Rowe Sanctuary's Habitat Steward Volunteer Program provides opportunities for those of all skillsets and abilities to get outdoors and be a part of creating and improving wildlife habitat in Kearney, Nebraska and the surrounding communities. Volunteer opportunities are held at different locations on one Saturday morning each month, and are focused on education regarding various habitat topics, demonstrations on techniques to promote better wildlife habitat, and providing opportunities for nature enthusiasts to work together on impactful projects.
Topics for 2025 volunteer work days include habitat restoration, wildlife gardening, methods for reducing invasive plants, plant identification, and prescribed fire. All programs begin at 8:30am with coffee and breakfast and run until 12pm. All materials including work gloves and personal protective eqiupment, water, and tools will be provided.
To sign up for the Habitat Steward Volunteer Program, click here!
For questions, please contact Amanda Hegg at amanda.hegg@audubon.org
2025 Habitat Steward Opportunities
*You do not need to fill out a volunteer application for our work days. Please sign up using the link provided in the work day description.
- Work Day Saturday, August 23- Invasive shrub clean up and native plant installation @ Rowe Sanctuary from 9:00am-12pm*
Learn about why shrub invasion is bad for prairies and wildlife and pick up new techniques to remove these pesky plants! Work will take place along a trail and on uneven terrain. Volunteers will help remove and kill invasive shrubs and install native plants in Rowe Sanctuary's native plant demonstration beds! Volunteers will get the opportunity to take home a small assortment of native plants for their home landscape. To register for this work day, please sign up here and we will send you details 1 week before the even.
- Work Day Wednesday, September 24- Native seed collection and prairie restoration techniques @ Rowe Sanctuary from 6:30-8:00pm*
Help Rowe Sanctuary conservation staff collect seed from prairie plants to be used in prairie restoration and learn about the value of these plants for wildlife. Work will take place along a trail and on uneven terrain. Volunteers will get the opportunity to take home seed and growing instructions to start pollinator plants at home. To register for this work day, please sign up here and we will send you details 1 week before the event.
- Work Day Saturday, November 15- Native plant greenhouse prep @ Rowe Sanctuary from 8:30am-12pm*
Help Rowe Sanctuary conservation staff process prairie seed for a prairie restoration project and prepare the native plant greenhouse for the spring! Volunteers will have their choice of projects including processing prairie seed, building tables for the greenhouse, preparing native plant containers, building a seed storage shed, and building roof vents. To register for this work day, please sign up here and we will send you details 1 week before the event.
- Work Day Saturday, December 13- Forest restoration activities and prescribed fire demonstration @ Rowe Sanctuary from 8:30am-12:30pm*
Spend the morning with a forester to learn about the plants of cottonwood forests and techniques to manage these environments for wildlife. Help us remove small invasive cedar trees to clear out the forest understory and promote more diverse plant communities. If weather permits, we will hold a small prescribed fire demonstration to show the benefits of fire for invasive cedar tree control. To register for this work day, please sign up here and we will send you details 1 week before the event.
How you can help, right now
Become a Volunteer
Volunteers are critical to the operations at the Iain Nicolson Audubon Center at Rowe Sanctuary. Take a look at our volunteer opportunities and consider joining this incredible team.
Make a Gift Today
Your generous support helps to ensure that Sandhill Cranes and other wildlife that depend on the Platte River will have this wonderful resource for years to come.
Rowe Sanctuary's Online Gift Shop
Our gift shop has a wide variety of items and your purchase supports our conservation efforts along the Platte River in south-central Nebraska.
