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Longleaf pine seedling in a field.
New Beginnings A longleaf pine seedling flourishes in Florida. © Ralph Pace

Newsletter

Faces of Conservation

January 20, 2026

People around the world are taking the lead to make communities and special places stronger. Meet some of the dedicated individuals who are improving the outlook for lands, water and wildlife by donating their time, talents and expertise to conservation.

A man helping building a wooden bridge along a path.
Bridging the Bluffs Bill Cummings and a fellow volunteer work on the bridge. © Peter Bauson/TNC

Bridging the Bluffs

Indiana

At TNC’s Cedar Bluffs Preserve, visitors had to  navigate a muddy, 3-foot jump to explore the trail. That is, until longtime volunteer and former engineer Bill Cummings designed a bridge that he, alongside other volunteers, built from the ground up.

Two volunteers standing out in a field.
Connecting With Communities John and Normandy Helmer smile after a long day at Zumwalt Prairie. © John Helmer

Connecting With Communities

Oregon

Longtime volunteers John and Normandy Helmer know TNC’s Zumwalt Prairie Preserve better than most; they live and work there for several weeks each year. Recently, John started meticulously documenting trail conditions, including elevation gains and the locations of benches. This information will help preserve visitors make informed decisions about their ability to navigate the preserve, so people of all abilities can safely explore the landscape.

Two young volunteers mixing up bird food in a bowl.
Volunteering Two young bird enthusiasts mix up a bowl of food to help wild birds beat the cold at Hamer Woodlands at Cove Mountain Preserve in Pennsylvania. © Hannah Hartman

Opening the Door to the Great Outdoors

Pennsylvania & Delaware

Visitors of all ages enjoy their time in nature thanks to volunteer docents like Tracey Haines and Hannah Hartman, who tell the stories of TNC’s preserves in Pennsylvania and Delaware. The docents lead nature hikes, bird identification walks and nature-themed craft projects, fostering a lifelong appreciation of the outdoors.

A volunteer standing near seedlings.
Speeding for Seedlings Patty stands near a longleaf sapling with a mature longleaf pine in the background. © Ralph Pace

Speeding for Seedlings

Florida

TNC staff at Tiger Creek Preserve were thrilled to receive 5,000 donated longleaf pine seedlings—with one potential drawback: They had to be planted within two weeks of delivery. Thanks to volunteers like Patty Caballero, the seedlings were in the ground in six working days!

A volunteer has a bird perched on her arm.
Back From the Brink A sihek perches on the arm of conservation science volunteer Grace Iverson. © Anna Zagora

Back from the Brink

Pacific Ocean

Conservation science volunteers live at Palmyra Atoll for six months at a time. Recently, they supported the conservation introduction of critically endangered sihek (Guam kingfishers) by building aviaries, gathering food and recording habitat data—aiding in the historic effort to reintroduce these birds to the wild.

A fish is getting tagged.
Fighting for Fisheries A black sea bass gets tagged and released. © Brendan Runde

Fighting for Fisheries

About 27 miles offshore, Virginia

To learn how the construction of offshore wind turbines affects fish behavior, volunteers helped catch and tag more than 70 fish around a developing wind farm off the coast of Virginia Beach. The tags will enable researchers to track fish responses and travel patterns.

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Respecting Nature, Respecting Each Other

Regional safeguards advisors, human rights lawyers and social scientists work with local teams in places like Brazil to ensure community needs and rights are incorporated into conservation projects.