How Do I Get Involved?
Big visions need a lot of people on the ground to contribute their energy to jobs that best suit their skills, ambitions, and joys. There is no shortage of opportunities for people of all backgrounds and experience levels to help create a bright future for nature in the Chicago region. Many don’t require much commitment, being one-time occasions that happen most any time of the day or week. But after trying a few workdays, many people “catch the bug” and take advantage of the many chances to become regular volunteers and even organizers.
Easy Ways to Start
Just want to help out, find a place to learn, or try something new?
Work Days
Pitch in at workdays — also called “work parties” for their frequently festive atmosphere — at preserves around the region. For a few hours, usually on the weekend, volunteers help cut and pull invasive plant species that would otherwise crowd out native plants and animals. Volunteers also collect and spread wild plant seed. Thanks to knowledgeable and helpful land stewards, a workday can be one of the best ways to learn first-hand about the plants and animals in your local preserve. Find a group near you at the Volunteer Stewardship Network.
Monitor
Be one of the “people who count” by learning to identify and monitor frogs, birds, plants, or butterflies. Check out habitatproject.org for opportunities.
Advocate
Help out a “Friends of” group, or start a new one. (These groups already exist: Friends of: the Parks (Chicago), the Forest Preserves (Cook County), the Chicago River, Morton Grove Forest Preserves, Busse Woods, Ryerson Woods.
Work within Sierra Club and Audubon chapters and other grassroots groups to organize Chicago Wilderness initiatives.
Build the Culture
Write articles, take photos, or make drawings for a newsletter — most organizations have one, and the editors will guide beginners who want to contribute.
Brainstorm
Join a Chicago Wilderness team. Though they are mostly made up of professionals and meet during work hours, they are open to any interested person who wants to think up new ways to accomplish big Chicago Wilderness goals. Someone who is available during those times might be an important liaison to the volunteer community. Read about some of the teams' major initiatives.
Avenues for Deeper Involvement
Want to do even more? Innovate. Organize. Initiate.
There is still a great need for new or expanded projects in the Chicago Wilderness community, and people with the know-how to implement them. The options are only bounded by your enthusiasm, imagination, and dedication.
Many people who start with the "easy" things mentioned above find themselves working on more involved, innovative things in short order. But Chicago Wilderness has also identified areas where more help can be focused and projects coordinated. Return to this page in April 2006 for a full list.