If you have other ideas for getting involved or partnering with us, please reach out to us at coordinator@torontonaturestewards.org.
Apply for a Stewardship Site
Site applications for the 2025 season are currently CLOSED. Thank you to everyone who submitted. Please note that we cannot guarantee whether sites will be approved. Site approval will be communicated to applicants by January 2025.
Become a Lead Steward
All of our ravines and natural areas need stewardship, so please consider becoming a Lead Steward. Due to limited capacity, priority for Lead Steward training is given to those who have some experience in stewardship or a strong interest in leading a group in an underserved community. If you know of anyone who may be interested, please send them a link to this page. Join with a friend and stewarding will be even more rewarding!
You can find maps and schedules of our current sites here. If you would like to gain some experience first, feel free to join a site as a Steward – they would love to have you on the team.
Here is an excellent article from 2022 where one of our volunteers paints a picture of the Lead Steward experience and offers advice on the skills for success.
What are the responsibilities of a Lead Steward?
- Making a stewardship plan for their site
- Recruiting and leading a team of volunteer Stewards (maximum 10 Stewards per Lead Steward)
- Organizing work days by planning activities, sending emails, and adhering to protocols
- Reporting activities, number of attendees, and plant monitoring
- Committing approximately 3 hours/week (2 hours in the field + 0.5 hour administration) from the end of April through October (co-Lead Stewards can help manage the site during vacations)
From February to March, Lead Stewards will receive five online sessions of 2-hour training and hands-on learning opportunities. This process will guide Lead Stewards on making a stewardship plan for their site, recruiting new Stewards, organizing events, and identifying plants. If you would like to learn more about Lead Steward Training, check out our Lead Steward Training Info Session recording.
Registration requests for 2025 Lead Steward training are currently closed. If you have already registered, you will hear from us soon.
Check out this testimonial to hear some first-hand experience: “My Experience As a First-Year Lead Steward”