More than 14,500 volunteers help improve and conserve Minnesota’s natural areas each year and keep our State Parks, State Forest Campgrounds, Wildlife Management Areas, Scientific and Natural Areas healthy and beautiful.
If you enjoy being outside and caring for our environment, you should join our community of volunteers. We have a variety of ways to volunteer, and we hope you will find a role that fits your needs, whether you have two hours or a lifetime to give.
What does a volunteer do?
Go to the 2025 Annual DNR Volunteer Report to see the variety of volunteer positions and their impacts.
Who can volunteer? Anyone interested in the environment, recreation, and community outreach.
How to get started: Follow the steps to sign up as a volunteer.
Obligation: There is no minimum hourly requirement. Expect to work 1.5–3 hours each time you volunteer, although special events or projects may require longer periods. Schedules may be a one-time event, weekly, bi-weekly, monthly, or seasonal, depending on activities and availability.
Training: Safety training may be provided to complete before reporting to volunteer or done on the job by DNR staff as required.
Ongoing Volunteer Opportunities include:
putting radio collars on prairie birds
collect prairie seed
record fish population data
make and monitor bluebird houses
measure lake water levels
teach firearm safety
remove invasive plants
and much, much more
Contact:
email: [email protected]
phone: (651) 296-6157 or (888) 646-6367
Text MNDNR VOLUNTEER to 66468 to subscribe to text updates.