Volunteer Land Steward Program

Be the eyes and ears of conservation on the land

At HeadWaters Land Conservancy, protected lands and conservation easements are only as strong as the care they receive year after year. That’s where our Volunteer Land Stewards come in: dedicated individuals who partner with us to monitor, document, and care for the lands we protect throughout northeast Michigan.

What a Land Steward Does

• Periodically visit a designated property and document site conditions via photos, maps, and notes.
• Observe changes such as vegetation shifts, hydrology, boundary disturbances, invasive species, dumping, or recreational impacts.
• Maintain confidentiality, respect private landowner agreements, and build positive relationships with neighbors.
• Work with HeadWaters’ stewardship staff to keep monitoring records and easement files up to date.
• Help organize or lead volunteer workdays at your assigned site when needed.

Why It Matters

Monitoring and stewardship are vital for ensuring that lands we protect today remain protected forever. Your contributions help detect problems early, strengthen the long-term viability of conservation easements and preserves, and connect you directly with the land you care about, giving you meaningful field-based volunteer experience.

Who We’re Looking For

• Love being outdoors and are comfortable hiking across variable terrain.
• Detail-oriented and able to take notes, photos, and map observations.
• Value working independently, yet in partnership with our stewardship team.
• Committed to our mission: protecting habitat, biodiversity, water quality, and scenic lands in northeast Michigan.
• Can attend a training session and complete the required certification process.

The Certification Process

1. Fill out a Volunteer Application and sign our Volunteer Agreement.
2. Read and sign the Land Steward Handbook and Confidentiality Agreement.
3. Attend an initial training session, and commit to periodic refresher training.
4. Join a training visit with an experienced Steward to your assigned property.
5. Select your site and begin scheduled monitoring visits once certified.

Time Commitment

We ask that Land Stewards make at least 3–4 monitoring visits per year at their site. Additional workdays or volunteering are welcomed but not required.

Training & Support

HeadWaters provides orientation and training, access to maps and photo-point locations, ongoing mentorship, and opportunities to join stewardship workdays and peer networks.

How to Get Started

1. Complete our online Volunteer Land Steward Application.
2. Contact our Stewardship Coordinator to schedule a training session and discuss site options.
3. Attend the training and mentor visit, then select your property.
4. Begin your first monitoring visit and submit your report — welcome to the team!

Questions?

For more information, contact our Stewardship Program & Land Monitoring team:
Email: land@headwatersconservancy.org
Phone: 989-731-0573

We’re grateful for your willingness to protect Michigan’s wild places — thank you for stepping up for the land.