (main) Amana between and the Iowa river. After the clean-up, we will get together for lunch at one of Amana’s fine restaurants. Anyone is welcome to join us for this event. Safety vests and trash bags will be provided by the county. You will want to dress for the weather, wear sturdy shoes, and bring gloves and a “trash-grabber” if you have one. Thanks to Justin Voss (IMN Grad 2015) for organizing this event! For more details, or to sign up email info@iowamasternaturalists.org
Sun April 16 9:00AM-10:30 AM Brush clearing at the Sycamore Greenway in Iowa City. Join other IMN grads and friends to remove invasive plants from the sycamore Greenway. To sign up or for more info, go to https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10c0f48acab2fa4fdc25-brush3#/
Sat, April 17, 9:00 AM-Noon Pick up litter on various sections of the Heritage Trail in Dubuque County in this event sponsored by Dubuque County Conservation. To register or for more info, go to: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/parks-trail-trash-cleanup-tickets-565136587747?aff=ebdsoporgprofile
Fri, April 21 12:00 noon-4:00 PM Earth Day Trash Bash at Fort Des Moines Park in Des Moines. Celebrate Earth Day by Joining Polk County Conservation and the Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation to pick up litter at Fort Des Moines Park. To register, or for more details, go to : https://www.inhf.org/events/eid/31c8bedfa3f07001/partner-events/earth-day-trash-bash-2023/
Sat, Apr 22, 9:00 AM-11:00 AM Trash Bash on the Trail: Pick up trash along the high trestle trail in Boone county with Boone County Conservation, Friends of the Trail at Grants Woods Park, and the Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation. To register, or for more info, go to: https://www.inhf.org/events/eid/e1762b5fcdedaca7/volunteer/earth-day-trash-bash-on-the-trail-boone-county/
Sat, April 22 Two shifts:10 AM-12:00 and/or 12:00 noon- 2:00 PM staff the IMN table at Eco Fest in Cedar Rapids. To volunteer, or for more info, contact Elisabeth at info@iowamasternaturalists.org
Sat, Ap 29 8:00 AM-10 AM Removing litter from along the banks of local waterways creates a safer environment for all living things, so join in the Catfish Creek Watershed Clean-up. This event, sponsored by Dubuque County Conservation and the Dubuque Metro Solid Waste agency will target public areas along Bankston Park, Lower Bee Branch Creek, and Gillespie Hill to Sageville on the Little Maquoketa. For more info, or to sign up go to: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/copy-of-dubuque-county-watershed-cleanup-tickets-602779899907?aff=ebdsoporgprofile
Sat May 13 10:00 AM-12:00 PM Garlic Mustard Pull and Pesto Tasting at Cangleska Wakan (4045 245th St NE Solon, IA 52333) Help pull invasive garlic mustard then sample it in pesto and learn about other culinary uses for this unfortunately ubiquitous plant. To register or for more info go to: https://www.mycountyparks.com/County/Johnson/Park/JOHNSON-COUNTY-EDUCATION-PROGRAMS/Events/22597/Garlic-Mustard-Pick-nic.aspx
Volunteer Opportunities that are not strictly date dependent:
A number of natural areas in Story County are up for “adoption”, including CJ Shrek Access and various sections of Hickory Grove. Adopters remove litter and monitor the area for problems at least once a month. Equipment and supplies are provided. For more information, or to register your adoption, go to : https://www.cervistech.com/acts/console.php?console_id=0342&console_type=event&ht=1
Story County Conservation is looking for volunteers to transfer archived photos from CDs to an external hard drive. Volunteers would also label photos by contents/category and organize them to make the photos easily accessible when staff is searching photos of a given subject. The volunteer would initially use a work center at the Story County Nature Center at McFarland Park, but taking work home might be a possibility. To apply to participate in this project, go to: https://www.cervistech.com/acts/console.php?console_id=0342&console_type=event&ht=1
Story county conservation is looking for reliable volunteers to water newly-planted trees at Dakins Lake in Zearing. Twenty trees must be watered 2-3 times per week after they are planted in mid-May until October. A single volunteer doesn’t have to do every watering, but it is important that volunteers do the waterings they schedule themselves to do. Seeing a grove of trees you’ve nurtured as saplings is a wonderfully satisfying experience! To sign up or for more info, go to:https://www.cervistech.com/acts/console.php?console_id=0342&console_type=event&ht=1
Iowa Master Naturalists 