- Phone: 302-654-4707
- Email: devolunteer@tnc.org
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Get Involved with Delaware
Thank you for your interest in dedicating your time to conserving nature! Find volunteer work or sign up to become a volunteer by filling out the short interest form below.
Current Volunteer Openings
There is more than one way to volunteer for The Nature Conservancy in Delaware. In addition to participating in scheduled volunteer events and work days, we have several ongoing volunteer opportunities.
Trail Monitors
Trail monitor volunteers are needed to walk the trails on our Delaware Preserves, tend to light trail clearing, and notify us of any large, downed trees or other issues that need attention.
Volunteers will use their smartphones or tablets to connect to the Preserve Monitoring App and track their visits.
More details are available on the Preserve Monitoring Information Sheet.
Please fill out our interest form and select “Outdoor Opportunities (Field Work, Monitoring, Research)” to sign up or receive more information.
Please contact Molly Anderson with any questions.
Nature Advocates
We’re seeking advocacy volunteers as the new legislative session in Dover kicks off for 2023.
Volunteers can help influence and shape the Delaware policies needed to create a future in which people and nature thrive.
No experience is necessary and we will provide all the tools. Learn more about our public policy agenda today.
Please fill out our interest form and select “Policy/Advocacy Opportunities” to sign up or receive more information.
Photographers/ Videographers
We are always seeking volunteer photographers and videographers to help us capture the beauty of Delaware, the biodiversity of our preserves, and our work across the state.
Volunteers will have the opportunity to have their work showcased on our social media channels, webpages, and publications with content credit.
If you’re interested in volunteering your time and skills, please fill out our interest form below and indicate “photography and/or videography” in the “Interests/Skills” section.
Stream Stewards
If you’re passionate about watershed protection and willing to commit time each month to volunteer, then consider the Stream Stewards project.
You don’t need a scientific background, just a willingness to learn about data collection methods and stream health.
Stream Stewards will:
- Learn about watershed ecology
- Be trained in water quality monitoring and data collection techniques
- Connect with nature in First State National Historical Park
- Contribute to conservation and natural resource management
- Become Community Scientists
- Join a diverse community of volunteers and stewardship leaders
For more information about becoming a Stream Steward, contact Stream Steward Project Manager, Kim Hachadoorian.
Social Media Ambassadors
Social media ambassadors help us reach new audiences and spread the word about our work in Delaware.
Ambassadors are needed to tag us in photos at our preserves on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.
Ambassadors will have the opportunity to have their content showcased on our social media channels, webpages, and publications with content credit.
We are also seeking assistance with reposting and resharing our content on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.
Contact devolunteer@tnc.org for more information about current opportunities or fill out the interest form below to receive regular updates.
Guide to iNaturalist
Join a growing group of community scientists using our iNaturalist fact sheet.
Become A Community Scientist
We are creating a community science database of all kinds of life—from lichens to ants, mushrooms to plants, birds to mammals and everything in between for our preserves in Pennsylvania and Delaware.
TNC's roots began with local citizens and scientists concerned about special places and species. That legacy continues today. Across our lands, we are utilizing iNaturalist—a digital platform that gives users an opportunity to share and discuss their findings.
Of the 14 preserve projects in iNaturalist, nine have observations recorded; help us increase that number and our understanding of the species—good and bad, native as well as invasive—that can be found on TNC lands across the state. This information can also help guide and inform our conservation staff's management and monitoring decisions.
Get Started
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- Woodbourne Forest & Wildlife Preserve
- Chrome Barrens Preserve
- Eales Preserve at Moosic Mountain
- Hamer Woodlands at Cove Mountain
- Florence Shelly Wetlands Preserve
- Thomas Darling Preserve
- Long Pond Preserve and Hauser Nature Center
- Bristol Marsh Preserve
- Tannersville Cranberry Bog Preserve
- Brush Mountain
- Edward H. McCabe Preserve
- Harry and Mary Goering Preserve
- Pemberton Forest Preserve and Ponders Tract Trails
- West Branch Forest
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In this video tutorial, learn how to make an observation on iNaturalist using the mobile app. Watch now.
2023 Delaware Volunteer of the Year
Tracey Haines
Tracey Haines’ love of nature from a young age—and her recognition that it is under threat today—led to her interest in conservation and wanting to get involved with local organizations. “I’ve always appreciated nature and cherish it today as a place to de-stress, get some exercise, and admire the beauty of it all,” says Tracey. The Nature Conservancy is proud to present Tracey with the title of 2023 Delaware Volunteer of the Year thanks to her deep commitment to TNC whether leading guided hikes or assisting with preserve maintenance activities and trash cleanup events. “This volunteer work helps me to be ‘part of the solution’,” she adds.
After moving to southern Delaware a few years ago, Tracey began exploring TNC’s public preserves (McCabe and Ponders Tract) while simultaneously becoming a Delaware Master Naturalist. As Tracey learned more about conservation threats like loss of habitat and biodiversity to development, threats to our water and concerns about invasive species, she was intrigued to see the work TNC has been doing to respond to these various pressing challenges our environment is facing today.
Tracey has an affinity for the conservation and restoration efforts at the Ponders Tract of Permberton Forest Preserve. She says seeing these tangible efforts in “real time” helped her better understand conservation practices like using controlled burns to encourage growth of native species, many of which face threats from invasives and a changing climate.
“At Ponders Tract... I deeply value what TNC is doing there, in that an old logging site is being turned back into a mixed hardwood forest,” Tracey observes. “It’s going to be so exciting to watch the great progress over the next years to come. It’s easy to already see the differences from the planted pines from logging times to the areas TNC has begun to restore. These changes are also providing important habitat for many species, including birds, bugs, amphibians, and other wildlife.”
After learning so much about TNC’s efforts at Ponders Tract, Tracey began volunteering to lead guided hikes to share her knowledge with others. “I really enjoyed leading a tour (and future tours!) there to share what I’ve learned and engage with interesting participants who asked great questions. Their questions challenged me to learn even more about the property and TNC efforts there,” she observed.
People give their time to assist TNC for numerous reasons and Tracey is no different. “One important motivator for volunteering is that I feel like I’m being a part of the solution to conservation challenges,” she notes. “Also, volunteering with TNC is a great way to meet wonderful and interesting people, including staff, volunteers, and event participants. I’m not retired yet but when I am I look forward to having even more time to volunteer with TNC!”
Please join us in congratulating Tracey as the 2023 Delaware Volunteer of the Year and be on the lookout for future guided hikes led by Tracey in southern Delaware.
