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Volunteer Opportunities

A volunteer chatting on a Forest trail with a hiker.
One of eighteen volunteers headout with the Angeles National Forest Heritage Program in late April 2019 (Forest Service Photo by Andrew Mitchell).

Volunteer opportunities vary with each national forest and grassland. Some typical volunteer projects range from a single-day project to a long-term undertaking for several months. There are many types of volunteer opportunities suitable for your talents and skills, and we want to match your skills with your work preference to give you an enjoyable experience and best fulfill the mission of the Forest Service. Examples of opportunities are listed below. What captures your interest?
 

  • Campgrounds

    Two volunteers outside of a tent at a forest campsite. One is standing while the other sits in a chair enjoying the nice weather.

    • Serve as Campground Host to maintain sites and facilities, and manage campground safety

    • Coordinate stewardship and cleanup events

    • Monitor developed recreation sites

  • Visitor Centers

    Norway Beach Visitor Center in the Chippewa National Forest surrounded by fall colors. The visitor center is contructed from cut logs.

    • Greet and share information with visitors

    • Respond to inquiries and provide interpretive talks

    • Perform administrative and information technology tasks

    • Manage interpretive displays and provide safety requirements

  • Trail Work

    A group of young volunteers working on a forest trail. Two volunteers are carrying a cut wood beam on their left shoulders.

    • Maintain and clear trails, remove hazardous trees

    • Perform routine checks and updates as a local steward

    • Monitor and provide trail condition reports, photos, GPS locations, and descriptions

    • Support recreational trail maintenance for biking, hiking, ski and other trails

  • Conservation

    Two men standing in a forest clearing, wearing hard hats and bright safety vests looking over paperwork.

    • Conduct inventory of wildlife and plants

    • Serve as a fire lookout to spot wildfires

    • Build and repair fences, nest boxes, picnic tables, and other structures

    • Rehabilitate special natural areas, glades and wetlands

  • Education

    A Forest Service employee assisting a young person working on a computer.

    • Facilitate tours and experiences for visitors

    • Deliver environmental education and interpretive programs

    • Represent the Forest Service at public events and schools

    • Develop informational resources

  • Citizen Science

    A large buck Mule Deer with large healthy antlers, standing in a dry grass field.

    • Use Geographic Information System (GIS) to map geological landmarks and other projects

    • Survey and track wildlife

    • Provide large-scale data collection for science literacy and shared knowledge through Citizen Science

    • Observe and explore changes to ecosystems

  • Special Events

    A group of people holding a banner, posing for a group photo, outside in front of a pavilion.

    • Serve as booth or table host at school events or community festivals

    • Participate in days of service projects, such as National Public Lands Day or National Trails Day

    • Host a friends’ meetup to clean up a recreation site or trailhead

  • Virtual/Digital

    A man working in an office in front of two computer screens.

    • Engage in online education, research, content creation, or administrative tasks

  • Heritage Program

    Two women in an office talking about a few artifacts they are looking over.

    • Conduct archival research, archaeological surveys, and excavations

    • Help preserve and restore historic structures

    • Document oral histories

    • Curate artifacts

Annual Volunteer Opportunities

One way that many people begin volunteering with the Forest Service is through special events, held annually across the country, designed specifically to celebrate citizen stewardship. Here are a few important annual events to mark on your calendar.

In 1983, Congress designated the third Monday in January as Martin Luther King Jr. Day, a federal holiday named for the famed civil rights leader. Eleven years later, the holiday was named as the United States’ first-ever National Day of Service as a way to honor Dr. King’s inspiring legacy of service and leadership and encourage citizen stewardship across the country.

April is National Volunteer Month in the United States, an annual celebration of citizen stewardship. During this time (especially the mid-month National Volunteer Week), Forest Service regions and districts offer special recognition for the incredible work of volunteers whose contributions are crucial to accomplishing our mission to care for the land and serve people.

The very first Earth Day was celebrated on April 22, 1970, inspired by the growing environmental movement and Americans’ desire to be better stewards of our air, land, and waters—and all living beings within. Now, many communities, schools, organizations, and other entities offer volunteer opportunities that combine stewardship, environmental education, and advocacy.

Launched by American Hiking Society in 1993, National Trails Day is a way to give back to the trails that we all enjoy. Celebrated on the first Saturday in June, this annual day of service brings together tens of thousands of outdoor enthusiasts who gather around the country to complete trail projects, participate in clean-ups, and advocate for the preservation and expansion of our trail systems.

Held annually on the fourth Saturday in September, National Public Lands Day (NPLD) is the largest single-day volunteer event for public lands. What began in 1994 with approximately 700 participants has now blossomed into a celebration of citizen stewardship that draws upward of 156,000 volunteers who help restore and improve public lands around the country. Please visit the National Environmental Education Foundation National Public Lands Day page for more information.

 

Questions? Please email SM.FS.WOVolServ@usda.gov.