The Lancaster Conservancy protects over 7,500 acres of land on 47 nature preserves spread over the Susquehanna Riverlands and Pennsylvania Highlands Conservation Landscapes in Lancaster and York Counties. We depend on volunteers to help protect and steward these preserves that are so critically important to both our human and ecological health. There are several ways for you to get involved and have a positive impact on our community!
Come out for a day of giving back to the land that gives so much to us. We host one volunteer day a month, usually a Saturday. Work is focused on a preserve management project like invasive plant removals, trail work, litter removal or tree care. No experience is necessary. This is a great way to give back to the preserves that give so much to us, without a long-term commitment of time. It’s also a great way to learn about the Conservancy’s work protecting land in our region and local ecological management.
You can find upcoming volunteer opportunities here or on our event page. If you plan to attend a volunteer day please be sure to sign up via Eventbrite so we can plan for your experience and send you logistical information!
Looking for a meaningful team building event for your corporation? How about a service project for your scout or community group? Look no further! We have plenty of opportunities for groups to engage with Lancaster Conservancy preserve service projects. Our corporate volunteer days can be combined with intentional team building activities and conversations to help your team work through challenges both on the preserve and back in the office. Our Scout and community group service days are combined with educational activities related to ecology, nature and ecosystem management. We review submissions on a weekly basis and will be in touch shortly! If you have any questions please contact Keith Williams, the Conservancy’s Community Engagement Coordinator at KWilliams@lancasterconservancy.org.
Our Volunteer Land Stewards adopt a preserve they look after. Each volunteer is trained in wilderness first aid, leave no trace, invasive plant removal, trail brushing and scouting, and other land management skills. Initial training is self-paced online and takes approximately 5 hours to complete. Once Volunteer Land Stewards complete training they adopt one of the Conservancy’s priority preserves and function as an extension of our stewardship team by accomplishing regular care taker tasks like invasive plant removal and trail maintenance, while reporting issues to our stewardship team. No experience is necessary! This is a wonderful way to directly contribute to the preservation of land and biodiversity in our region.
Apply below to join, or Contact Keith Williams, the Conservancies Community Engagement Coordinator for more details at kwilliams@lancasterconservancy.org.
Our preserves see thousands of visitors each year. Our outreach volunteers help those visitors have richer experiences on our preserves by reminding them of Leave No Trace principles, ensuring their safety and providing background information about the natural and human history protected by our preserves. Initial training is virtual and is a combination of self paced study and group zoom sessions. Once training is complete Outreach volunteers can choose the area or areas they would most like to work in whether that is tabling at our busiest preserves on weekends, representing the Conservancy at events, or assisting administratively in our office on weekends. This is a wonderful way to directly contribute to the work of the Lancaster Conservancy by informing and educating people about our work and the preserves they use. Fill out the application below to join, or Contact Keith Williams, the Conservancy’s Community Engagement Coordinator, at kwilliams@lancasterconservancy.org if you have any additional questions.
