Volunteers
Volunteers are the heartbeat of the Forest Service. As a volunteer, you can participate in a one-time project or serve over several months, seasons, or year-round. The commitment you make is up to you.
Volunteer.gov
Apply today through volunteer.gov for a volunteer position on the George Washington and Jefferson National Forests. Positions include:
- Trail maintenance
- Visitor information
- Campground hosts
- Bike Patrol on the Virginia Creeper Trail
- ...and much more!
Volunteer as a Campground Host
Spend your summer in the idyllic setting of the forest’s most beloved campgrounds as a volunteer host. You will help take care of a special campground while enjoying a free RV hookup or cabin for the duration of your stay.
Partner Volunteer Organizations
Volunteer opportunities to improve services and recreation on National Forest Lands are offered through partner organizations throughout Virginia and West Virginia. Opportunities include trash clean-up events, trail improvements, customer service in a visitor center, monitoring and assisting with wildlife programs, and much more. Find a volunteer opportunity with an organization working on a ranger district near you!
Current Needs
The James River and Warm Springs District is currently accepting volunteers for Lake Moomaw recreation areas. Positions include campground hosts, information volunteers, and maintenance helpers!
All open positions are posted to Volunteer.gov. Please contact the Ranger District Offices for more specific information.
Local Communities
Local communities, counties, and tourism bureaus are partners in stewarding and promoting the special places on the George Washington and Jefferson National Forests. In addition to the volunteer organizations listed, check within your local communities for trail maintenance and trash pickup events aimed at improving Forest lands.
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| Central Appalachia Climbers CoalitionThe CACC organizes litter pickups near popular climbing spots on the district. |
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| Pine Mountain Trail ConferenceThe PMTC carries out trail maintenance along Pine Mountain Trail. |
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| Southern Appalachian Wilderness StewardsSAWS is a forest partner who helps with stewardship of designated wilderness areas. They help with trail maintenance in wilderness areas and host workshops and trainings to teach and certify volunteers to use crosscut saws. |
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| Scott County Regional Horse AssociationThe SCRHA carries out trail maintenance efforts with a focus on providing equine activities in Scott County and surrounding region. |
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| Spearhead TrailblazersThis local chapter of the VMN carries out multiple projects such as education and outreach, but also works in data collection, biological inventories, and other research-oriented activities. |
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| Virginia Master Naturalists High Knob ChapterThis local chapter of the VMN carries out multiple projects such as education and outreach, but also works in data collection, biological inventories, and other research-oriented activities. |
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| Backcountry Horsemen-Eastern Divide ChapterBCHA Eastern Divide Chapter strives to perpetuate recreational stock use on public lands and carries out trail maintenance efforts. |
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| Master Naturalists of Virginia - New River Valley ChapterThis local chapter of the VMN focuses on preserving natural resources by collecting data about species in the area and providing education as well as community-outreach. |
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| Outdoor Club at Virginia TechOCVT is a student group that aims to spread knowledge of the local area and volunteers to keep sections of the Appalachian Trail maintained. |
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| Piedmont Appalachian Trail HikersPATH is a volunteer club associated with Appalachian Trail Conservancy that helps to maintain sections of the Appalachian Trail. |
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| Poverty Creek Trails CoalitionPoverty Creek Trails Coalition works to create, maintain, and improve trails in the New River Valley. |
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| Roanoke Appalachian Trail ClubRATC is a volunteer club associated with Appalachian Trail Conservancy that helps to maintain sections of the Appalachian Trail in the Roanoke region. |
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| Southern Appalachian Wilderness StewardsSAWS is a forest partner who helps with stewardship of designated wilderness areas. They help with trail maintenance in wilderness areas and host workshops and trainings to teach and certify volunteers to use crosscut saws. |
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| West Virginia Scenic Trails AssociationWVSTA maintains the Allegheny Trail and the Mary Draper Ingles Trail and offers monthly volunteer opportunities. |
