Volunteering Positions on the Mesa Ranger District
List of Positions - Mesa Ranger District
Detailed information and application information for volunteering on the Mesa Ranger District
Campground/Recreation Site Host: Volunteers will provide information and assistance to site visitors. Some area maintenance and clean-up may be required, depending on the site. A host must work well with people, be personable and neat in appearance. You may be required to be on site five days per week, especially on weekends and heavy use holidays. October-April 15
Data Entry/Computer Work: Volunteer would assist Forest Service personnel by entering data and other computer work. Work would be done in the office during regular business hours. Work would be intermittent and schedules flexible. Year round
Fire Closure Assistant: Volunteers would help at closure gates during special situations, providing public information and assisting with fire prevention activities. May-August
Front Desk Visitor Information Specialist: Volunteers would greet visitors, answer telephones, and provide information by mail, and frequently interact with visitors in person or by telephone. Year round
Group Volunteer Opportunities: Projects vary with interest of group and schedule availability, ranging from trail maintenance, invasive weed control, and area clean-up to river/lake shore projects and adopt-a-location (see below). Year round
Group Volunteer Opportunities: Adopt-A-Location: The district is searching for service groups, organizations, clubs, or families to adopt a location of their interest. The location can be a road, trail, recreation site, river section, lake shore, OHV area, shooting site or dispersed camping area. Work would include clean-up and light area maintenance to be performed several times per year. Year round
Lookout: Volunteer would work as fire lookout during the fire season. Living at the lookout location may be required. Mt. Ord lookout is one of the few lookouts accessible by vehicle. Training would be provided by the Forest Service. Volunteer would need a good understanding of maps, compass points and geography. The lookout area is subject to thunderstorms with lightning any hour of the day. April–August
Noxious and Invasive Weed Control: Volunteers would help to eradicate a variety of noxious and invasive weed species. Projects may require hiking into work location. Work can be strenuous. Forest Service will provide tools and training. November-April
OHV Peer Patrols: Volunteers would be responsible for providing education to the public, such as information about trail locations and "tread lightly" information. ATV and safety equipment must be provided by volunteer. October-April
Photographer: Volunteer would be available to take pictures of group activities, projects & general forest landscapes. Familiarity with computers and digital photography programs is required.
Smokey Bear: Volunteer would work parades, festivals & other events as Smokey Bear. Smokey Bear is always escorted and does not talk. Ideal volunteer is 5’10” or taller and enjoys working with children. Year round
Resource Monitoring: Volunteer would monitor visitor use, campsites, trails, signs, invasive plant species, wildlife, water sources and boundary fence. They may also do litter clean-up and routine trail maintenance while hiking or horseback riding in the beautiful backcountry of Arizona.
River Patrol: Volunteers would monitor river conditions, provide clean-up assistance, make visitor contacts, and thus be the “eyes and ears” of the Forest Service on the Salt River. Volunteers must provide their own watercraft and safety equipment. May-Sept
Trail Construction/Maintenance: Volunteers can participate in maintaining district trails. Typical work includes clearing trails, improving tread, cleaning water bars, cutting brush, and installing small drainage structures. Work is sometimes strenuous. Some projects may require overnight camping in the backcountry. Tools and training are provided. November-April
Wilderness Information Specialist: Volunteer duties include providing information and educational messages to wilderness visitors at developed trailheads. Volunteer must have good communication and interpersonal skills. May also be asked to day-hike trails to answer questions and be a “uniformed presence” on the trails. November-April
Alerts & Warnings
- Poco Pino Restoration Area 7 Temporary Closure Order 03-12-04-24-02
- Closure Order Lifted: National Forest System Road NFSR 487 (Workman Creek Road)
- Rattlesnake Cove Recreation Fishing Dock Closure 03-12-01-22-26
- Amended - Apache Lake Closure - Lower Burnt Corral Campground remains closed
- Bald Eagle Seasonal Closures
- Occupancy and Use Restrictions
- Update on State Route 88 (Apache Trail) - August 18, 2021
- Redmond Fire Road Closure