July 23, 2026 | The Colorado River Basin is facing one of the driest summers on record. Snow that came too little, too late—or not at all—has depleted water supplies heading into the dry season. Throughout the West, communities are grappling with water shortages, wildfire risk and the growing impacts of a hotter, drier climate.

In a summer like this, the work doesn’t change—but the urgency does. Many of the solutions are already in motion, shaped by years of collaboration across the basin.

Across the Western U.S., TNC staff and partners are stepping up efforts to protect our forests, conserve water and help balance water needs for the communities, businesses and wildlife that need it most.

WASHINGTON D.C.— On May 13, leaders from across the country will gather in Washington, D.C. for the Friends of National Service Awards, an annual, bipartisan celebration hosted by Voices for National Service. At this year’s ceremony, April Elkins-Badtke, Executive Director of Conservation Legacy’s Stewards Individual Placements program, will be honored as the National Service Advocate of the Year. The award recognizes exemplary determination, creativity, and results in building support for AmeriCorps among our nation’s leaders.

November 6th, 2025 | Durango, CO — Conservation Legacy is proud to announce its role as a Programming Partner of America250, the official commemoration of the United States’ 250th anniversary. As the nation approaches this historic milestone in 2026, Conservation Legacy joins the America250 “America Gives” initiative—honoring the enduring power of service and how it has helped shape our nation and local communities.

DURANGO, CO, September 5th, 2025— Conservation Legacy is proud to announce the appointment of two federal agency leaders, Susan Johnson and Peggy O’Dell, to its Board of Directors. Both bring decades of experience in public service, land management, and youth engagement that will further strengthen Conservation Legacy’s mission to cultivate a legacy of service and stewardship across the nation.

Durango, CO (July 8th, 2025) — Conservation Legacy is proud to announce it has received a grant from the National Park Foundation (NPF), the official nonprofit partner of the National Park Service. Awarded to catalyze our efforts as part of the Collective Campaign — a cornerstone of The Campaign for National Parks — this grant supports our ongoing commitment to preserving, protecting, and enhancing national parks for everyone, forever.

The Community Volunteer Ambassador (CVA) program, managed in partnership between Conservation Legacy’s Stewards Individual Placement Program and the National Park Service’s (NPS) Volunteers-In-Parks program, is now recruiting paid interns for the Fall 2025 cohort.

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Outdoor Recreation Roundtable (ORR) announced the addition of nine new members and three new partners to its growing outdoor industry coalition, representing academic institutions, businesses, associations, state offices, and nonprofit organizations.

May 8th, 2025 | Shenandoah National Park— In January 2025, with snow on the ground, four crewmembers on the 2025 Veterans Fire Corps (VFC) hosted by New River Gorge National Park and Preserve (NERI), took numerous trainings to prepare them for the upcoming season and potential future careers in wildland fire management. NERI is part of the Allegheny Fire Management Zone that has provided opportunities for veterans to work and live alongside other vets as they transition from military to civilian service. Kris Stone, former U.S. Army, as well as previous VFC crewmember, and current NERI seasonal interpretation ranger, led the 2025 crew.

March 18th, 2025 | WASHINGTON, DC—AmeriCorps, the federal agency for national service and volunteerism, released a study analyzing the return on investment of Ancestral Lands Conservation Corps, a program in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The study found that for each dollar invested in the Ancestral Lands Conservation Corps, up to $15.32 was returned to the community.

February 6th, 2025 — I was inspired to pursue an internship at Pecos National Historical Park (PECO) for two main reasons, First, I’ve always aspired to work for the National Park Service (NPS). This was a goal I wasn’t sure I could reach but I was excited to try. Second, Pecos holds a special significance to me. Pecos Pueblo has a history that’s deeply connected to my community in Jemez Pueblo. The opportunity to help preserve this place made it an easy decision to apply for an internship there.