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| Back Country Horsemen of America - Golden Horseshoe ChapterBack Country Horsemen of America strives to perpetuate recreation stock use on public lands and carries out trail maintenance efforts on the Glenwood Horse Trail. |
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| Blue Ridge Bear and Coon ClubThe Blue Ridge Bear and Coon Club assists with litter pick-up efforts. |
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| Charlottesville Area Mountain Bike ClubThe CAMBC’s main goal is to promote sustainable public trail systems in and around Charlottesville; they assist with trail maintenance needs. |
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| Natural Bridge Appalachian Trail ClubThe NBATC is a volunteer-based hiking club that maintains over 90 miles of trails on the Glenwood-Pedlar Ranger District, including a large portion of the Appalachian Trail. |
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| Old Dominion Appalachian Trail ClubThe ODATC assists with trail maintenance and also acts as stewards of a 19.1 mile section of the Appalachian Trail, roughly 6 miles of this is located on the Glenwood-Pedlar Ranger District. |
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| Roanoke Appalachian Trail ClubThe RATC maintain and protects over 120 miles of the Appalachian trial in the Roanoke Region. This club is active on both the Eastern Divide and the Glenwood-Pedlar Ranger Districts. |
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| Southern Appalachian Wilderness StewardsSAWS is a forest partner who helps with stewardship of designated wilderness areas. They help with trail maintenance in wilderness areas and host workshops and trainings to teach and certify volunteers to use crosscut saws. |
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| Tidewater Appalachian Trail ClubThe TATC maintains a 10+ mile section of the Appalachian Trail in Three Ridges Wilderness, as well as 23 additional miles of non-AT trails. The club is based near Norfolk, VA, but travels to the Glenwood-Pedlar Ranger District from multiple trail maintenance work weekends each year. |
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| Tread Lightly - East Coast InitiativeTread Lightly carries out stewardship and education projects and assists with public outreach, trail maintenance, and trash pick-up. |
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| Virginia 4WD AssociationThe Virginia 4WD Association assists with clean-up events on Forest Service roads, trails, and recreation sites. |
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| Virginia Highlands Chapter - Ducks UnlimitedThis local chapter of Ducks Unlimited coordinates with district wildlife programs to install and maintain wood duck nesting boxes with the help of volunteers. |
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| Alleghany Highlands Trail ClubThe Alleghany Highlands Trail Club works to maintain local, multi-use trails in Alleghany and Bath counties. |
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| Ducks Unlimited - Virginia Highlands ChapterThis local chapter of Ducks Unlimited coordinates with district wildlife programs to install and maintain wood duck nesting boxes with the help of volunteers. |
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| Southern Appalachian Wilderness StewardsSAWS is a forest partner who helps with stewardship of designated wilderness areas. They help with trail maintenance in wilderness areas and host workshops and trainings to teach and certify volunteers to use crosscut saws. |
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| Capital Hang Gliding and Paragliding Association ProjectCHGPA is an active club dedicated to the growth and safety of hang gliding and paragliding. This club maintains the Edith Gap and Woodstock Tower hang gliding and paragliding sites. |
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| Capital Land Cruiser ClubCovering the capitol region of Virginia, Maryland, and DC, this Toyota 4 x 4 club assists with trail maintenance on Peters Mill Run Off-Highway Vehicle Trail. |
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| Civilian Conservation Corps LegacyCCCL is a national organization that promotes education and awareness of the Civilian Conservation Corps. President Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s New Deal Program that provided conservation work from 1933 to 1942 for unemployed young men during the Great Depression. |
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| Friends of North Fork of Shenandoah RiverFriends of North Fork of Shenandoah River help keep the Shenandoah River clean through advocacy, community action, education, and science. |
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| Mid-Atlantic Off-Road EnthusiastsMid-Atlantic Off-Road Enthusiast is an all-volunteer mountain bike organization that assists the Lee Ranger District with trail maintenance. |
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| New Market Rotary ClubNMRC is a community organization that assists with annual roadside trash clean-up along three miles of Crisman Hollow Road. |
