Have you considered stepping up as a TU volunteer leader? As this great poster designed by Michelle O’Bryant and Tim Moore of North Carolina’s 072 – Blue Ridge Chapter, TU wants you to volunteer!
Trout Unlimited relies on an army of thousands of volunteers who lend their time and talent to bring our work restoring streams, inspiring youth and connecting with communities to their home waters.
Last year, our members and supporters contributed more than 735,000 volunteer hours running over 1,000 local conservation projects, leading more than 1,600 youth education programs and providing thousands of events to connect and serve our nation’s veterans, raise awareness in the community, and much more. That’s an astounding contribution, and the power and impact of our local volunteers is one of the things that makes Trout Unlimited truly stand out from other conservation organizations.
None of these efforts can take place, however, without the dedicated and passionate conservationists and anglers who step up to lead our more than 420 local chapter and state councils across the country.
Serving as a chapter or council volunteer leader is one of the best ways you can make an impact to protect and improve the rivers you love in your own back yard. The best part is, it’s easy – and fun – to connect with people like you and make a difference.
TU volunteerism truly changes lives as Gil Lackey described in his powerful “Bowling Alone” article.
You can get started as a TU volunteer by finding your local chapter and reaching out at www.tu.org/chaptersearch. If you’re having trouble reaching your local chapter, reach out to a member of your Volunteer Operations Staff to connect you to a nearby volunteer leader.
You don’t have to have a degree in geomorphology, years of experience in volunteer management or a background in youth education to help. Your local chapter or state council likely needs the skills you already possess from your education, career, and past volunteer work to help drive local efforts forward!
The tasks and skills needed can be as simple as leveraging your ‘people skills” and friendly demeanor and running a grill at a chapter event or setting up a kids trout-themed coloring station at a local community festival, or as complex as using your horticultural degree to help design and plan a native streamside riparian buffer planting day.
We all have ways we can help our local TU chapter or council and there’s always room for more volunteers willing to roll up their sleeves and join the local leadership team.
Your contributions will make a difference, your time and talent will be harnessed for the good of our rivers, and you’ll build relationships with some amazing people like you that last a lifetime!
Not sure where to get started? Take a peek through some of these resources and programs TU chapters and councils often run locally to see if any excite and inspire you, or speak to your experience and skills:
Conservation Resources
Youth Education Resources
Veterans Resources
Community & Social Resources