Are you ready to take your volunteer experience with Poplar Creek Prairie Stewards to the next level? Many of our long-term volunteers choose to grow into leadership roles and skill-based certifications that increase their impact on restoration work and help strengthen our community.
Volunteer Leadership Opportunities
Whether you want to build leadership skills, deepen your ecological knowledge, or play a larger role in shaping restoration efforts, there are several meaningful ways to grow your impact with PCPS:
Greeters
Welcome volunteers at the start of a workday, help with check-in, answer questions, and set a positive tone for the morning.
Workday Leaders
Lead a team during a restoration project — help coordinate tasks, support volunteers, and ensure activities run smoothly under the guidance of experienced stewards.
Planning & Steering Committees
Join one of our Human Resources Committee or site Stewardship Planning Committee — to help plan future activities, recruit volunteers, and refine our restoration strategy.
If you’d like to explore any of these leadership paths, we invite you to send a message to a steward to express your interest and learn more about next steps.
Advanced Training & Certification
After completing at least 15 hours of volunteer time at Forest Preserve restoration workdays, you become eligible for advanced training opportunities through the Forest Preserves of Cook County. These trainings deepen your knowledge and equip you with specialized skills that are valuable to both PCPS and the broader stewardship community.
Burn Pile Burn Boss Training
Through the Forest Preserves’ Chicago Wilderness Brush Pile Building and Burning Class, volunteers can receive hands-on training in safely building and burning brush piles as part of woodland and prairie restoration work. Certification includes hands-on apprenticeship, and PCPS offers the opportunity to complete that field training alongside our experienced, certified Burn Pile Burn Bosses at workdays.
Herbiciding Certification
The Forest Preserves offer multiple levels of herbicide certification for volunteers, beginning with the Practical Herbicide class and Alternative Herbicide License, which allows participants to apply herbicide under the direction of a state-licensed Applicator. Advanced certification pathways are also available for those who wish to deepen their expertise in invasive species management.
Chainsaw Training
FPDCC offers chainsaw training opportunities for volunteers who are sponsored and meet prerequisites. These skills are used in selective removal of invasive trees and brush in support of habitat restoration. Training and certification encourage safe, responsible use of power tools in the field. Speak to a steward at a workday for more details.
Citizen Science & Wildlife Monitoring
The Forest Preserves offer community science programs that train volunteers to help monitor birds, frogs, dragonflies, plants, and other native species across the preserves. Participants receive guidance and resources to confidently identify species and collect data that supports long-term ecological research and restoration planning.
Learn more and sign up for these trainings and more at the Forest Preserve of Cook County website.
How to Get Started
First, create an account on the Forest Preserve of Cook County website and log your hours.
Once you’ve reached 15 hours of service, if you’re interested in leadership or certification opportunities, you can talk to one of the workday leaders at your next workday or send us a message that includes:
- Your name
- The role or training you’re interested in
- Any specific skills or experience you already have
- Your availability for training or committee participation
We’re happy to walk you through the requirements and help you build a path that fits your interests and strengths.
Poplar Creek Prairie Stewards 