More than 13,500 volunteers helped the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources do everything from monitoring rainfall levels to clearing trails in 2025, according to the annual DNR volunteer report. The DNR is releasing the report in celebration of National Volunteer Week, April 19-25, a time when organizations across the country honor volunteers and recognize the impact of their efforts.
“Minnesota has long ranked in the top five nationwide in volunteering,” DNR volunteer director Renée Vail said. “We have a spirit in this state of caring for others and the environment. The DNR is grateful for the time volunteers give each year to help with tasks related to managing and conserving our state’s natural resources, contributing to our data collection and research efforts, providing recreational experiences and more.”
The DNR’s volunteer program is one of the largest among Minnesota state agencies. According to the DNR’s report, the value of volunteer services in 2025 totaled an estimated $9 million. Volunteers help the DNR with a wide variety of activities, including teaching firearms safety, improving wildlife habitat, hosting in state park campgrounds, planting trees, tagging fish, assisting at outdoor candlelight hike events, and monitoring precipitation. For the sixth consecutive year, Minnesota led the nation in 2025 for the number of volunteers recruited for the Community Collaborative Rain, Hail and Snow Network to measure and gather data about precipitation across the state.
The DNR first established a department-wide volunteer program in 1988. Over the past 38 years, Minnesotans have contributed more than 13.3 million hours of volunteer service to help manage natural resources. The value of this service is estimated at more than $268 million.
One example of the impact of DNR volunteers is Jim Lockrem and the Lake Seven Lake Association near Frazee, Minnesota. He approached the DNR with concerns about erosion on an island that is frequently used by loons as a nesting site. The island is owned by the DNR. In collaboration with DNR Fisheries' aquatic management area habitat staff, Lockrem helped develop a plan to restore the damaged shoreline. He then coordinated volunteers to cut willow shoots, which were used to make willow wattles — bundles of live branches placed along the base and slopes of the shoreline to form a living stabilization system. The lake association funded the necessary materials and the DNR partnered with Conservation Corps of Minnesota and Iowa to install the wattles. On installation day, Lockrem was there as well, lending a hand to get the job done.
Read more about the DNR’s outstanding volunteers on the meet our volunteers webpage. To become a volunteer or learn more, visit the DNR’s volunteer webpage.