The Stanislaus National Forest, named after the Stanislaus River, is a U.S. National Forest which manages 898,099 acres of land in four counties in the Sierra Nevada in Northern California. It was established on February 22, 1897, making it one of the oldest national forests.

The forest contains 78 lakes and 811 miles of rivers and streams. It has 1,100 miles of non-motorized trails and 2,859 miles roads, 188 miles of which are paved. Given the amount of ground covered by the Stanislaus, there is never a shortage of projects needing volunteer assistance!

Working with the Stanislaus National Forest Service and fellow volunteers partners is an opportunity to see what our National Forests have to offer in a way beneficial to both yourself and the forest. The commitment you make is completely up to you! Volunteering can give you the opportunity to pursue a special interest, such as bird watching or hiking.

Volunteering can also develop or diversify your job experience and career choices. You will have the opportunity to earn credit towards college with volunteer internships. If you are retired or have summers free, consider living on a national forest while you work as a volunteer where you can perform physical labor outdoors or admin work indoors, meet people and form new friendships, gain self-satisfaction in providing community service, spend time in the outdoors enjoying the company of your fellow volunteers and visitors.

The experience of doing community service, especially in a place as grounding as the Stanislaus National Forest, can ultimately give volunteers a new perspective on other facets of life. The diversity of projects and positions available offers each person a chance to participate in an activity that meets their individual or group interests.

Volunteer Opportunities:

• Trail work
• campground host
• bird surveys
• conservation education
• fire lookout
• Adopt-A-Trail
• information receptionist
• wilderness restoration projects

Other possibilities might include working in the field with biologists, botanists, archaeologists, recreation rangers, and other Forest Service personnel!

While all volunteer support in any way shape or form is heavily desired and appreciated by the STF, primarily this upcoming year we will need help with:

• Heritage and habitat monitoring
• Trail work
• Facility maintenance work during the season (Memorial Day to labor Day)
• Deferred trail maintenance and new trail construction
• The volunteer group Groveland Trailheads is working on the Ferretti non-motorized trail system and could use extra hands
• Tuolumne River Trust has been working on the trails along the Tuolumne River such as the Hamby trail, Andresen Mine trail, and Indian Creek Trail
• Campground hosts on Summit RD- specifically hosts for Beardsley Dam CG, Cascade Creek CG, and Niagara Creek CG