Thank You Volunteers: 11,500 Hours+ in 2023!

NICHES is excited to announce that in 2023 we reached a new milestone and received over 11,500 hours of volunteer service from individuals, hunting crews, businesses, and groups across our service area!

 This monumental community effort is equivalent to 5.5 additional full-time employees and empowers us to elevate our stewardship of the 4,500+ acres we protect to the highest level possible. Since NICHES inception in 1995 as a fully volunteer led organization, the passion and sweat equity of our sustaining community has been an essential component in achieving our ambitious stewardship and outreach goals. From invasive species removal to trail maintenance, every hour volunteered translates into a tangible difference for native habitats and ensures the preservation of our natural landscapes for generations to come.

One individual whose efforts stand out among our dedicated volunteers is Gabriela Sincich, who we are humbled to name as 2023’s Volunteer of the Year! In 2020 Gabriela approached NICHES about lending her artistic talents to the cover of our quarterly Sprout Newsletter. Since then, she has created 12 stunning illustrations celebrating a variety of native flora and fauna subjects. In addition to the newsletter you are currently holding in your hands, you may recognize Gabby’s art from our preserve signage, outreach content, and social media. As she explains:

“I do it because I believe in the power of art to communicate ideas and information, to inspire people in unexpected ways, to make a positive impact in our communities, ultimately making our world better.”

In recognition of her contributions, Gabby will be honored at NICHES Land Trust’s upcoming annual meeting on June 22 at Martell Forest. We hope you can join us in reflecting on the past year of volunteerism, celebrating this new milestone, and thanking all the incredible people that make our organization thrive.

- Sam Cody, Volunteer & Outreach Coordinator