From State Parks to the Superior National Forest, public lands make up a large portion of Minnesota's northwoods. People travel from near and far to visit the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness and the waterfalls of north shore of Lake Superior, to hike, paddle, camp, hunt and fish, ski and snowmobile. By getting involved with stewardship activities, either through participating in a volunteer project or making a donation, you can help ensure that these public lands are preserved for the enjoyment of future generations.

“America must not neglect its heritage of the outdoors--for that heritage offers physical, spiritual, and educational benefits, which not only provide a better environment but help to achieve other national goals by adding to the health of the nation.”

-OUTDOOR RECREATION FOR AMERICA: REPORT TO THE PRESIDENT AND TO CONGRESS BY THE OUTDOOR RECREATION RESOURCES REVIEW COMMISSION, 1962

Donate

If you are able, would you consider donating $5 or more today? It’s been an especially challenging year and now more than ever your donations allow us to continue to offer volunteer opportunities into the future that benefit forest health and promote recreation in northeastern Minnesota.

Northwoods Connection Volunteer Opportunities

Whether you have few hours or a few days, you can make a difference volunteering in the Superior National Forest area. NVC has recreational and wilderness area projects planned each year in partnership with the US Forest Service. We also can help connect you to one of the many area trail groups or organizations making a difference in the Superior National Forest.

Multi-day Wilderness Volunteer Projects

With COVID restrictions loosing in MN we will proceed with caution for 2021. Because of ongoing health & safety concerns, our multiday projects will be geared towards family, household or social bubble groups. Interested groups, please contact us. Here is a sampling of projects postponed in 2021:

• Sioux Hustler Trail- 4-5 volunteers paddle in to access parts of the trail for clearing, brushing, and trail tread (available Sept 9th - 7th, 2021). 

Add’l Projects postponed in 2020 to be scheduled in the future.

• Bass Lake Trail- Brushing, clearing, tread work- 2 days for up to 8 volunteers.

• Brule Lake Trail- Brushing, clearing, tread work, Fishhook Lake campsite clearing and brushing 2 night/3 day camp at Fishhook Lake- up to 8 volunteers.

• Little Rice Lake Boardwalk repair and extension.

OFF TRAIL volunteer opportunities with NVC:

Want to to be on a crew without lacing up some boots & handling a lopper? Ask us about connecting on as an active board member and/or joining a committee using your talents to make a difference -

• Finance and Fundraising

• Communications, Marketing, Newsletters & Social Media

• Programs & Projects

• Volunteer Connections

Email: Kmiller@mnnvc.org

OTHER REGIONAL VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES

Banadad Trail clearinG

20+ miles of single tracked xc ski trail, most of it through the BWCA. Contact NVC at our volunteer button above or contact the Banadad Trail Association (BTA). Annual clearing event scheduled each October.

Border Route Trail Association

The wilderness sections of the Border Route Trail run above and along several border lakes and provide spectacular overlooks to those lakes. Trail clearing consists of removing brush and downed trees and in the wilderness is done with hand tools: crosscut saws, loppers, and scythes. The Border Route Trail is a 65-mile long hiking trail that crosses the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (BWCAW) in the far northeast corner of Minnesota (Arrowhead) and follows the international border between Minnesota and Ontario, Canada. It connects with the Superior Hiking Trail on its eastern terminus and with the Kekekabic Trail on its western end at the Gunflint Trail (Cook Cty Road 12). 

12/2020 Currently Seeking Two Trail Directors (volunteer positions):

• Mechanized Trail Director Board Member

• Wilderness Trail Director Board Member

Contact NVC or BRT directly for full job descriptions or to check on other current volunteer needs.

SUPERIOR HIKING TRAIL ASSOCIATION Volunteer Projects

The 300+ Superior Hiking Trail, also known as the SHT, in northeastern Minnesota that follows the rocky ridges overlooking Lake Superior for most of its length travels through forests of birch, aspen, pine, fir, and cedar. Contact NVC for clearing sections in Cook County or visit the SHTA site directly below.

MPCA Citizen Water Monitoring

The MPCA’s Citizen Water Monitoring Programs provide a unique opportunity for people across the state to monitor the water quality of their favorite lake or stream with no prior experience needed – just a love of water. Volunteers can even return to the same lake or stream and monitor it year after year, summer after summer.  Citizen water monitors provide a level of consistency in data collection that is unsurpassed, and the depth of knowledge they gain through the program is incredibly valuable to lake and stream management initiatives at the state and local level.

Furthermore, citizens don’t just collect data, they help state and local groups achieve results. Citizen-collected data help identify and restore polluted waters across the state. They also kick start local initiatives like shoreline restoration or stormwater cleanup projects.  In Minnesota, citizen-collected water quality data is both empowering and effective.

With 69,000 miles of rivers and over 12,000 lakes, Minnesota needs more volunteer monitors across the state to help track the health of our waters. No prior experience or training is required, and MPCA provides all the necessary equipment and training free of charge.

Visit the Citizen Water Monitoring Program website for more details and to sign up!