Building on the legacy of volunteers: National Volunteer Week
For more than 100 years, the Forest Service has brought people and communities together to answer the call for conservation in the spirit of service and volunteerism. Through campground hosting, trail maintenance, visitor services, research and more, volunteers continue to make significant contributions to the legacy of conservation and outdoor experiences for future generations.
This week, April 21-27, marks National Volunteer Week and today, April 22, we celebrate Earth Day. During this week, I encourage you to take a moment to thank and recognize the many volunteers who give their time and talents to our organization and help create a brighter future for our planet. I am proud there are so many of you to thank!
In fiscal year 2023 alone, the Forest Service Volunteer Program mobilized 71,660 volunteers—over double the number of total Forest Service employees—who contributed 2.6 million hours to help people have safe, meaningful experiences hiking, camping, fishing, skiing, bird watching and spending time with family and friends in our national forests and grasslands. These hours equate to nearly $85 million in savings last year alone!
Notably last year, these national forests accumulated the most volunteer hours—congratulations!
National Forests in North Carolina: 111k
Coronado National Forest: 102k
Coconino National Forest: 92k
George Washington and Thomas Jefferson National Forests: 83k
I want to particularly highlight 24 volunteers on the Pisgah and Cherokee national forests who were recently recognized with 1,000-hour certificates for their exceptional contributions to trail maintenance in the Blue Ridge Mountains. These individuals are all members of the Tennessee Eastman Hiking and Canoeing Club and have spent thousands of hours clearing blowdowns, repairing erosion damage, and addressing various maintenance needs to ensure trails are accessible and safe for all to enjoy.
Notably, several recipients far exceeded the 1,000-hour milestone at the time of distribution, highlighting their enduring dedication. Carl Fritz, seen in the photo, topped the list at 19,851 lifetime hours in his 25 years of active volunteerism with the Forest Service—that’s 827 days (or a little over two years!) of volunteering on public lands!
Hearing stories like Carl’s make me incredibly proud and humbled to work for an organization where people recognize the importance of our job and jump in to serve alongside us. My heartfelt thanks and gratitude go to Carl and so many others during this National Volunteer Week.
We encourage anyone interested in learning how to volunteer with the Forest Service to visit our volunteer webpage.
We know there are many ways to serve in this organization, and we sincerely appreciate those who dedicate their time and efforts to volunteer with us. The Forest Service couldn’t carry out our mission without them. We, and our national forests and grasslands, are all the better for them. Thanks to all of our volunteers!
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