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Volunteering
Why Volunteer? | Types of Volunteer Opportunities | How to Apply | Upcoming Training Dates | Upcoming Volunteer Work Parties
Volunteers help the Umpqua National Forest with a wide variety of activities and projects. These can include maintaining trails, staffing visitor centers, pulling invasive weeds, helping with administrative tasks, and serving as campground hosts. If you're interested in volunteering with us, check out some types of volunteer positions below.
“Life’s most persistent and urgent question is, what are you doing for others?”
– Martin Luther King, Jr.
Why Volunteer?
Volunteers are the heartbeat of the U.S. Forest Service. Our mission is made possible by volunteer stewards like you. As a volunteer for the Umpqua National Forest, you can:
- Meet people and form new friendships,
- Live on a national forest while you volunteer,
- Pursue a special interest such as bird watching or hiking,
- Diversify your job experience and career choices,
- Earn credit towards college with volunteer internships,
- Care for your public lands and serve the people who visit them.
The commitment you make is up to you. You may volunteer on a part-time or full-time basis. You can participate in a one-time project or serve over several months or seasons.
Additionally, once you reach 250 hours of service, you are eligible for a free America the Beautiful Volunteer Pass. Volunteer hours can be accrued over several years to qualify for the pass. For more information, please visit the USGS Store.
Types of Volunteer Opportunities
Want to help out with maintaining trails in your backyard? There are lots of ways to plug in. Send an email to misti-kae.n.bucich@usda.gov to get on the email list for training and upcoming events. Browse some of the types of volunteer positions on the Umpqua below.
Want to help with trail maintenance, but don't want to be a crew lead or sawyer? Join on of the volunteer work parties on the third Saturday of the month for trail maintenance around the Forest. There are also opportunities to join independent volunteer crews with saw, brushing, and tread projects throughout the season. If your knowledge and interests lie more with plants, there will also be some opportunities to join in the volunteer trails days as a weed warrior! This would include removing a variety of invasive species along the work area and can accommodate a variety of different physical abilities and endurance levels.
Sawyers use chainsaws or crosscut saws to cut downed logs out of trails. To be a sawyer, you must be certified by the Forest Service and be First Aid/CPR-certified. A-level sawyers must cut with B-level sawyer or higher.
Crew leads head up saw, brushing, or tread crews in the field. They must be First Aid/CPR certified, be trained in field communication, and be approved by FS staff. If you're interested in being a crew lead, attend the Volunteer Leadership Training and Advanced Skills Trail Stewardship course on April 13-14.
With hundreds of miles of trails on the Forest, scouts play a vital role in providing trail updates for the trail program. Scouts send in status reports, help keep the ArcGIS map updated with relevant information, and help with wilderness inventories.
Campground hosts act as the public face of a campground. They ensure fees are paid, vehicle limits are abided by, and rules are followed by guests. They may also provide recreation or interpretive information.
Volunteers are needed to staff Colliding Rivers Visitor Center in Glide and Diamond Lake Visitor Center in the summer months. Tasks include providing customer service, communicating information, orientating new visitors to the area, trip-planning, and representing the Umpqua National Forest.
Administrative volunteers play a crucial role in supporting the forest by handling tasks such as organizing the office, scanning documents, making copies, restocking pamphlets, sorting maps, and other general administrative tasks.
How to Apply
You can learn about current volunteer opportunities on the Umpqua National Forest by email or by visiting Volunteer.gov. You can also inquire about upcoming opportunities at your local ranger district office.
Anyone over the age of 18 may apply to volunteer. If you are under the age of 18 you may still participate by volunteering with your family, group, or club.
Ongoing Volunteer Opportunities
Staff a visitor center in Glide, OR.
While the visitor center in Glide has closed for the 2024 season. We are looking for volunteers to staff the Colliding River Visitor Center for summer 2025. Greet visitors, answer questions, and assist with trip-planning throughout the summer and fall months. If you are interested or would like more information, email misti-kae.n.bucich@usda.gov
Upcoming Volunteer Work Parties
December 11
Dorena Genetic Resource Center
9:30 to 2 pm to help with various nursery tasks including transplanting, pruning, thinning, spacing, fertilizing, and weeding. Come and join us for a fun day of plant care! Next Dorena Volunteer Day will be moved to Tuesdays; Tuesday January 14.
Email Michelle Osgood or sign up here.
Volunteer Training
Saw Certification: Bucking Class and Certification This Fall
If you are interested in getting certified to use either chainsaw or crosscut saws to buck out trees on National Forest trails, please send an email to lauren.hack@usda.gov with your current saw certification level (none, A, B, or C) and what you need – initial certification, First Aid/CPR certification, and/or recertification. To get field certified for using a saw, individuals are required to be current on their First Aid/CPR certifications, so please include in your email if you need that!