Northwoods Volunteer Connection seeks BWCAW monitors

The Northwoods Volunteer Connection formed in June 2014 and since then had recruited, trained, and assigned volunteers to projects within or near the Superior National Forest.

Organizers realized there were many people who were willing to volunteer an afternoon or even several days to forest projects, such as clearing trails, helping build boardwalks, planting trees, and so on.

Despite a lull in some activities in 2020, NVC was able to get many volunteers out in the woods to work. In 2020, more than 26 volunteers cleared 8.15 miles of trail with1.3 miles located on the Moss Lake Trail in the Gunflint Ranger District; 0.75 miles on the Hogback Lake Trail in the Tofte Ranger District; and 1.1 miles of trail clearing was scattered around the national forest on various portages. Trail maintenance and clearing was also done on the Banadad cross-country ski trail. And, volunteers also helped construct 132 feet of new boardwalk on the Superior Hiking Trail.

NVC is now lining up projects and volunteers for 2021. One volunteer opportunity is to become a volunteer for the Boundary Waters Wilderness Encounter Monitoring program, which means a three-day trek into the wilderness.

There are also opportunities to "Adopt an Entry Point," something that staff and volunteers here at WTIP Community Radio have done. WTIP monitors and tends to the Ram Lake BWCAW entry point.

There are tree planting projects, such as one recently completed along with partners from the Wolf Ridge Environmental Center.

Anyone who would like more information about Northwoods Volunteer Connection may learn more on their website or by emailing [email protected].

WTIP's Rhonda Silence checked in with Northwoods Volunteer Connection Executive Director Karla Miller to learn more. Here's their conversation.