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Volunteering
Volunteers are the Heartbeat of the Forest Service
Volunteers are crucial in working toward our mission of sustaining the health, diversity, and productivity of the Nation’s forests and grasslands to meet the needs of present and future generations.
The USDA Forest Service Volunteer Program has something for almost everyone: youth, people of all abilities, retirees, professionals, homemakers, students, as well as service clubs, organizations, and more. We invite you to join the more than 2.8 million volunteers who, since 1972, have provided more than 123 million hours of service.
USDA Forest Service Volunteers:
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Help manage campgrounds
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Interact with the public at visitor centers
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Help run events and lead projects, like National Public Lands Day
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Build trails
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Inventory wildlife and plants
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Serve as fire lookouts
Becoming a Volunteer
The first step in becoming a USFS volunteer is deciding what you want to do, where you want to volunteer, and what kind of time commitment you are able to make. Opportunities can be long term, short term, single events, or service-learning programs such as Youth Conservation Corps (YCC) and Public Land Corps (PLC). Getting in touch with a national forest service unit near you is the best way to find these opportunities. Choose a forest from the drop down menu below to learn about volunteer opportunities and contact information.
Many volunteer opportunities are listed on Volunteer.gov, America’s natural and cultural resources volunteer portal. It lists volunteer positions open by all federal and some state land management agencies across the country. Just apply on volunteer.gov and your information will be provided to the appropriate Forest Service contact. Available opportunities change frequently throughout the year, so visit often.
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Volunteer and Services Interactive Map
Find YCC, PLC, volunteer clubs/organizations, and individual placement opportunities that interest you on this interactive map.
Workforce Development Opportunities
Workforce Development Partnerships (WDP) offer youth, young adults, veterans and other emerging professionals training, work experiences and hiring pathways toward natural resources careers. WDP programs include the Resource Assistants Program, Youth Conservation Corps, Public Lands Corps, Indian Youth Service Corps, and many more internship and scholarship opportunities.
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Resource Assistants Internships
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Youth Conservation Corps
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Job Corps
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Indian Youth Service Corps
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Public Lands Corps
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Pathways Internships
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Presidential Management Fellows
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Veteran Opportunities
Volunteering On Public Lands Just Got More Rewarding!
You can receive the “America the Beautiful” Volunteer Pass
What are the benefits of the pass? The pass covers entrance and/or standard amenity fees on lands managed by the U.S. Forest Service, National Park Service, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, Bureau of Reclamation, and Bureau of Land Management. Passes are valid for one year from the issuance date.
How can I qualify for a Volunteer pass? You can receive an America the Beautiful Volunteer Pass in recognition of your efforts by accruing 250 hours of volunteer service on participating Federal public lands. Simply coordinate tracking of your hours with your volunteer supervisor or volunteer coordinator and they can request the pass for you.
Find more information about the America the Beautiful Volunteer Pass and purchasing information on the USGS Website.
Other Resources
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National Volunteer Website
Join over 80,000 volunteers annually to be part of something greater.
Features
Congratulations, National and Eastern Region Volunteer & Service Award Winners
Each year, our volunteers’ exceptional dedication and service is recognized through the National and Regional Volunteer & Service Awards Program for exemplary achievements to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of the nation’s forest and grasslands. These efforts truly embody the spirit of working together to preserve the legacy of public lands through passion, dedication, generosity, and hard work. Read more about our 2023 Volunteer & Service Awards winners.
Celebrating our Volunteers!
April is National Volunteer Month and we’re celebrating the Eastern Region’s volunteers. In 2023, more than 7,300 volunteers gave well over an astonishing 275,000 hours of service. The financial value translates to more than $8.7 million, however, we know the true value of our volunteers is priceless.