Time2Volunteer’s Post

𝗦𝘁𝗲𝗽 𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗼 𝗡𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲'𝘀 𝗕𝗲𝗮𝘂𝘁𝘆 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗜𝘁 𝗕𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿: 𝗝𝗼𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝗮𝘄𝘁𝗼𝗼𝘁𝗵 𝗖𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗻𝘂𝗽 𝗘𝗳𝗳𝗼𝗿𝘁! Have you ever hiked a trail only to find the beauty of the wilderness disrupted by trash or damage? Many of us who enjoy nature know this feeling all too well. The Sawtooth National Recreation Area (SNRA) Cleanup, running from 𝗦𝗲𝗽𝘁𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝟭𝟯 𝘁𝗼 𝗦𝗲𝗽𝘁𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝟯𝟬, offers you the chance to turn that frustration into action. Whether hiking, camping, or just taking in the scenery, this self-guided volunteer event allows you to choose your date and location to contribute. You'll be doing more than just picking up trash—volunteers will be helping with everything from dismantling unauthorized structures to resolving human waste issues. As Susan James, Recreation Program Manager with the SNRA, says, "This is a fun, hands-on opportunity to help protect the core values of the Sawtooth National Recreation Area." Since this event began, volunteers have removed 𝟮𝟯𝟰 𝗶𝗻𝗱𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗮𝗹-𝘀𝗶𝘇𝗲𝗱 𝗯𝗮𝗴𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗴𝗮𝗿𝗯𝗮𝗴𝗲—a monumental contribution to preserving one of Idaho's most beautiful areas. Camping and hiking are two of my favorite pastimes. I've always felt passionate about keeping our natural spaces as pristine as possible, whether picking up garbage at a campground or repairing trails. There's something incredibly rewarding in knowing you've left a place better than you found it. I hope you seize the opportunity to make a real impact and preserve the wilderness for future generations. If you're interested in joining this effort, see the links below for information on how to get involved. Your contribution makes a difference, one step at a time. #Volunteering #EnvironmentalProtection #OutdoorRecreation #JonathanFrank 

Excellent opportunity to do valuable work at a highly reputable institution!

Here’s another familiar face! Today we are spotlighting Harriet Simand as part of #VolunteerAppreciationWeek! Harriet is a retired teacher who loves gardening, travelling and dogs.   1. How long have you volunteered with Evergreen?    This is my third year as a tour guide! 2. What inspired you to volunteer with Evergreen?    I love the site, the nature and the historic buildings. I love feeling like I am in nature even though I am in the middle of the city.   3. Tell us about your roles and impact as a volunteer.     I am a tour guide for public and private tours. I also volunteer for different festivals and the craft club. I love meeting the public and sharing the unique history of Evergreen Brick Works with them. I have been coming here for years and had no idea about its history!   4. What’s your favourite thing about volunteering at Evergreen Brick Works?   I love interacting with the public, especially kids, and spending time with my fellow tour guides who are so much fun to hang out with.   5. What’s the most important thing that you’ve learned from volunteering?    Interacting with people in nature makes everyone happy. 6. Why do you think access to green public space is important? We live in a big city with lots of buildings and concrete. We often overlook the ravines and the plants and animals who live there. You can feel part of nature even if you live in a big city.

Looking for fresh ideas to celebrate your volunteers? Offero's latest blog post has you covered! Explore innovative and cost-effective volunteer recognition strategies that are particularly effective for government organizations. AND some case studies that demonstrate those strategies. #VolunteerAppreciation #NationalVolunteerWeek #GlobalVolunteerMonth 🌟

As the demand for impactful international volunteer programs continues to rise, there's an incredible opportunity for organisations to collaborate and create meaningful change. Our latest blog offers insights that can help individuals find the perfect match for their passion and goals. Whether the focus is on wildlife conservation, community development, or improving education and healthcare access, aligning with the right program can amplify your impact. We’re committed to helping volunteers and partners alike navigate this landscape effectively. Explore how we can work together to provide transformative experiences that benefit both local communities and the volunteers themselves. #GlobalImpact #SocialResponsibility #VolunteerPrograms #CGCS #NewBlogPost

Today, we celebrate the heart and soul of Think Ocean CIC: our volunteers 🌍💙. From hauling debris from polluted rivers to organizing community workshops, volunteers bring passion and determination to every task. Their efforts are vital in creating the cleaner, healthier waterways we envision. Volunteering isn’t just about giving time—it’s about building connections. When we come together, we form a powerful force capable of tackling even the toughest challenges. Whether you're an experienced eco-warrior or a first-time volunteer, every action you take creates ripples of positive change. On International Volunteer Day, we thank everyone who has joined us in this journey. From initiatives like upcycling a catamaran into a river cleaner to supporting beach cleanups and environmental education programs, your impact has been extraordinary. If you haven’t yet, consider signing up for one of our initiatives. Together, let’s empower communities, protect wildlife, and ensure clean waterways for all. 🌊💪 #internationalvolunteerday #thinkoceancic #communityheroes #cleanwaterways #plasticfreefuture #volunteeringmatters #actnow #togetherfortheplanet #sustainability #oceanconservation

I learned a new skill - ‘Scything’ 🌾 My team had their annual volunteering day at Beetle Bank Farm today - every NFU Mutual employee is entitled to take part in one, and it’s a great opportunity to get outdoors, help local projects, and do some team-building! We had a great day, the weather was much better than anticipated, and although I’m probably going to ache like hell tomorrow, it was a very rewarding experience 🫶🏼 Here are some benefits to scything vs more modern techniques: 🌱It helps to protect biodiversity 🌱It promotes mindfulness 🌱It is less disruptive to wildlife 🌱It is easier to create habitat diversity 🌱It allows selective mowing 🌱It has better accessibility 🌱It has lower health and safety risks 🌱It is a good form of exercise Now I’m not saying that scything is an appropriate option for all agricultural needs, however it is making a comeback, and certainly has it’s own advantages for some forms of grassland management! #NFUMutal #Volunteering #GreatPlaceToWork #GrowWild #ScythingTheWay

