Join us for the Wolf River Restoration Series!

Dear Wolf River Conservancy Friend,

The winter and spring seasons are always busy here at the Conservancy. We are in the heart of our Wolf River Restoration Series, a collection of four impactful service events held from January to April. Each year I am reminded of a simple truth: Our community’s green spaces are some of the greatest assets our region has, and they stay that way when the community shows up to care for them.

We kicked off the Restoration Series last month with an incredible MLK Day of Service at T.O. Fuller State Park in South Memphis. More than 250 volunteers came together to honor the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and the power of collective action. In just one morning, we tackled invasive species removal, helped restore the playground area for local families, built and painted bat and bird boxes, and completed trail maintenance that will improve access and safety for park visitors year-round. While it was cold, it was the kind of day that reminds you what meaningful service looks like when it is joyful, hands-on, and rooted in community.

Our next Restoration Series event is one of my favorites (and the largest) every year: our Annual Tree Planting, which this year will be held at Rodney Baber Park on March 7. Tree planting is more than a feel-good volunteer project. It is practical restoration with long term impact. Trees reduce erosion, filter runoff before it reaches the river, create shade, and serve as quality habitat for wildlife. A single tree planted today can protect and improve this watershed for decades. On March 7, we’re going to plant thousands. And I hope you join us.

That is exactly what the Wolf River Restoration Series is about: creating opportunities for people to take meaningful action that benefits our community, preserves the natural heritage of the Mid-South and strengthens our neighborhoods. These projects improve parks and trails that families use every day. They also build pride and a sense of ownership because when you have put your hands in the soil, cleared a trail, or removed an invasive plant, you do not look at green spaces the same way again. You feel connected to it, and you value it.

For more than 40 years, the Wolf River Conservancy has worked alongside community members, partner organizations, local leaders, and volunteers to protect, restore, and enhance the Wolf River watershed. That long history of service is not just a timeline. It is a tradition. It is neighbors helping neighbors. It is people choosing to invest in the places that shape our quality of life.

If you have been looking for a way to get involved that is practical, positive, and lasting, this is it. The Wolf River needs advocates, stewards, and helping hands, whether you can volunteer once a year or once a month. Bring your friends, bring your family, bring your coworkers. Restoration is one of the most powerful ways to build community while protecting something that belongs to all of us.

To learn more about upcoming service projects, please visit our website and find an event that fits your schedule. We would love to see you out there, boots on the ground, making a difference where it matters most.

Erik Houston  

Executive Director

Wolf River Conservancy  

‍