Join us for this summer worknight at Camel’s Hump Park and Open Space as we return to this stunning site with expansive blufftop views of the Mississippi River Valley. Together we’ll tend to volunteer-planted pollinator patches — small gardens that provide much-needed concentrated habitat and resources for pollinators, birds, and other wildlife. We’ll also add to the pollinator patches by planting more native wildflowers. Lastly, some volunteers will help with garlic mustard removal in other parts of the site.

All are welcome, but capacity is limited and registration is required. As always, all tools and training will be provided and volunteers are encouraged to work at their own pace and comfort level.

Before you register

Volunteers will mostly be working on level terrain along a paved trail. However, the garlic mustard removal will be off-trail and on sloped terrain. The activities of planting and hand pulling weeds will be relatively low-intensity.

Ready to register?

To sign up and receive directions to the meeting spot, contact FMR Volunteer & Outreach Coordinator Sophie Downey at sdowney@fmr.org, 651-222-2193 x27. Please include the name of the event, your name, address, phone number and the number in your party. Due to our smaller event sizes, we ask that you limit groups to 4 or less.

You will receive a confirmation email from sdowney@fmr.org within two business days. (If you don’t, please check your spam or promotions folder.) 

If you’re under 18 and interested in volunteering without the company of your parent or guardian, please take a moment and have them fill out this brief minor permission form.

Can’t make it?

To receive notices of future Cottage Grove area volunteer events, contact FMR Volunteer & Outreach Coordinator Sophie Downey at sdowney@fmr.org. Or, visit our Events Calendar for our most up-to-date listing of upcoming events. To receive a twice-a-month e-newsletter including all FMR activities and news, sign up for Mississippi Messages.

What about COVID-19?

We’ve modified our events during the pandemic to be smaller, and allow for individuals to work while safely six feet apart. All tools will be sanitized between events, and all gloves provided are unused in 2020 or 2021. Once registered, volunteers will receive a full list of safety precautions and guidelines. You can read more about our policies here.

We’re watching the CDC and Minnesota Department of Health guidelines closely. If plans change based on their recommendations, FMR Volunteer & Outreach Coordinator Sophie Downey will email registrants with event updates. (Be sure to add sdowney@fmr.org to your contacts so updates don’t land in spam.) And we’ll update this page if anything changes.

We will offer gloves and hand sanitizer at the event. Volunteers are required to bring and wear their own masks.