The CFWF - Canadian Farm Writers' Federation recently held our annual meeting. Here's an excerpt from my president's report: Why do you belong to your regional farm writer association, CFWF - Canadian Farm Writers' Federation (CFWF) and the IFAJ - International Federation of Agricultural Journalists (IFAJ)? Seriously – take a moment to consider that question. A common question when recruiting members for any organization, or in discussions about what could change within a group, is “what do you offer me?” Networking? Professional development? Press card from our international federation? Career opportunities? Drinks in the hospitality suite? All are among valuable benefits of membership. I find I often want to reply to queries about what a group offers with, “what are you prepared to give?” During my years of involvement with Atlantic Canada Farm Writers’ Association (ACFWA), CFWF, IFAJ and other groups, I’ve found the greatest benefits come from getting involved and volunteering. I’ve gained valuable skills that I use daily in my professional life. I’ve advanced my career as people got to know me and my work acumen. There’s a multitude of volunteer opportunities within regional farm writer associations, CFWF and IFAJ, many of them related to professional development, regionally, nationally, internationally and online. If you are interested in volunteering, reach out to me. In addition to volunteer opportunities, what else does your regional farm writer group, CFWF and IFAJ offer you? The list is long. There’s professional development, writing (journalism and communications), broadcast and photography contests at reduced rates and access to local, national and international farm media tours. Plus, from within our members, there are employers looking to hire, contractors searching for markets, experts prepared to consult, mentors ready to offer advice, friends to bounce ideas off of and lifelong relationships. But you're not going to find any if these activities by sitting back and wondering about them. The best way to access specific benefits within our membership is to get out and attend events in person – whether that’s a regional association event, at the national level or on the world stage. Talk to people. Share your contact info. Be open to the opportunities that may present themselves. And, if you’re inspired by a volunteer opportunity, seize it and contribute. The strength of regional farm writer groups, CFWF and IFAJ and the benefits of membership comes from us – the members. The community we build through our shared profession and passion of writing about agriculture is our superpower. Your involvement in the abundance of opportunities these groups offer strengthens our organization, yes, but at the end of the day, you are the biggest winner, both professionally and personally. That’s what your regional farm writer association, CFWF and IFAJ gives to you. Now, what can you offer in return?

It's my 4th day in a row working with corporate volunteer groups to clean up litter on Belle Isle. Each day we left it spotless, and each day we found even more trash. We are finding less each day, but we are still finding quite a bit. I am visiting the same spots and finding the same beer cans, vape cartridges, and other trash each day. We get an influx of corporate volunteer groups around Earth Day and it is my favorite time of year. I love getting to meet new people and help them develop a stronger relationship with the James River Park System. I think it is especially cool that so many of our local corporate partners come out to show their support for the Park. The JRPS is for everyone, and not everyone has the same understanding of the value of our parks and how these spaces are made possible. It is really easy to get discouraged or feel like this work is futile when you clean up what seems like the same Twisted Tea can in the same part of the park every day for a week. There is a lot of concern about the JRPS being "loved to death" and I worry that Belle Isle is becoming a good example of that. We need to do more to instill a culture of sustainability in our park users. I think that begins with showing people what responsible park use looks like, across all cultures. I think the good can outweigh the bad if we all strive to leave our shared public spaces better than they were when we got there. Hundreds of people showed to demonstrate that was possible this week, and that is why I am optimistic that we can create a better JRPS for everyone. Learn more- jamesriverpark.org

Another exciting announcement for Lodestar- a new kind of outdoor adventure travel platform that is focused on engaging the outdoor community in truly sustainable outdoor exploration. The Lodestar platform & app provides seamless trip planning combined with climate impact tracking and connects members with grassroots nonprofits working to conserve and protect the places they are visiting. And did I mention we are offering all of this for FREE? No gimmicks, no ads. We are passionate explorers and earth advocates who believe protecting our planet starts and ends with each one of us exploring, caring, and taking action. Lodestar makes that possible. Go to www.lodestarhub.com to learn more and join us in this journey, or please reach out me to connect, collaborate and partner with us. See press release for more! . . . “We are thrilled to partner with the Idaho Conservation League and the Selway Bitterroot Frank Church Foundation,” said Alicia Roessler, co-founder and CEO of Lodestar. “These two organizations share the same core values as Lodestar — inspiring people to turn their good intentions into meaningful action and protecting the wild places where we play.” Planning sustainable outdoor adventures can be time-consuming. Lodestar, a free, comprehensive platform for seamless adventure planning, is leading the way in integrating sustainability practices into outdoor recreation. With user-friendly planning tools and top-tier features, the app empowers users to support trusted local grassroots organizations that are doing valuable work in the communities they explore. Lodestar thoroughly vets every impact partner to ensure that 100% of each donation supports their on-the-ground efforts and benefits local communities. “Currently, only 3% of all charitable donations go to conservation and climate nonprofits,” says Roessler, an environmental attorney with extensive experience working with nonprofits focused on preserving public lands and waters. “We believe that by simplifying the process of donating to grassroots organizations, we can encourage more outdoor enthusiasts to contribute.” #regenerativetravel #sustainabletravel #climatetech #impactinvesting https://lnkd.in/gnsTvv4C