You can help by volunteering your time, expertise, or equipment.

NICHES has a small staff, but the success of NICHES depends in large part on the efforts of volunteers to assist in the many varied aspects of the organization. Potential ways for volunteers to assist NICHES include:

OUTREACH AND EDUCATION:

Lead wildflower or birding hikes

Prepare and present talks about NICHES to groups

Staff display tables at various outreach events

Plan and lead floats and stream walks

Organize art out on the Preserves; spaces to accomplish art and spaces to install art

Lead Scout/School tours on the Preserves

Create and install library displays in our 13 counties

STEWARDSHIP:

Seed collection and growing of seed for NICHES preserves

Visiting potential acquisitions

Organize preserve clean ups

Become a site steward, choose a particular preserve and work with our Stewardship Manager on upkeep

Trail Maintenance –  Volunteer job description trail manager

Organize a preserve clean up day

Organize work days for volunteers

Become a Prescribed Fire volunteer!

Help plan and coordinate the annual deer management program, or help coordinate with the Hoosiers Helping the Hungry

Preserve community surveys; birds, wildlife, plants and trees

ADMINISTRATION:

Write grant requests

Contribute art or writing for the newsletter

Help add content to the website

Design and finalize a NICHES Preserve Trail Guide

Assisting staff at scheduled stewardship and outreach days is another opportunity. NICHES distributes a monthly email with information about upcoming events (workdays, outreach events at fairs and the like, as well as fun events such as floats on the water and hikes on the properties). If you would like to be added to this list, send us your e-mail address.

To become an active part of NICHES, simply e-mail or call (765) 423-1605 us and let us know you’d like to help. If you know what you’d like to do (or not do!), mention that information along with any special skills you might have. You can also come to a Board or Committee meeting (see Upcoming Events) to see what’s happening and what opportunities exist to get involved. All meetings are open to the public and people are encouraged to attend and contribute.

NICHES new Polaris Ranger donated by TIPMONT REMC EnviroWatts Trust

Equipment is another way to directly contribute to NICHES. If you own equipment you are willing to use on NICHES’ behalf, please tell us. We will get in touch with you when the need for such equipment arises. In the past year we’ve needed, among other things, someone with a tractor and mowing attachment to mow the tree plantations, someone with a smaller mower for maintaining trails and building fire breaks, a grader to level various areas, a Bobcat for constructing a parking lot, scooping out depressions, and moving large rocks, a truck to haul trash, and a vehicle with a winch to remove large items from a ravine.

NICHES counts on the many Volunteers who contribute ideas, time, supplies, equipment and funds to see our Mission fulfilled in a tangible way. Each of us can play an important part.  We appreciate your support!

NICHES Wish List:  Brush Cutters, Battery Charger GoPro Hero3 Video Camera, Hand’s Free Radio Pack, Perfex Fire Brooms