Volunteers
Thank you for volunteering!
Whether it's working outdoors with your hands or in an office on a computer, we depend on our volunteers to care for your national forests and grasslands. No matter your interest, your age, or where you are, #volunteer with us to care for the land and serve people. Volunteers are needed to help with a variety of projects on the national forest, such as trail maintenance, campground hosts, and cleanup days. Volunteer activities can be tailored to your specific talents and interest or you can take advantage of opportunities to learn new skills.
Volunteer Groups
Fishing Groups
- Georgia Trout Unlimited - @GeorgiaTroutUnlimited
- Georgia Trout Unlimited - combined events calendar
- Upper Chattahoochee Trout Unlimited - @ucctu
- Trout Unlimited: Cohutta Chapter #242 - @tucohutta
- Coosa Valley Chapter 519 of Trout Unlimited - @coosavalleytu
- Rabun Chapter of Trout Unlimited - @rabuntu
- Tailwater Chapter #532 Trout Unlimited
- Georgia Foothills Chapter of Trout Unlimited - @gafoothills
- Oconee River Chapter of Trout Unlimited
- Chattahoochee/Nantahala Chapter 692 of Trout Unlimited - @ngatu692
- Blue Ridge Mountain Trout Unlimited #696
- Gold Rush Chapter - Trout Unlimited
Hiking Groups
- Benton MacKaye Trail Association - http://www.bmta.org/
- Team Conasauga - @teamconasauga
- Georgia Appalachian Trail Club - @GaATClub
- Southern Appalachian Wilderness Stewards - @WildernessStewards
- Georgia Pinhoti Trail Association
- Georgia Bartram Trail Group - www.gabartramtrail.org
- Yahoola Trails - @YahoolaTrails
- Mountain High Hikers - www.mountainhighhikers.org
Biking Groups
- Southern Off Road Bicycle Association IMBA SORBA - @imbasorba
- Gartra: Georgia Recreational Trail Riders Association - @GARTRA1
- Georgia Bounty Runners 4WD Club - @gbr4wd
Horse Riding Groups
- Chattahoochee Trail Horse Association - www.ride-ctha.org
- Back Country Horsman of Georgia - www.bchsg.org
Conservation Groups
- Lumpkin Coalition - @HemlockFest
- The Georgia Conservancy - @georgiaconservancy
- The Nature Conservancy in Georgia - @NatureConservancyGA
- Sierra Club - Georgia Chapter - @GASierraClub
- Georgia Wildlife Federation - @GeorgiaWildlifeFederation
- Georgia ForestWatch
- Chattooga Conservancy - @thechattoogaconservancy
Outdoor Groups
- Go Outdoors USA - @GOU.ORG
- Lake Blue Ridge Civic Association - LBRCA - @LakeBlueRidgeCivicAssociation
- Keep America Beautiful - @KeepAmericaBeautiful
- Keep Georgia Beautiful Foundation - @KeepGeorgiaBeautiful
- Keep Our Mountains Beautiful - @KeepOurMountainsBeautiful
- Keep Rabun Beautiful - @keeprabunbeautiful
- Keep Dalton-Whitfield Beautiful - @KeepDaltonWhitfieldBeautiful
- Keep Chatsworth-Murray Beautiful
- Keep Toccoa-Stephens County Beautiful - @KeepToccoaStephensCountyBeautiful
- Keep Gilmer Beautiful - @keepgilmerbeautiful
- Keep Walton Beautiful (KWB)
- Keep Oconee County Beautiful Commission
- Keep Bartow Beautiful - @KBB.5167
- Keep Athens-Clarke County Beautiful - @KACCB
- Keep Forsyth County Beautiful - @KFCBorg
- Keep North Fulton Beautiful - @KeepNorthFultonBeautiful
- Keep Hall Beautiful - @KeepHallBeautiful
- Soque River Watershed Association - @soqueriverlover
- Keep Roswell Beautiful
If you have any doubt about how gratifying and how much fun working outdoors in a national forest is, we invite you to come work with us and see for yourself. But let's be honest, the days are long and the work is often physically demanding, but there is always something anyone can do.
Volunteers may earn a National Forest Annual Pass by performing 20 hours of volunteer work in coordination with the Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forests. Just be sure to contact a local district office before you start to put in your volunteer time! All volunteer work and hours must be obtained under an official volunteer agreement.
Our national forests have a long, rich history which has led us to where we are today. Join us and be part of our heritage.
See details and opportunities at Volunteer.gov - America's Natural and Cultural Resources Volunteer Portal.
Adopt a Campground
Another opportunity to help is to adopt a campground. We have both developed and dispersed campgrounds that can be adopted. Needed activities in our campgrounds include general site cleanup, obliteration of illegal campsites, checking that signs are in good condition and placed properly. To adopt a campground, contact your nearest District office. Several opportunities (but not all) are listed at Volunteer.gov.
Trail Maintenance
The national forest has several organized trail clubs who help maintain a wide range of trail types under the Adopt-A-Trail Program. These groups welcome folks who would like to help out on one of their regular workdays, or who might be interested in becoming a club member. Learn more about trails on the national forest: CoTrails Makes Strides in Forest-wide Trails Assessment.
Lend a Hand for National Public Lands Day!
National Public Lands Day (NPLD) is the nation's largest volunteer event for public lands. Join other trail enthusiasts in making a personal commitment of time and passion to our National Forest trails in order to “give back” for all the enjoyment they receive from their experiences in the great outdoors – have fun and accomplish something great! Get the details about events on the Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forests.
See the @ChattOconeeNF Facebook page for a Schedule of Volunteer Activities at: https://www.facebook.com/pg/ChattOconeeNF/events/
Further event details by Ranger District may also available:
- Blue Ridge Ranger District, Blairsville, Georgia
- Chattooga River Ranger District, Clayton, Georgia
- Conasauga Ranger District, Chatsworth, Georgia
- Oconee Ranger District, Eatonton, Georgia