Volunteering

The Prescott National Forest relies on the hard work and cooperation of many partners, including volunteers, in accomplishing its mission of caring for the land and serving people.

Support and insight provided by partners is critical to the sustainability of landscapes and the services and opportunities the forest provides. Collaboration and communication with partners helps the forest maintain relevancy with the people and communities served, and ideally contributes to success in managing public lands now and into the future. 

Volunteers in particular, help us accomplish much work on-the-ground and, on the Prescott National Forest, they are regularly needed to: serve as campground hosts; maintain and construct multi-use trails; pick-up trash; remove invasive weeds; monitor wildlife, plants, and cultural and historic sites; assist with field surveys; provide office assistance and visitor information; and carry out stewardship activities for wilderness and wild and scenic rivers. If you are interested in volunteering with the Prescott National Forest, please ask!

To Learn More:

• Visit www.volunteer.gov to find listings for volunteer host positions on the Prescott National Forest and other federal agencies.  
• U.S. Forest Service Washington Office web page about Volunteering with the U.S. Forest Service
• View or download Welcome to the Forest Service: A Guide for Volunteers

Campground and Day-use Site Volunteer Hosts

The Prescott National Forest has many campgrounds, picnic and OHV areas, boat launches, and a horse campground which are very popular with forest visitors.  To provide the best service to visitors and the care needed to keep up the facilities visitors need, we seek the help of volunteer hosts from around the country.

Campground and day use site hosts are primarily needed April through October, with occasional winter needs.  Volunteer hosts may be individuals or pairs of people who own their own RV, camper, or motorhome which they live in at the location where they volunteer.

If you are a friendly, patient person with good customer service skills, love the outdoors, and able to perform daily cleaning and light maintenance, this may be the volunteer opportunity you have been looking for!  For more information, please visit our Campground & Day-use Hosts webpage

Volunteering for the TRAILS Program

Volunteers are the backbone of the Forest's Trails program, and there are numerous ways for you to get involved if you're interested in helping take care of Prescott National Forest's outstanding trails system.  For more information contact Jason Williams by email at: jason.a.williams@usda.gov, or by phone at: 928-777-2220.

• The Over the Hill Gang volunteers from 7:50am to Noon on Thursdays.  They meet at the Bradshaw Ranger Station at 344 S. Cortez Street (actually around the corner on Aubrey St. near the gate into the back parking lot).
• Verde Valley Trail Volunteers meet Wednesdays at 8:00am at the Verde Ranger Station, 300 East Highway 260 in Camp Verde, and work until 12:00 noon.
• Prescott Mountain Bike Alliance sponsors races, group rides, and several trail work days throughout the year.  PMBA also takes care of Ranch Trail #62 through the Prescott National Forest Adopt-a-Trail program.
• Prescott National Forest Adopt-a-Trail Program: Both organizations and individuals can adopt trails.  With approximately 850 miles of trails to maintain, Prescott National Forest continues to seek volunteers who are interested in adopting their favorite trail(s).  For more information please visit the Prescott National Forest Adopt-a-Trail webpage where you’ll find detailed instructions for how to go about adopting your own trail!
• Certified Volunteer Trail Crew Leaders:  On May 21, 2016, the Forest held a well-attended and successful first annual Volunteer Crew Leader Training.  In addition to attending this training, Volunteer Trail Crew Leaders are observed organizing and leading their own volunteer work day before gaining certification.  This exciting development in the Trails program has significantly increased the Forest's capacity for trail maintenance.  For information on the next training, contact Michael Reveile by email at: michael.z.reveile@usda.gov, or by phone at: 928-777-2226..

Prescott National Forest Adopt-a-Trail Program

Individuals and organizations can help the Forest maintain and enhance its outstanding trails system by volunteering to adopt a trail!  Please visit our Prescott National Forest Adopt-a-Trail webpage for more information.