Healing Land & People 2026

North Central Land Conservancy Inc.

Who We Are

North Central Ohio Land Conservancy, or NCOLC, is a non-profit that protects over 1,600 acres of land in and around Richland County. Our nature preserves are open to the public, and most have hiking trails that allow hikers to access natural beauty, such as Hemlock Falls. The Clear Fork Valley Scenic Trail (CFVST), our crown jewel, features 9 miles of hiking trails that allow people to hike from Malabar Farm State Park to the Richland B&O Trail in Butler with only short stretches of roadside walking. Our trail provides access to stunning prairies and award-winning old growth forests, some of which serve as living museums that remind our hikers of ancient Ohio’s history.

What We Do in Richland County

Within our preserves, NCOLC protects our native plants and trees, which is the best way to protect the critters that live there. We remove invasive species, prevent erosion, and maintain trails so that you can walk the land and see for yourself the benefit of our work.

Healing Land & People

NCOLC hires recovering drug addicts and convicted felons and teaches them how to protect forest land through our Healing Land & People Program. They heal the land by learning how to carefully remove invasive plants and bushes. They heal themselves and each other by working collaboratively and taking pride in their work.

How You Can Help

If you long for fresh air and inspiring scenery, come and walk our Clear Fork Valley Scenic Trail. If you are looking to give back to a local trail, please reach out and join us on a volunteer work day in the near future - all are welcome! If you are able to financially support the work that NCOLC and the Healing Land and People Program do, please consider donating here! Help us meet the payroll of our dedicated employees who protect our preserves for you and for future generations.

Cole Rd Prairie - a prairie accessible through our trail system - in the autumn.

Some previous NCOLC employees that were provided work through generous donations to the Healing Land & People Program.

These are some examples of the work that NCOLC employees do on a daily basis. 

Each of these types of work are insignificant if done only once, but done in large numbers by a dedicated crew, they transform a forest. If you have no idea what a tree rescue is or what an invasive plant looks like, come join us on a volunteer work day and we will happily teach you!