Do you enjoy talking to people, promoting responsible use of public lands and sharing your love of the Gifford Pinchot National Forest? Then consider becoming a Trailhead Host!

Trailhead Hosts will be stationed at popular trailheads to provide information about land stewardship, wilderness education, responsible recreation, and Leave No Trace ethics. Trailhead Hosts will be required to complete a Volunteer Trailhead Host Training with a Forest Service Ranger prior to independent work.

Are you interested in getting out on the trails, assisting Rangers with projects throughout the wilderness areas, making visitor contacts on the trails and caring for our public lands through hands-on work? Consider becoming a Volunteer Ranger!

Volunteer Rangers will assist Forest Service Wilderness Rangers in their duties such as educating the public on Leave No Trace practices, gathering visitor use information through talking to visitors, helping with campsite and restoration activities as well as other wilderness ranger tasks. Volunteer Rangers will not participate in law enforcement or climbing ranger duties. This type of volunteer is required to work with a Forest Service Ranger or Lead Volunteer when they are in the field.

Are you interested in learning ranger skills to be able to work independently in the field and having the potential to lead other volunteers? Then a Lead Volunteer Ranger could be right for you!

Lead Volunteer Rangers will go through on-the-job training with Forest Service Wilderness Rangers and are approved by the program manager prior to independent work. Following approval, Lead Volunteers are able to choose their own work area and schedule, determine what projects they want to focus on, and independently collect wilderness data from the field. 

You will be provided a form of identification (volunteer vest, shirt and/or hat as well as necessary PPE) along with a badge and nametag. This position requires a two-way communication device (inReach/radio/sat phone etc.). If you don't have your own device, a USFS inReach or radio will be provided. You will be required to fill out a Trail Communication Plan for each day you work in the field. 

Check out our Lead Volunteer Guide for more information about what the position entails. 

Do you have mountaineering experience and have a desire to help others recreate safely and responsibly on the mountain? Then check out our Volunteer Climbing Ranger program!

Volunteer Climbing Rangers will work with Forest Service Rangers on the South Climb of Mt. Adams. They will assist with duties including visitor contacts, permit checks, campsite assessments, and wilderness education in a mountain environment. To be considered for the program previous technical mountain experience is required. Volunteers must have successfully, independently, climbed Mt. Adams or another mountain of equal or greater elevation, technical difficulty and elevation gain from trailhead to summit. Volunteers will work directly with a Forest Service Ranger on the mountain.