Join us in our mission to keep land for all to enjoy here in the beautiful Berkshires.
There are plenty of ways to help! Are you a trail-lover, a photography enthusiast, or are you really great at rallying a team and organizing others? We need you!
Listed below are ongoing volunteer opportunities.
Click or tap to expand for details.
Do you want to help Berkshire Natural Resources Council but mud and bugs are not your strong suit? We need indoor Landkeepers too.
What will I do?
Come in and help us with mailings, organizing files, labeling pictures, etc. When there is a task, we’ll let you know so you can come in and help!
What kind of time is involved?
Mailings and other office volunteer roles come up at various times throughout the year. We’ll put out a call, and you can give us as much or as little time as you want until the job is done!
General Responsibilities:
• Be detailed oriented
• Enjoy working inside at a computer or desk
Benefits:
• The knowledge that you’ve saved us serious time and effort
• The satisfaction of helping us keep the Berkshires for all!
Have more questions? Email Mariah at americorps@bnrc.org
PHOTOGRAPHER
Do you have a knack for photography or just like to take pictures? Join us on hikes and events and take pictures for us! Having quality pictures of what we do on a daily basis helps people understand and appreciate the hard work that we do as Landkeepers. It also helps our fundraising efforts and goes a long way to foster community support.
What will I do?
Attend our events or join us on the trail with your camera ready for action!
Time Commitment:
Join us when it fits your schedule. Come for either 15 minutes or the whole day, enjoy the event or just snap a few photos to share with Berkshire Natural Resources Council later.
General Responsibilities:
• Come to events or attend trail work days camera-ready
• Take pictures of the smiling faces in action, along with the surrounding scenery
• Have a way to share those pictures with Berkshire Natural Resources Council
• Be willing to let us use the pictures online and in printed material (you will be credited)
Benefits:
• The knowledge that you’ve provided a valuable service for our mission
• Have your photography seen by hundreds of supporters
• Enjoy the satisfaction of helping us keep the Berkshires for all!
Have more questions? Email Mariah at americorps@bnrc.org
TRAIL STEWARD
We have close to 50 miles of trails and wood roads to maintain! Trail Stewards help us literally keep up with the land as our “eyes and ears” out on the trails.
What will I do?
Stewards walk a trail or trails that we choose together to suit your available time and location. The Stewards then report back on the trails as well as perform small maintenance tasks along the way.
Time Commitment:
We ask trail stewards to check on the trails once every six weeks. Depending on the trail and the conditions, this could take an hour or all day.
Responsibilities:
• Report any problems on the trail (blowdowns, signage, etc.)
• Do light maintenance
o Remove sticks and branches from the trail
o Clean out water bars
o Clip nuisance branches in the trail corridor
• Keep the trail maps stocked
• Repaint trail blazes from time to time
• Interact with the public using the trail and represent Berkshire Natural Resources Council
We also ask that Trail Stewards come along and help on hikes or work days Berkshire Natural Resources Council might hold on the trail you are steward of.
Benefits:
• The knowledge that you’ve provided a valuable service: Trail Stewards save us $350 for every mile of trail that you help steward!
• A chance to get to know and connect with a special trail and/or land
• The satisfaction of helping us keep the Berkshires for all!
Have more questions? Email Mariah at americorps@bnrc.org
STORM KEEPERS aka Storm Clean-up Crew
During a big storm, trees and branches often come down on our 50 miles of trails, sometimes even preventing their use. We need your help to get them cleared.
What will I do?
This is truly the muscle behind landkeeping! As part of the Storm Clean-up Crew, you go out and hike the trails in your area after a storm and report back to Berkshire Natural Resources command central.
Once you report back, we’ll go out to the specific areas that have trees down or that have other damage you report. If you want to come along and help with that as well, your company will be more than welcome!
Time Commitment:
BNRC will send out an email after big storms asking for help. If you’re around and have some time to survey an area for us, great! If not, you’ll hear from us after the next storm.
General Responsibilities:
• Hike BNRC trails after big storms
• Report back on damage to BNRC Stewardship Staff
• Have access to email to send in reports
Benefits:
• Your work allows us to concentrate our efforts instead of hiking 41 miles with chainsaws looking for fallen trees! And you get to have a great hike!
• You help keep Berkshire Natural Resources Council lands and trails clear and in good shape for the hundreds of people who hike them daily
BNRC will provide on-site training and any necessary equipment. All you need are your hiking boots and a camera!
Have more questions? Email Mariah at americorps@bnrc.org
STEWARDSHIP TEAM VOLUNTEER
We actively keep and preserve 20,000 acres throughout Berkshire County. With only two staff members for all our Stewardship work, we need your help to properly care for these properties.
What will I do?
The Volunteer Stewardship Team helps with various projects: building trails, installing signage, marking boundaries, and others. Several times a year, we will contact one or all members of our Stewardship Team to help with these projects.
Time Commitment:
Being part of the Stewardship Team offers you a wide range of options. You can come out once a month or once a year, whatever your interest level and schedule allow. You choose the project you want to help out on!
General Responsibilities:
• Be physically fit and able to hike through the woods (on and off trail) while carrying tools
• Enjoy working outside in various weather conditions and seasons
• Assist with stewardship tasks as needed
• Have access to email in order to report back
• Carry a camera in order to take pictures of any problems
Benefits:
• Your work allows us to keep more land. Plain and simple!
• You get to have a great hike!
We will provide supervision of projects and all tools and safety equipment. All you need to do is show up with water and lunch! Boots and pants are required for the majority of these projects.
Have more questions? Email Mariah at americorps@bnrc.org
TRAIL CREW VOLUNTEER
We preserve, maintain and provide access to a 50 mile-long network of trails and wood roads extending throughout Berkshire County. We add more to that every year! In fact, we are almost always working on a trail project.
What will I do?
If you like to swing tools, roll rocks, and get really dirty, this is the opportunity for you!
Time Commitment:
This trail crew will come out once every other week to help with ongoing projects. Come every time or just when you can!
General Responsibilities:
• Be familiar with the use of hand tools
• Be able to hike over varied terrain while carrying a pack and tools
• Enjoy being outside in all conditions
• Enjoy working as part of a team
Benefits:
• A great chance for hands-on learning about trail work techniques
• Knowing your volunteer effort saves us $5 for every foot of hiking trail you build! Your work allows us to keep more land. Plain and simple!
• You get to swing those tools we mentioned
• Work side by side with a great team of staff and interns
We provide on-site training, supervision, and all necessary tools and safety equipment. All you need is lunch and water. Boots and full length pants are required for trail crew work.
Have more questions? Email Mariah at americorps@bnrc.org
Don’t see something that fits or do you have more questions? Email Mariah at americorps@bnrc.org or call the BNRC office at 413-499-0596.
