Northwoods Volunteer Connection

Advancing volunteer stewardship in the Superior National Forest

                           Why NVC?

The  3+ million acre Superior National Forest, including 1 million acres in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness of northern Minnesota is well-known for its natural beauty and abundant opportunities for outdoor recreation. A popular destination to hike, paddle, camp, hunt, fish, ski and/or snowmobile.

Many hours are spent on the on-going efforts to keep forests, lakes and streams healthy and trails and other recreation areas open for use. The Superior National Forest alone contains 27 campgrounds, 2,200 campsites in the BWCAW, 29 picnic areas, 400 miles of hiking trails, 450 miles of groomed ski trails, and 700 miles of snowmobile trails. Maintenance and management demands on these public lands outweigh the time and funds that land management agencies have available especially with the record usage in 2020.

What We Do

The Northwoods Volunteer Connection partners with land management agencies and local organizations to coordinate volunteer efforts on public land in northeastern Minnesota. We work closely with the USFS Superior National Forest to identify priority projects before recruiting, training and deploying volunteers to complete them. The Northwoods Volunteer Connection also strives to be a resource and partner for user and interest groups in the region. We work with these groups to organize and advertise volunteer events; the Northwoods Volunteer Connection's website serves as a hub of information for anyone searching for a way to get involved in volunteering on public lands in the region. Through these efforts we aim to strengthen the connection between visitors and the land while sustaining natural and recreational resources.

       Thank you Donors and Volunteers!

       Since 2016 accomplishments include:

• 108 volunteer projects have been completed
• 14.5 Acres of invasive species worked to be controlled
• 10 Acres of native species planted
• 162+ Miles of trail improved/maintained
• Campgrounds and Boardwalks improved or maintained
• 7,228+ Volunteer hours logged
• 927+ volunteers participated
• 273 youth engaged