Get Involved with Pennsylvania
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 Ongoing Volunteer Openings
There is more than one way to volunteer for The Nature Conservancy in Pennsylvania. 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 Pennsylvania 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.
Hike Leaders
If you enjoy being in nature and have a knack for sharing information about Pennsylvania's wildlife and ecosystems with others, consider becoming a volunteer hike leader!
Volunteer hike leaders are needed to assist with leading occasional hikes at our preserves during events.
Please fill out our interest form and select “Outreach Opportunities (Indoor & Outdoor)” to sign up or receive more information.
Please contact Molly Anderson with any questions.
Photographers/ Videographers
We are always seeking volunteer photographers and videographers to help us capture the beauty of Pennsylvania, 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.
Youth Groups/ Scout Troops
Taking care of the land is a great fit for the values and missions of many youth organizations.
Volunteering to conserve Pennsylvania’s natural heritage is a great way to learn while giving back to the community.
If interested in scheduling a workday for your group/troop, please reach out to Molly Anderson.
Social Media Ambassadors
Social media ambassadors help us reach new audiences and spread the word about our work in Pennsylvania.
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 pavolunteer@tnc.org for more information about current opportunities or fill out the interest form below to receive regular updates.
Guide to iNaturalist
Join the 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 community members 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 our 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 with iNaturalist
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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 Pennsylvania Volunteer of the Year
Dick McCoy
When Dick McCoy moved to the Harrisburg region several years ago, he came to treasure his time spent hiking at TNC’s Hamer Woodlands at Cove Mountain Preserve. Having grown up on a farm and always loved being outdoors and working with his hands, Dick became an environmental engineer. Luckily for us—and everyone who hikes the trails at Cove Mountain Preserve—he has helped put his talents to work assisting with building the wooden bridge. Dick readily lends a hand to our stewardship staff with numerous projects at Cove Mountain which is why we’re proud to present Dick with the title of 2023 Pennsylvania Volunteer of the Year.
Dick has been actively involved in volunteering for many years, including picking up several tons of trash over 14 years when he most recently lived in the Washington, D.C. region. Upon his relocation to Pennsylvania several years ago, Dick has become a reliable, friendly and hard-working volunteer who has given many hours of his time to help with various projects, especially invasive plant removal.
“I can see that we have made a difference with invasive plants,” Dick says. “We removed a lot of the Mile A Minute plant, but there’s lots more to do and it will take several years to get it under control. I will also be getting involved in attacking the Tree of Heaven and Princess Tree as well as the Japanese stiltgrass.” Cove Mountain land steward Elizabeth Hanson certainly appreciates all of the help taking care of such a large property.
And like most volunteers, Dick says he enjoys time spent with other volunteers. “They’re a great group and have the same concerns for nature,” he adds. We wholeheartedly agree; we love our volunteers and the community and friendships formed thanks to a shared love of nature and the outdoors.
Please join us in congratulating Dick as the 2023 Pennsylvania Volunteer of the Year and be sure to say hello if you see him volunteering his precious free time at Cove Mountain.
