Volunteer
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.
2025 Pennsylvania Volunteer of the Year
Hannah Hartman: Sharing a Love for Nature, One Bird at a Time
For Hannah Hartman, volunteering with The Nature Conservancy is more than just giving back; it’s a joyful opportunity to share her deep love for nature, especially birds. “One of my favorite pastimes is info-dumping about birds,” she says with a smile. “I love when others join me for the sole purpose of listening to me do so.”
Her journey into conservation began as a child at summer camp in Mt. Gretna, PA, where quiet moments in the fresh air sparked a lifelong passion for protecting the natural world. That early connection to nature has grown into a commitment to conservation, shaped by her academic studies in grassland ecosystems and her concern for habitat loss and disrupted migration routes.
A Special Connection to Cove Mountain
Among all the places she’s volunteered, Cove Mountain Preserve holds a special place in her heart. “It’s OBVIOUSLY my favorite,” she says enthusiastically. Whether she’s hiking the blue trail in search of spring warblers, admiring turkey vultures soaring overhead or spotting zebra swallowtails near pawpaw trees, she finds endless wonder in the preserve’s biodiversity and beauty.
Her volunteer work has also taken her beyond Pennsylvania, including memorable hikes at Herrick Fen in Ohio, where she first heard a belted kingfisher and spotted otters in the water.
Inspiring the Next Generation
As a nature docent at Cove Mountain, she’s found a meaningful way to connect with children and families. “It’s always touching to see the excitement and wonder in their faces during the activities I plan,” she shares. “It reminds me of my own childhood experiences, and I hope I can create those lasting memories for others.”
Her impact is clear: by welcoming families to the preserve and creating engaging experiences, she helps people discover the joy of being outdoors and the importance of conservation.
Why TNC?
Hannah first joined TNC’s volunteer community to stay connected to conservation work outside her career and stayed because of the variety of opportunities and the inspiring people she’s met. “There are so many different ways to volunteer, and I meet so many different kinds of people,” she says.
Her dedication and enthusiasm make her a true ambassador for nature and a deserving Volunteer of the Year. We’re grateful for her time, energy and the joy she brings to every hike, activity and conversation.
Thank you, Hannah!
For more information about volunteering in Pennsylvania, fill out the short form below and we’ll be in touch with opportunities!
Think Global, Act Local
Get global conservation news and the latest on PA opportunities and projects.
