Stewardship Teams

Stewardship team members enjoy different aspects of the work supporting the operations of Nachusa Grasslands. Our Woodies, Weeds, and Seeds Teams welcome both novice and experienced volunteers.

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How Stewardship Teams Work

What does a team look like?

Each team is made up of existing and new volunteers who enjoy the work of the team and connect with others who are doing the work of the team at Nachusa.

Who oversees each team?

• Each team will have a steward leader or leaders who are trusted by the management team of Nachusa Grasslands.
  
• They will have the responsibility to team members for project leadership, mentoring new project leaders, and overseeing communications between the team, the Nature Conservancy leadership onsite, and the Friends of Nachusa Grasslands.
  

How are project areas chosen?

Projects are chosen by the team leader with input from first, the manager of Nachusa Grasslands, the project leaders’ concern about a specific problem area, and grant opportunities that the Friends are committed to.

who is a project leader?

• Project leaders are team members who are proficient at identifying the plants that are targets for the day, whether for removal or seed collection.
  
• They are also comfortable directing and teaching new or unfamiliar volunteers in the identification of plants.
• They must also be familiar with the tools being used to teach new users in proper use and be able to fix simple equipment failures.
  
• Team leaders are identified and supported by a steward leader.

how and when do teams operate?

• Teams support regularly scheduled workdays during their season.
• In addition, all team members provide their email addresses to each other with likely days they are available to work on stewardship.
  
• They invite each other to join in on any day they wish to perform stewardship via email with the date, time, and location to meet (often at the barn to collect equipment).
  
• The person who initiates the invitation will coordinate with site management for equipment and transportation, as necessary.  

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Woodies Team

Weeds Team

What is the Woodies Team Season?

September through mid-May

What are the responsibilities and tasks of the Woodies Team?

• The steward leader works with Nachusa staff and other stewards to choose locations that the team focuses on throughout the woodies season.
• Team leaders are encouraged to lead regularly scheduled Thursday or Saturday workdays during woodies season.
• Team leaders are encouraged to lead other team members on woodies workdays that do not conflict with regularly scheduled workdays.
• The team can set up a regular team workday at day and time that works for most of the members.
• Team members are welcome to come out by themselves or with one or two other team members anytime they wish. Please inform the steward leader when you go out.
• The team will assist on helping meet grant requirements for projects coordinated by the Friends of Nachusa Grasslands.
• Work will include but not be limited to basal bark application to invasive woodies, invasive trees, and resprouts in areas we have treated previously or that have been brush mowed in previous seasons.
• Woodies team will not engage in using power tools such as chain saws and other power tools, as special training and procedures are required for those tools to be used on preserve property.
• The steward leader will keep a list of team members and communicate any high priority areas waiting for treatment.
  

who is the woodies team steward leader?

Mike Carr

What is the Weeds Team Season?

Mid-May through July

what are the responsibilities and tasks of the weeds team?

• The steward leader works with Nachusa staff and other stewards to choose locations that the team will focus on throughout the weed season. Team leaders and members may check directly with Nachusa staff when going out on their own, as weed season moves quickly from species to species and problem areas to problem areas.
• Team leaders are encouraged to lead regularly scheduled Thursday or Saturday workdays during weed season.
• Team leaders are encouraged to lead other team members on weed team workdays that do not conflict with regularly scheduled workdays.
• The team can also set up a regular team workday at day and time that works for most of the members.
• Team members are welcome to come out by themselves or with one or two other team members anytime they wish. Please inform the Nachusa staff when you go out to get direction on the hot spot of the day.
• The team will assist on helping meet grant requirements for projects coordinated by the Friends of Nachusa Grasslands.
• Work will include but not be limited to pulling weeds, spraying weeds, and using hand tools to cut the roots of weeds.
• Team members will report especially bad weedy areas with dense populations to staff so they can be added to their database and be mowed if necessary.
• The steward leader will keep a list of team members and communicate any high priority areas waiting for treatment.
  

Who is the Weeds Team Steward Leader?

Mike Carr

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Seeds Team

What is the Seeds Team Season?

July to October

what are the responsibilities and tasks of the seeds team?

• The steward leader works with Nachusa staff and other stewards to choose locations where the team will pick seed to plant at the end of the season. Species lists and target weights for each species should be prepared for each planting location, as that will enhance the motivation for team success.
  
• Team leaders are encouraged to lead regularly scheduled Thursday or Saturday workdays during seed season.
• Team leaders are encouraged to lead other team members on workdays that do not conflict with regularly scheduled workdays.
• The team can set up a regular team workday at day and time that works for most of the members.
• Team members are welcome to come out by themselves or with one or two other team members anytime they wish. Please inform a steward leader and Nachusa staff when you go out.
  
• The team will assist on helping meet grant requirements for projects coordinated by the Friends of Nachusa Grasslands.
• Work will include but not be limited to picking seed with scissors or by hand, drying seed, milling collected seed, and planting seed by hand or with mechanical help.
• The steward leader will keep a list of team members and communicate any high priority seeds that need to be picked.

who are the seeds team steward leader and co-leader?

Jay Stacy and Mike Carr

Join a Stewardship Team!

Submit this form to indicate your interest in Volunteering for a Team

Note that you will also be added to our volunteer workday email list.

See Thursday and Saturday Workdays for more information.

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UPDATED 03/2021