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| Potomac River Keepers NetworkPRKN hosts river clean-ups and volunteer opportunities to become a water quality monitor to help keep the rivers clean. PRKN hosts the annual RioPalooza at the Elizabeth Furnace Day Use Area in September. |
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| Southern Appalachian Wilderness StewardsSAWS is a forest partner who helps with stewardship of designated wilderness areas. They help with trail maintenance in wilderness areas and host workshops and trainings to teach and certify volunteers to use crosscut saws. |
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| Virginia Happy Trails Running ClubVHTRC assists with trail maintenance and sponsors several endurance events on the Massanutten Mountain in Lee Ranger District. |
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| Washington Area Trail RidersWashington Area Trail Riders is a long-standing partner with the Lee District. They are an off-highway vehicle club who assists with trail maintenance on the Peters Mills Run and Taskers Gap OHV Trail as well as assisting the Old Dominion Equestrian Endurance Rides organization’s events. |
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| Winchester Wheelmen
Winchester Wheelmen is a non-profit volunteer-led organization that promotes bicycling and contributes to trail maintenance. |
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| Back Country Horsemen of Virginia HighlandsBack Country Horsemen of Virginia Highland works to perpetuate recreation stock use on public lands and carries out trail maintenance efforts. |
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| Friends of Mount RogersThe Friends of Mount Rogers is a non-profit organization that promotes the appreciation and enjoyment of the Mount Rogers National Recreation Area through educational and interpretative programs, visitor center assistance, and volunteer efforts. |
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| Mount Rogers Appalachian Mountain ClubMRATC is one of the 31 volunteer clubs of the Appalachian Trail Conservancy that has maintenance responsibilities in the Jefferson National Forest and the Mt. Rogers National Recreation Area. |
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| Mount Rogers Trail Advocates’ CoalitionThis coalition works to preserve and enhance trails in the Mt. Rogers National Recreational Area. |
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| Piedmont Appalachian Trail HikersPATH is one of the 31 volunteer clubs of the Appalachian Trail Conservancy that helps maintain the Appalachian Trail and organizes monthly work trips. |
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| Southern Appalachian Wilderness StewardsSAWS is a forest partner who helps with stewardship of designated wilderness areas. They help with trail maintenance in wilderness areas and host workshops and trainings to teach and certify volunteers to use crosscut saws. |
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| Wilderness Trail CrewThe WTC organizes hiking trips for youth in the area and maintains trails. |
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| Friends of Shenandoah MountainFriends of Shenandoah Mountain focuses on the preservation of Shenandoah Mountain through community outreach and regularly hosts environmental education events including plant and wildlife hikes. |
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| Potomac Appalachian Trail Club – Southern Shenandoah Valley ChapterPATC the forest’s oldest partner and has maintained trails and trail shelters among other projects. The Southern Shenandoah Valley Chapter has adopted over 90 miles on the North River Ranger District. |
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| Southern Appalachian Wilderness StewardsSAWS is a forest partner who helps with stewardship of designated wilderness areas. They help with trail maintenance in wilderness areas and host workshops and trainings to teach and certify volunteers to use crosscut saws. |
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| Ruffed Grouse Society, H.C Edwards ChapterOrganized by local chapters, the RGS unites conservationists and is partnered with district wildlife programs to assist with ongoing habitat enhancement projects. |
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| Shenandoah Valley Bicycle CoalitionShenandoah Valley Bicycle Coalition works with volunteers building mountain biking trails, greenways and other biking routes in order to create better biking communities. |
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| Ducks Unlimited - Virginia Highlands ChapterThis local chapter of Ducks Unlimited coordinates with district wildlife programs to install and maintain wood duck nesting boxes with the help of volunteers. |
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| Virginia Four Wheel Drive Association
The Virginia Four Wheel Drive Association assists with clean-up events on Forest Service roads, trails, and recreation sites. |
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| Virginia Master Naturalists – Headwaters Chapters
Virginia Master Naturalists focuses on preserving natural resources by collecting data about the species in the area and providing education through community outreach and interpretive programs. |