To conserve the nation’s woods, waters and wildlife, it’s important to speak up and participate in the advocacy process. There are abundant opportunities available to everyone.
You can select from a wide range of ways to get involved with issues you care about—from writing a letter to your local newspaper to making an appointment and meeting with your U.S. Senator in one of their state offices.
Your advocacy might focus on national issues like the need to pass a better Farm Bill or restore Clean Water Act protections for streams and wetlands. Or you may prefer local topics like water quality in your community or decide to attend a lawmaker’s town hall meeting.
Advocacy is not one-size-fits-all. Tailor outreach to your specific interests and the issues you are passionate about. Here are a few opportunities to consider.
Ways You Can Help
Follow us and share our posts on social media
By connecting with the League through social media, you can let your friends and family in on the things you care about, and you can help bring concerned people into this advocacy community.
Complete our action alerts
Periodically, we send out action alerts via email for members and followers to complete. These alerts only require a couple minutes of your time and your communication goes directly to your member of Congress. Current action alerts are found on our website here.
Write a letter to the editor
Sharing your views and concerns with a local newspaper can raise awareness among elected officials as well as readers and will more likely get published than letters sent to national newspapers. As a first step, check to see if your local paper has a word limit or specific instructions on how to submit a letter.
Join the conservation committee in your chapter
This committee connects you with other Ikes who are motivated to create change in your community. If your chapter doesn’t have a conservation committee, talk to your leadership about establishing one. Perhaps you could lead that group.
Join community organizations that prioritize conservation
Connecting with other conservation-minded groups and neighbors for advocacy can create momentum toward our goals. Organizing and following through on a specific action, like an email campaign or attending an event, can lead to real change.
Become a water monitor
By testing local waters and reporting your findings, you provide invaluable data that can be used to increase public awareness about water quality and spur advocacy. Salt Watch and Nitrate Watch are easy to understand. You only need a few supplies and can test local streams or tap water any time.
Make an appointment to visit with your legislators
Most state legislators and members of Congress have office hours when they will sit down and talk with you in person, over the phone or on Zoom. Check their website, email or call them to find out how they schedule meetings with constituents.
So let’s get started
Since 1922, the Izaak Walton League has been helping local lawmakers, members of Congress and U.S. presidents understand what’s at stake when decisions are made that affect our soil, air, woods, waters and wildlife. This is what we do.
We have a rich history of working collaboratively with community members, elected officials, the press, schools and private companies to protect the great outdoors for future generations.
Your kit will include a bottle containing 25 nitrate test strips which you can use to test your water source(s) throughout the year. You’ll also receive postcards explaining how to use your nitrate test strips and how to share your Nitrate Watch results on the Clean Water Hub.
Your kit will include four test strips so you can test your waterway throughout the season. You’ll also receive a chart to help you interpret your results and a postcard with instructions for completing a Salt Watch test and reporting your findings.