NRCS North Dakota Honors Earth Team Volunteers During Volunteer Appreciation Week

BISMARCK, N.D. — As Volunteer Appreciation Week 2025 unfolds, the USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in North Dakota is shining a spotlight on the dedicated Earth Team volunteers who help make conservation efforts possible. Among those recognized are two long-serving champions of conservation, Mark Hamley and Wallace Decoteau, who have volunteered for over 17 years through Turtle Mountain Community College (TMCC) and the National Youth Sports Program (NYSP) in Belcourt.

Hamley, the Natural Resources Director at TMCC, and Decoteau, the Director of National Youth Sports and Alternative Learning Programs at Belcourt High School, have been instrumental in fostering environmental stewardship among local youth. Through their leadership, hundreds of students have gained hands-on conservation experience at events such as the Conservation Day Camp, held at TMCC’s Anishinabe Campus on Belcourt Lake.

The camp, which featured six conservation stations covering soils, wildlife, wetlands, range, engineering, and forestry, provided over 180 students with an opportunity to engage directly with natural resource professionals and tools used in the field. The event was a collaborative effort made possible by NRCS, Turtle Mountain Tribe, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, North Dakota Forest Service, and numerous volunteers from TMCC, NYSP, and USDA-Farm Service Agency.

Dan Hovland, State Conservationist for NRCS North Dakota, emphasized the vital role volunteers play in the agency’s mission.

“Volunteers like Mark Hamley and Wallace Decoteau are the heart of conservation efforts in North Dakota,” Hovland said. “For nearly two decades, they have inspired generations of students to care for the land and understand the importance of natural resources. We are incredibly grateful for their service and dedication.”

The NRCS Earth Team program provides opportunities for individuals to volunteer their time and talents to help with conservation efforts across the country. This year’s Volunteer Appreciation Week is also a time to remember the late Craig M. Brumbaugh, a longtime NRCS forester and advocate for the Earth Team and Civil Rights Committee, who passed away on May 2, 2024.

“Craig was passionate about conservation and committed to uplifting communities, especially at TMCC,” Hovland said. “His legacy continues to inspire us to engage more volunteers and support conservation at every level.”

In recognition of their outstanding contributions, Hamley and Decoteau will receive Certificates of Appreciation and some Earth Team swag for their 17 years of dedicated service. Their work not only reflects a commitment to environmental stewardship but also highlights the importance of Tribal partnerships in advancing conservation efforts.

As NRCS North Dakota looks to reinvigorate its Earth Team program, the agency hopes the stories of volunteers like Hamley, Decoteau, and Brumbaugh will encourage others to join the cause.

For more information about the Earth Team Volunteer Program, visit HERE.

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