Ecological Leadership
For more than a decade, Canal Shores’ ecological restoration work has been powered by volunteers: people showing up, working hard, and helping transform this space.
As the effort has grown, so has the need for a clear, long-term plan to guide restoration across all 40 acres of Canal Shores.
Today, our efforts are guided by a dedicated ecology team that helps turn volunteer energy into focused, high-impact restoration work.
Arielle Erwin
Ecology Field Coordinator
Arielle is a wildlife biologist with an M.S. in Wildlife Sciences and a B.S. in Wildlife Ecology & Management. She brings hands-on restoration experience across prairie, savanna, woodland, and riparian habitats, including invasive species management, prescribed fire, ecological monitoring, and volunteer field leadership. Her background includes restoration work with the Forest Preserves of Cook County.
She leads restoration work in the field, helping implement Canal Shores’ long-term ecological plan while translating restoration goals into clear seasonal and weekly priorities for volunteers. Arielle also provides training, coordination, and guidance for volunteers working throughout the site.
Megan Hart
Ecology Grants & Communications Coordinator
Megan joined Canal Shores in 2024. As the organization’s first Ecology Coordinator, she helped guide the transition from a grassroots volunteer effort into a more structured ecological restoration program. She now leads efforts to secure restoration funding, build regional partnerships, and communicate the impact of Canal Shores’ ecological stewardship work.
Megan holds a BaSC in Forest Science with a minor in Life Sciences Communication from the University of Wisconsin–Madison and is currently pursuing her master’s degree at the University of Wisconsin–Green Bay. She is also an ISA Certified Arborist. Her previous experience includes work with the Chicago Botanic Garden and Citizens for Conservation.
She helps drive Canal Shores’ ecological vision while connecting restoration work in the field to long-term stewardship, community engagement, and project sustainability, helping ensure restoration efforts are supported, understood, and sustained over time.
Working Together
Together, this team connects long-term ecological planning with day-to-day restoration work in the field.
This approach helps turn years of volunteer effort into lasting ecological success: restoring habitat, managing invasive species in a sustained way, stabilizing the landscape, and improving the long-term health of the canal and surrounding environment.
Volunteers Are Still the Heart of This Work
Volunteers remain at the center of Canal Shores’ restoration efforts. The difference today is that the work is guided by a clear ecological plan, ensuring that every hour spent in the field contributes to meaningful, lasting impact.
Join us for a workday and help restore Canal Shores.
