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Flexible Schedule
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Eagan, MN 55123
General Description Do you know that there are over 6,000 species worldwide and about 153 in Minnesota? Dragonflies play an important role in our environment. They feed on mosquitoes, are a food resource for fish and amphibians, and are important indicators of aquatic ecosystem health. Become a dragonfly survey volunteer this season and help contribute to the research of these organisms in our local parks. With your help we will be able to gather data on dragonflies in local parks, and eventually work to ensure the conservation of Minnesota’s dragonflies. Location Lebanon Hills Regional Park* 860 Cliff Road, Eagan, MN 55123 *Various locations throughout the park. Please pre-register for each date you would like to volunteer as meeting places and survey locations might change during the season. Pre-registration helps us know who to send event details to by email for each date. Date/Times Survey season runs May - September. You do not need to participate at each event to join this opportunity. Attend as often as your schedule allows throughout the season. Wednesday, May 14 2-4pm Thursday, June 12 1-3pm Saturday, July 12 9:30-11:30am Tuesday, August 19 10am-noon Tuesday, September 23 2-4pm Duties & Responsibilities Help collect information about our local dragonfly populations by collecting specimens with nets and identifying the dragonflies you catch. Event staff will train you onsite on how to catch dragonflies safely and how to identify different species from each other. At each monthly survey, your team leader (who conducts the training and survey) and members from the Minnesota Dragonfly Society will work with you and the team to help identify the dragonflies you catch. Minimum Qualifications Must be comfortable with working in an outside environment with bugs. Able to follow instructions on how to catch a dragonfly in a way that will not harm the insects. Enthusiastic about invertebrate conservation and the outdoors is a plus. Age Requirements We encourage participants to be at least 5 years old or older to properly enjoy the event. If minors want to volunteer by themselves, they need to be 16 years old or older. Contact Information Garrett Zaffke | Community Relations and Volunteer Services Coordinator Dakota County Communications 1590 Highway 55| Hastings, MN 55033 Direct: (651) 438-4635 | Fax: (651) 438-4405 | Email: garrett.zaffke@co.dakota.mn.us
Date Posted: May 30, 2025
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Flexible Schedule
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Eagan, MN 55123
General Description Pollinators play an important role in our ecosystems. They are vital because they provide many ecosystem services, like pollinating native plants and food crops. There are 23 native bumble bee species in Minnesota. However, some species are in decline due to the destruction of native habitat, which is necessary for foraging and nesting. In order to conserve bumble bees and the habitat they depend on, we need to learn more about our local bees! The Minnesota Bumblebee Survey has worked to document long-term trends in bumblebee populations and monitor declining species in the Twin Cities. During the survey, learn how to capture bees while they forage on flowers and help county staff identify species. This survey event will give us a better understanding of pollinator populations related to the types of plants in our area and give us useful data that will help us conserve bumblebee and other pollinator populations and the habitats they depend on. Location Lebanon Hills Regional Park - Equestrian Trailhead 800 120th Street West Eagan, MN 55123 ( Map and Driving Directions) Dates & Times - 2025 Survey Season June 18 July 26 August 12 August 26 All surveys will be from 10:00 a.m. - Noon. You do not need to participate at each event to join this opportunity. Attend as often as your schedule allows throughout the season. Duties & Responsibilities Help collect information about our local bumblebee populations during the event. All training and supplies will be provided. Minimum Qualifications Ages 5 and up are welcomed with an adult present. If you are allergic to bees or insect bites, please sit this one out. Must be comfortable with working in an outside environment. Age Requirements All ages are welcomed to attend but we do encourage participants to be at least 5 years old or older to properly enjoy the event. If minors want to volunteer by themselves, they need to be 16 years old or older. Minimum Time Commitment 2 hours per survey. There is no minimum for attendance, come to as many surveys as you want to. Activity Level Moderate - To fully participate may require leisurely walking over primarily even surfaces. There may be a limited number of steps, a minimal amount of uneven surfaces, and some standing for extended periods of time. Comfortable shoes recommended. Contact Information Garrett Zaffke | Community Relations and Volunteer Services Coordinator Dakota County Communications 1590 Highway 55| Hastings, MN 55033 Direct: (651) 438-4635 | Fax: (651) 438-4405 | Email: garrett.zaffke@co.dakota.mn.us
Date Posted: May 30, 2025
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Flexible Schedule
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Eagan, MN 55123
General Description Dakota County Parks is gearing up to continue Garlic Mustard removal once again at Lebanon Hills Regional Park. Garlic Mustard is an invasive species brought over from Europe that outcompetes our native wildflowers and tree seedlings that various native species rely on for food and shelter. This is one pesky plant we do not want out in our parks. Following a brief training, you'll work alongside Dakota County staff and other volunteers to remove the plants from pre-designated areas of the park thanks to our GM tracking volunteers. We will host multiple shifts during the pulling season to make sure we exhaust this plant before it starts to seed, helping keep this invasive from spreading deeper into our parks. Come for as many shifts as you want and make some new friends as you work towards removal season goals. New in 2025: TBD Why use volunteers? Because people can pinpoint and effectively remove this plant better than any machine or chemical ever could. Mowing indiscriminately removes plant life and we want to use chemicals sparingly and as little as possible. Hiring contractors and private work crews to remove can become very expensive, very fast. Utilizing volunteers is a fiscal, effective and greener way of tackling this issue. Location Lebanon Hills Regional Park 860 Cliff Road, Eagan, MN 55123 ( Driving directions) Date/Time Pulling season will start in April and run through June 2025. Various times available - choose as many shifts as you would like. PARKING AND MEETING LOCATIONS WILL BE SENT A FEW DAYS BEFORE EACH DATE - PLEASE REGISTER FOR EACH SHIFT YOU PLAN TO ATTEND SO WE KNOW WHO TO CONTACT. Duties & Responsibilities Safely and effectively remove this invasive species. Work with a team to remove garlic mustard from predetermined sections of the park. Remove pulled plants by putting them in black garbage bags and leaving the bags at predetermined drop sites. Minimum Qualifications Must be able to walk on uneven terrain and stand/crouch for extended periods of time. Comfortable with walking distances up to 1 - 2 miles per event. Must be OK with getting a little dirty and being outside in nature exposed to the elements. Fun for the whole family and all age groups. If you would like to volunteer as a group (families not included), please contact our Volunteer Coordinator before registering. Extra caution (or avoidance of this project) should be taken by those who have allergies to bees, bug bites and plants. Age Requirements All ages are welcomed to attend but we do encourage participants to be at least 5 years old or older to properly enjoy the event. If minors want to volunteer by themselves, they need to be 16 years old or older. Minimum Time Commitment Most shifts last for 2 - 2.5 hours. Activity Level Moderate - You will encounter uneven surfaces and extended periods of time on your feet. Most of the work will happen while off trail and you may come into contact with wildlife and other natural elements. Includes walking distances of up to 1-2 miles per event. Appropriate shoes and clothing required. Required Training Training will be offered at the beginning of each shift for those that need it. Contact Information Garrett Zaffke | Community Relations and Volunteer Services Coordinator Dakota County Communications 1590 Highway 55| Hastings, MN 55033 Direct: (651) 438-4635 | Fax: (651) 438-4405 | Email: garrett.zaffke@co.dakota.mn.us
Date Posted: May 30, 2025
