We invite you to experience an interactive story map featuring over 100  stories, images and videos of service to the land by Forest Service volunteers and partners.

The breadth and depth of volunteer contributions to Forest Service landscapes are impossible to capture in a single story. It requires many.

Volunteers generously and selflessly donate their time to help sustain the health, diversity and productivity of the nation’s forests and grasslands to meet the needs of present and future generations. Not only do volunteers give back by helping the Forest Service care for the land and serve people, but they also acquire work experience, benefit from training opportunities, and gain personal satisfaction.

In 2022 alone, nearly 86,000 Forest Service volunteers dedicated 3.8 million hours with an appraised value of just under $116 million. Since the Forest Service started tracking volunteerism nearly 50 years ago, over 3 million private citizens have worked with us. We value and appreciate each one.

From planting trees to managing fire, from collecting research data to maintaining 148,000 miles of trails, and over 100 other ways, volunteers are as much a part of the fabric of the USDA Forest Service as its employees. Our forests and grasslands would not be the same without them.

Take some time to learn about their stories and contributions.

And when you see a volunteer, thank them!