Have you ever volunteered for a community event? If so, you’re aware that this means you might be fulfilling any number of roles including pouring punch, stacking chairs, serving food, welcoming participants, tutoring, and many other things. The list goes on and on.
Over the past eight months, I’ve been fortunate enough to jump into volunteering through stewardship on our public lands. These stewardship events have provided me a chance to demonstrate my passion and appreciation of the land many of us utilize and enjoy. Some of the projects I’ve been on include spring monitoring, barbed wire fence removal, fence building, micro-debris pick up, campsite cleanup, picnic table painting, clearing overgrown brush, trail maintenance, and planting native species in fire damaged areas.
There are many reasons why I appreciate being a part of these projects. Here a few:
1.) Stewardship projects have allowed me to meet great people from all across northern Nevada who care just as much for their public lands as I do. We all understand that the work we are invested in is mutually beneficial for the survival and improvement of habitat for wildlife and for public land users, just like you and me. This develops a sense of pride in the area of the project and a sense of camaraderie with fellow volunteers.
2.) Volunteers (including me) get to go out in new areas and explore gorgeous places they have never been to before!
3.) Working to improve and conserve natural areas allows the opportunity for exploration and enjoyment of that land for future generations.
Through my involvement with these projects over the past field season, I have developed a strong appreciation of these lands. I have learned and seen first-hand the positive difference just a few volunteers can make. Volunteering in any capacity always helps to strengthen a community, whatever your role may be. So whether it’s making meals at your local soup kitchen, or planting bitterbrush on burned land, keep up the great work!
- Seafoam