Forest Service Green Thumbs

Volunteer for the 2024 Season

Join our monthly volunteer events through October 2024 to restore disturbed lands across the San Bernardino National Forest. This year the San Bernardino National Forest and Southern California Mountains Foundation are hosting two events each month to give you even more opportunities to volunteer! All events will improve habitat for wildlife, plants, the Monarch butterfly, and other pollinators.

All events are 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on select Saturdays

April 20
May 11
May 18
June 15
June 29
July 20
July 27
Aug. 10
Aug. 17
Sept. 14
Sept. 28 (National Public Lands Day)
Oct. 12
Oct. 26

All ages are welcome!

Activities may include collecting and dispersing native seeds, out planting of native species, slashing, barrier installation, nursery work, watering and restoration site maintenance and restoring illegal user created routes.

Two weeks prior to each event, a flyer will be emailed to our volunteer mailing list with the project description, logistics and how to sign up. To add your name/organization to our mailing list, please contact Drew, Lisa or Megan below.

Our 2024 volunteer events are designed with your safety in mind and will follow heatlth and safety guidelines. As part of our safety plan pre-registration is required as space is limited. Please sign up in advance.

A woman holds a five-gallon bucket with tree seedlings ready to plant in a forest.

For additional photos click on the image above.

Some events will require driving on USFS dirt roads. A high clearance vehicle is recommended, 4-wheel drive not required.

Bring: sturdy shoes, sun and eye protection, lunch and water

We will provide: gloves, tools, restrooms, hand sanitizer

To learn more about our program and see our volunteers at work, select from below:

Who We Are

The San Bernardino National Forest has fun, informative, and diverse opportunities for people who enjoy the outdoors and want to make a difference in the environment. Green Thumbs is open to people of all ages, community groups, school groups, student projects, scout groups and individuals. Volunteers not only meet and work alongside other people with similar interests, but they also learn to restore, conserve, sustain and promote the environment they live in.

What We Do

The Green Thumbs Volunteer Program has conducted ecological restoration for more than two decades restoring lands affected by motorized and non-motorized off route use, wildfire, fire suppression and other uses. Since the program began in 1998, thousands of acres of disturbed land across the Forest has been restored with native plants grown in our greenhouse and nurseries. Over 50 species of native grasses, forbs, shrubs and trees are grown for out planting into a variety of habitats. Volunteer activities include collecting and propagating native seeds, caring for plants in the greenhouse and out planting native plants and trees in the Forest. Volunteers learn to monitor and maintain the sites by watering, mulching and removing invasive species. Our projects enhance plant and wildlife habitat and also for monarch butterflies & other important pollinators as well.