The Northwoods Volunteer Connection is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization, created on June 10, 2014. We are dedicated to recruiting, training and delivering volunteers to work on projects within or near the Superior National Forest in northeastern Minnesota.
The idea of a volunteer coordinating organization came from a local canoe outfitter, a retired Forest Service District Ranger, and a local US Forest Service staff person. They each saw a possibility for linking the untapped resource of potential volunteers with the backlog of deferred maintenance work and other underfunded projects. A steering committee was formed consisting of US Forest Service personnel, wilderness outfitters, non-profit environmental educators, motorized and non-motorized club members, forest scientists and forest users. The steering committee worked for nearly a year to build a consensus among a broad range forest interests on the goals of this organization.
Mission: To promote stewardship of the Superior National Forest by engaging volunteers and partner organizations in recreation and natural resource projects.
Find our most recent newsletter here.
MEET THE TEAM
Kim tri - 2021 NVC Crew Leader
Crew leader Kim Tri is a Minnesota native originally hailing from Rochester. She has an undergraduate degree in Conservation Ecology from Sterling College in Vermont, with an aim to a graduate degree in Water Resources. Kim has worked the gamut of natural resource jobs, from stream and wildlife surveys to invasive species treatment and prescribed fire, in states throughout the West. Trail work was her first love in the world of environmental stewardship, and she is very happy to be back working on trails in her beloved home state. She loves to spend time outside foraging, trail running, and nature sketching, among other things. We are pleased to have Kim return for her third season with Northwoods Volunteer Connection!
Karla Miller - Executive Director
Duluth, MN
As the Executive Director of the Northwoods Volunteer Connection, Karla coordinates with the US Forest Service and other partner organizations to plan and schedule projects in addition to recruiting and organizing volunteers. Her prior career was in banking but she has been a lifelong outdoor enthusiast and ambassador with an avid volunteer history including clearing trails, removing invasive species, building bridges, Citizen Scientist Phenology and the Northwoods Great Lakes Master Naturalist program.
Karla lives in Duluth with her husband Dale and is often found on a trail with her dog Inde - hiking, snowshoeing, xc skiing, or canoeing in beautiful NE MN.
John Wytanis - Board Chair
Tofte, MN
After 32 years with the US Forest Service, John retired in 2013 having last served as Tofte District Ranger on the Superior National Forest. Since retirement, John spends as much time as he can outdoors enjoying more fishing, hiking, camping, skiing, sailing, and volunteering for just about any cause or need. His latest volunteer endeavor is working to get Northwoods Volunteer Connection up and running as a viable partner organization in northeast Minnesota, connecting public land managers and potential volunteers to get needed work done on our public lands.
Sandy Skrien - Board Member
Duluth, MN
Retired Wilderness Program Manager USDA Forest Service
Sandy is retired from the US Forest Service as the National Program Manager for Wilderness for the Forest Service in Washington DC after 40 plus years with the agency. Sandy served on and chaired the Interagency Wilderness Steering Committee working with counterpart in the BLM, NPS, FWS and USGS and the Directors of the Arthur Carhart Interagency Wilderness Training Center and the Aldo Leopold Interagency Wilderness Research Institute in Missoula, MT. She also served as the advisor to the Chief’s Wilderness Advisory Group.
Sandy grew up near the BWCAW on the Canadian border in Minnesota and began her career on the Superior National Forest writing wilderness permits, working as a wilderness ranger, winter and summer trails crews and YCC crew leader. She spent 20 years on the Tongass National Forest working in two large visitor centers and on two districts as recreation, wilderness, land and minerals staff officer. She returned to the Superior to be the Public Service Team Leader for eight years before serving in the Washington Office.
She has a BS in Biology, a minor in Environmental Studies from St. Cloud State University and an emphasis in secondary education. A lifelong learner, she completed post graduate classes in several states and completed a two-year lay ministry course in the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America. She has served as a lay minister and music minister in three ELCA congregations in Alaska and Minnesota.
Sandy’s lives in Minnesota with her husband Wayne and yellow labs Cedar and Juniper. They have children, grandchildren and great grandchildren in various states. Sandy and her husband enjoy boating, fishing, gardening and wood carving.
AndY Jenks -SECRETARY/TREASURER
Stillwater, MN
Andy serves on the Board of the Northwood Volunteer Connection and has over 40 years’ experience in outdoor navigation. Andy teaches graduate and undergraduate courses at the University in Geographic Information Systems (GPS) and Global Position Systems (GPS). Andy serves as the President of the Banadad Trail Association, a major cross-country ski trail along the Gunflint Trail near Grand Marais, MN. Andy also is avid wilderness paddler and kayaker with many wilderness trips in the US and Canada. Andy also serves on the Board of the John Francis Foundation, a non-profit which focused on wilderness safety education and rescue.
Chris Johnson - Board Member
Savage, MN
Chris works in the IT industry as a technical project manager. She enjoys fishing, hiking, gardening and other projects/activities that provide opportunities to spend time outdoors. Chris is especially fond of Northeast MN and enjoys spending time on the Gunflint Trail. Chris previously volunteered on trail maintenance projects with Northwoods Volunteer Connection and the Banadad Trail Association