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ABOUT NVC

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Northwoods Volunteer Connection is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that provides needed volunteer trail stewardship for the Superior National Forest by engaging volunteers and partner organizations in shared recreation and wilderness projects. The Forest relies on community-based volunteerism to maintain miles of trails and undeveloped campsites across its three million acres, which includes the one million acre Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. NVC serves as a critical partner to the Forest by helping to increase the capacity of the U.S. Forest Service to clear trails, keep campsites clean, and maintain access through volunteerism and partnerships.

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The idea of a volunteer coordinating organization came from the collaboration between a local canoe outfitter, a retired Forest Service District Ranger, and a local U.S. Forest Service staff person. They each saw a possibility for linking the untapped resource of potential volunteers with the backlog of deferred maintenance work and other underfunded projects. A steering committee was formed consisting of US Forest Service personnel, wilderness outfitters, nonprofit environmental educators, motorized and non-motorized club members, forest scientists and forest users. The steering committee worked for nearly a year to build a consensus among a broad range of forest interests on the goals of this organization.

Our Mission

To provide stewardship of the Superior National Forest by engaging volunteers and partner organizations in recreation and natural resource projects.

Our Vision

A community of volunteers connected to and dedicated to the stewardship of our natural environment.

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Key Strategies

  Increase volunteer engagement in forest stewardship

Enhance and maintain trails and access to public lands

Deepen cultural and personal connections to the land

Support the health and resilience of forest ecosystems

Expand opportunities for hands-on stewardship

Encourage a passion for caring for the land

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We believe that the Superior National Forest and all public lands are stronger and more resilient when everyone feels welcome and is involved in stewardship.

Northwoods Volunteer Connection is committed to creating connections to the Superior National Forest for those with barriers to public lands. We recruit volunteers from the vast landscape surrounding the Forest with the goal of reaching communities who otherwise may not have these opportunities. NVC will focus on reaching out to and involving residents of the Iron Range and the urban communities of Duluth through funding from the Superior National Forest and the Urban Connections program and the National Forest Foundation’s Matching Awards Program.

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