USDA Forest Service, Stanislaus National Forest

Mission:

Working with the Forest Service and fellow volunteers is an opportunity to see what our National Forests have to offer in a way beneficial to both yourself and the forest. It can give you the opportunity to pursue a special interest, such as bird watching or hiking. Develop or diversify your job experience and career choices. Earn credit towards college with volunteer internships. If you are retired or have summers free, live on a national forest while you work as a volunteer. Perform vigorous but satisfying physical labor outdoors. Meet people and form new friendships or gain self-satisfaction in providing community service. Spending time in the outdoors, enjoying the company of your fellow volunteers and visitors, can give you a new perspective on other facets of your life. Help with trail work, host at a campground, conduct bird surveys, help with conservation education, join an Adopt-A-Trail club, or help out in the wilderness! Work in the field with biologists, botanists, archaeologists, recreation rangers, and other Forest Service personnel!

There’s a wide range of interesting and educational opportunities available for you to enjoy. Volunteers do everything from constructing and maintaining trails to serving as campground hosts, wilderness rangers, research assistants, clerks, writers, and photographers. Although you will not receive pay for your work as a volunteer, there are other benefits. Many people are happy to be able to ‘give back’ something to the lands they’ve enjoyed using over the years. Others look upon the work as a chance to get career-related work experience or take a break from their regular routines. There is no minimum age for volunteering, so whole families can participate. However, a volunteer under 18 needs written consent from a parent or guardian. Volunteers are not considered federal employees, but they do receive legal protection as well as insurance for work-related injuries. If you get hurt while you’re helping us out, we got you covered! Transportation to and from volunteer work sites is usually not provided, but on the job training is, and protective equipment is usually available for most projects. We’ll even provide tools and teach you how to use them! Come join us! Being a Forest Service volunteer just might be one of the most memorable experiences you’ll ever have.

Volunteer Needs:

• Trail maintenance
• Recreation site cleanup
• Trail monitoring
• Tree planting
• Vegetation management
• Other activities