Dakota County, MN

We all have items we don't need that just take up space. Choosing to donate those items and choosing used over buying new saves money and it’s better for the environment. That is why Dakota County hosts Fix & Swap events in partnership with our Fix-it Clinics.

Community Swaps provide an opportunity for the community to leave their unwanted items and then take as many available items as they wish – for free. All items left over after the event will be donated to a local reuse retailer. 

​Protecting Dakota County’s valuable surface water and groundwater resources is an important responsibility for everyone who lives and works here. Dakota County helps protect water quality every step of the way.

Since 1997, the Wetland Health Evaluation Program (WHEP) has engaged volunteers to help monitor local wetlands with the aim to improve/safeguard water and habitat quality. WHEP provides useful information to city and county planners, engineers, resource managers, the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency and other local agencies to keep track of wetland health throughout Dakota County.

WHEP volunteers work in teams to evaluate the biological health and stability of wetlands pre-selected by their community. All training and equipment is provided and volunteer times are flexible and adaptable to a busy summer schedule. Family-friendly and all ages welcome but we recommend this program to those who are 5 years old or older. 

Program Location/Date/Time

Registration will open in April. The city/region chooses what wetlands to sponsor each monitoring season. Volunteers will pick a team designated by city/region. The program schedule is determined after the registration period by the volunteer group and team leader’s availability and will vary by each team. The program runs May through August with various shifts (dates/times) determined by team and city.

Trainings

The provided trainings are recommended but not mandatory to participate in WHEP. We especially recommend the orientation in May so that you can meet your team and team leader!

For additional information about this program, check out this intro video , awesome WCCO news story or visit the MN WHEP website.

Please select the WHEP team you would like to join. If your desired team is full, please join the team nearest to where you live. The registration deadline for signing up is May 18, 2026. For assistance, please contact Garrett Zaffke at garrett.zaffke@co.dakota.mn.us. 

The provided trainings are recommended but not mandatory for all WHEP volunteers. The training consists of three sessions: Introduction & Field Methods, Macro ID, and Veg ID. Sign up for as many of the trainings as you wish. We recommend the training in May (especially if you are new to the program) so that you can meet your team and team leader in-person! You do not have to attend all three trainings during the season to participate in WHEP. 

Dakota County Citizen Advisory Committees support county government by involving citizens in the decision-making process, meeting requirements of state law, helping to define community norms and standards, providing technical expertise, serving as advocates, offering feedback, and reflecting the diverse interests of Dakota County clients and residents.

Now is the perfect time to get out and help out. Group volunteering is a meaningful break from the work/daily routine to help build camaraderie, collaboration, improve team communications, and to help make lasting change. Dakota County’s volunteer opportunities offer many unique and rewarding experiences for your group to experience together. All supplies, training, and event organization is taken care of by us. All your group needs to do is show up, ready to work and have fun!  

Working together makes us stronger, builds better bridges and opens up a world of opportunity to our residents. The Dakota County Volunteer Network (DCVN) exists to help local nonprofits and organizations tap into Dakota County's broader volunteer network. We seek to not only activate people who live in Dakota County but to everyone living in the Twin Cities metro and beyond. As participating organizations, we work together to build better programming and to share insights and ideas so that all of us can flourish and thrive in the causes that our organizations care about and support. 

Dakota County Volunteer Network - Connecting Communities to Local Opportunities. 

DISCLAIMER: Some of these opportunities are not managed by Dakota County Volunteers but with another local organization. You may have to complete additional registration and/or documentation with the host organization to participate with the activity. The organizations that host these opportunities take full responsibility for the organization and management of the activities listed below. 

Disclaimer: The positions listed below are not with Dakota County Volunteers but with another organization located in Dakota County or serving Dakota County residents.

You may have to complete additional registration/documentation with the host organization to fully apply for these openings. The organizations that host these opportunities take full responsibility for the organization and management of their volunteers.

The Dakota County Historical Society continues to build upon the efforts of Fred E. Lawshe and others who have worked for the Society over the years. There are now over 25,000 objects in the museum’s collections and more than 20,000 photographs. Its publishing program, first begun in 1951 with a newsletter called Over the Years, now creates over 100 pages of original historical research a year. Its research library has one of the best collections of local history in Minnesota.

130 3rd Avenue North
South St. Paul, MN 55075
651-552-7548
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Wednesday & Friday 9-5
Thursday 9-8
Saturday 10-3

LeDuc Historic Estate was built between 1862 and 1866 by William Gates LeDuc and his wife Mary LeDuc near the Vermillion River in Hastings, Minnesota. The LeDucs were prominent early settlers of Minnesota and played significant roles in the state's growth from a territory to a state. Take a step back in time and hear stories about the LeDuc family and the history of the 1800s.

1629 Vermillion Street
Hastings, MN 55033
651-438-8480
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The Estate is open to the public Thursday through Sunday, 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. from May 15 through October 25 and on special occasion the rest of the year.