Congratulations, class of 2015!
It’s official.Twenty-two new volunteers have joined the force… the Force of Nature®, that is!
Force of Nature is a comprehensive, hands-on training and service experience through which participants learn natural resource management and outreach skills from Natural Lands Trust’s experts, and then give back as a valued volunteer.
These dedicated individuals have learned about tree planting and care, habitat management, invasive plant species identification and removal, bluebird nest box monitoring, wildlife management, trail maintenance, habitat restoration, conservation strategies, and the history and policies of Natural Lands Trust. Each training session included a hands-on service-learning project. Constructing bee nest boxes was a favorite project, as volunteers hammered together lumber and drilled channels to attract native mason bees, which are important pollinators at Natural Lands Trust preserves and beyond.
The graduates–who hail from all five metro-Philadelphia counties–have pledged to serve 20 hours of volunteer service for NLT this calendar year. Several of them are already well on their way to achieving this!
“More than 60 years ago, a group of volunteers who were passionate about our region’s wild places founded Natural Lands Trust,” said Molly Morrison, president of Natural Lands Trust. “To honor their legacy, we established the Force of Nature volunteer program in 2011.”
In its first four years, more than 110 people have joined Force of Nature.
“I joined Force of Nature because I wanted to work outside helping our region’s open spaces and learn something in the process so I could improve my own backyard. But what I got was so much more!” said graduate Karen Heym. ” I have been so fortunate to meet so many amazing people and develop wonderful friendships with kindred spirits. And I am so happy to be part of a land conservation organization that offers so many opportunities for community involvement.”
The registration deadline for the 2016 class is August 1, 2015. Learn more and apply at natlands.org/volunteer or contact Debbie Beer, engagement manager, at 610-353-5587 ext 266.