Tofte, MN – September 24, 2025 – Friends of the Superior National Forest, a nonprofit dedicated to volunteer-powered stewardship of the Superior National Forest, has completed a season of stewardship projects totaling over 2,000 volunteer hours.
Many of this year’s projects were funded by a Matching Awards Program grant from the National Forest Foundation. With a focus on the west side of the 3-million-acre Superior National Forest, volunteers planted trees at Pfeiffer Lake Campground and cleared trails at Whiteface Reservoir Campground, among other projects.
On the east side of the Superior National Forest, volunteers removed invasive species at places like Pincushion Mountain, work supported by funding from the Lloyd K. Johnson Foundation.
“Our work in the Superior National Forest is more critical than ever,” said Executive Director Jo Swanson. “With budget and staffing reductions across the Forest Service, volunteers provide a way for people to step up and care for this incredible public land. This forest is for everyone to enjoy, but that means we need many people to help care for it.”
Beyond hands-on projects, Friends of the Superior National Forest also completed a library tour this spring in order to connect with smaller communities near the forest, and they rebranded from their former name, Northwoods Volunteer Connection.
“This was our first season with our new name, Friends of the Superior National Forest,” said Swanson. “We plan to live up to that name — and we’re already looking ahead to how we can support the forest in 2026.”
To learn more — and find ways to get involved — visit their website at friendssnf.org
