South Dakota Earth Team Volunteer Program

What is the Earth Team?

The Earth Team is the volunteer workforce of the NRCS, and we are making a difference in every county in the nation.

NRCS partners with conservation groups and others to ensure private lands are conserved, restored, and more resilient to environmental challenges like climate change. Working side-by-side with farmers and ranchers, the NRCS identifies natural resource concerns, such as soil erosion and water quality issues, and develops unique conservation plans for restoring and protecting resources.

Earth Team volunteers are an integral part of the conservation partnership, and each member takes pride in the fact that they maintain and improve our natural resources and environment on private lands.

The job of conserving our natural resources cannot be done by the government alone. We need your help in reducing soil erosion, conserving our water and improving its quality, and developing pride in our country's natural resource heritage.

How Can I Volunteer?

Volunteers must be 14 years of age or older to join our Earth Team Volunteer Program. Those who are interested in conserving and protecting our precious natural resources, can join. As a volunteer, you can work part-time or full-time, evenings or weekends, outdoors or indoors, or you can volunteer as an individual or in a group!

As an Earth Team volunteer, you will work with professionals on conservation activities in your community. Whatever your talents or interests, there is a volunteer opportunity for you.

The opportunities are endless! Contact an Earth Team Volunteer Coordinator today or visit your local NRCS Office to find out more about how you can be a part of the NRCS Earth Team Volunteer Program.

On the land

You can help professional conservationists who are working directly with f armers and ranchers to:

Plan, lay out, and design conservation practices​

Establish and Improve Wildlife Habitat

Plant Trees

Generate natural resource inventories

Map Soils

In the community

If you like being out in the community, you can assist elementary and high schools, and college and universities. You will be able to introduce to young people - and adults alike - the importance of conservation. Through cooperative Earth Team conservation efforts, you can help educate and solve many natural resource problems in your area by:

Organizing special conservation tours and and fairs

Planning conservation activities​

Taking photographs

Writing articles

Speaking to community groups and organizations

Producing artwork and publications

Source: usda.gov