Washington, D.C.—April is National Volunteer Month, a time to reflect on the incredible impact of volunteering and to express our heartfelt gratitude to those who dedicate their time and energy to helping others. Volunteers play a crucial role in supporting the USDA Forest Service’s mission to nurture the health and productivity of our nation’s forests and grasslands. Their selfless contributions help ensure that we can meet the needs of both current and future generations, reminding us of the importance of community and the power of giving back.

Did you know that in fiscal year 2024, approximately 83,000 Forest Service volunteers dedicated 2.4 million hours with an appraised value of $81 million in savings? That’s an incredible impact.

Volunteers serve in nearly every discipline, unit and career field within the Forest Service and represent all ages and backgrounds—including recreation, timber, wildlife and habitat management, and visitor information services.  

To acknowledge our fantastic volunteers, we ask all Forest Service units to find opportunities to recognize your volunteers during Volunteer Week April 20-26.

Additionally, in recognition of the importance of volunteerism during April, we kindly request that all volunteer opportunities for summer 2025 be submitted for posting on www.volunteer.gov early April. If you need help, please contact program specialist Angela Warner at Angela.Warner@usda.gov.

Our volunteers provide invaluable support that allows us to live our motto of caring for the land and serving the people. We could not do everything we do without their hard work. Thank a volunteer today. Learn more about volunteering with the Forest Service.