WAYS TO VOLUNTEER WITH CENTRAL INDIANA LAND TRUST

Stewardship Field Days
All of our properties need some maintenance or restoration work on a periodic basis. As stewards of these properties, Central Indiana Land Trust volunteers work on our preserves on Saturdays in the Spring and Fall. Volunteers of all ages are welcome to help with these workday tasks, which include planting trees, installing trail markers or signs, removing invasive plants, removing litter, and putting up fences. Visit our Events page for a current listing of field days. Click here to sign up for a specific field day online.

Potential opportunities also exist for groups to volunteer outside of our scheduled field days. To learn about group volunteer opportunities, contact Maria Steiner at msteiner@conservingindiana.org or 317-631-5263 x114.

Site Stewards
Each property has one or more Site Stewards who monitor each of our preserves on a quarterly basis and report to the land trust staff on its status. These reports help us shape our Field Day seasons.

Office Volunteers
Office volunteers are occasionally needed to help with mailings, data entry, filing, creating maps, and other tasks. Please notify us if you would like to help out as projects come about!

Special Skills Volunteers
Volunteers are needed to help out on an as-needed basis for the following types of work. Please contact us if you'd like to be involved.

• Photographers
• Writers
• Editors
• Naturalists
• Educators
• Event Planners
• Grant Writers
• Restoration Volunteers

COMMITTEES

Development Committee
Financial well-being is paramount for the Central Indiana Land Trust's ability to effectively implement its mission of protecting natural areas. The Development Committee, in conjunction with the Board of Directors and staff, is the driving force behind the Land Trust’s financial sustainability. The Development Committee promotes creative, fun, and mission congruent methods of raising revenue including:

• Event planning and implementation
• Identification, cultivation, and solicitation of members and donors
• Engaging investors and community partners through a major donor program, and corporate giving program
• Identification of potential foundation partners and writing grant proposals
• Promoting the Land Trust's planned giving program

Land Protection Committee (Meets last Tuesday of every month at 12:00 noon)
The Land Protection committee oversees and implements all steps of each land acquisition project. These steps include but are not limited to:

• Developing and implementing strategies for land protection through ownership or conservation easements
• Contacting and working with landowners
• Making site visits to potential properties to determine their conservation value
• Reviewing and discussing the merits of each project prior to presentation to the Board for approval
• Working through established due diligence procedures
• Negotiating sales and easements and closing on land transactions
• Working with the stewardship committee to determine whether the level of stewardship is appropriate prior to acquisition
• Provides policy oversight for the land protection program, establishing basic procedures and reviewing and updating those procedures periodically

Outreach Committee (Meets last Tuesday of every month at 7:45 am)
The Outreach Committee seeks to increase public awareness about the importance of land conservation and the work of the Central Indiana Land Trust. The committee helps with the following tasks:

• Creating and implementing an annual community relations plan
• Coordinating membership and outreach events, including the annual Spring Fling
• Developing materials which promote the land trust’s mission
• Promoting the work of the land trust to the media
• Representing the land trust by staffing our booth at local events
• Increasing the land trust’s exposure to key constituents

Stewardship Committee (Meets third Monday of every month at 6:00 pm)
The Stewardship Committee oversees all on-the-ground management of Central Indiana Land Trust properties. The committee is responsible for:

• Creating and implementing management plans for each property, which includes a description of the property, an assessment of the management needs of the property and a timeline and plan for undertaking that management
• Planning and implementing all stewardship field days
• Overseeing any conservation easements held by the land trust
• Working in concert with the Land Protection committee in the formative stages of acquisition projects to ensure that management is possible
• Working with the site stewards of each property to utilize quarterly reports to plan future work at each property

Board of Directors (Meets second Tuesday of every month at 6:30 pm)
The Central Indiana Land Trust has a maximum of 18 seats available on the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors is legally and fiscally responsible for the organization. The Board:

• Sets policy
• Establishes goals and budgets for program
• Hires and monitors the performance of the Executive Director
• Secures funds to enable the Land Trust to meet budget and carry out program
• Monitors the use of those funds
• Provides volunteer leadership for the organization

If you would like to be considered for the Board of Directors, please let us know and we will put you in touch with the leadership development committee of the board.