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Table of Contents
Table of Contents
I. Essential Interpretive Training for WP and Roving Volunteers (4 videos, 4 documents)
II. Additional Resources Relevant to WP and Rovers (WP Q&A, WP Reporting Form, WP Manual, 1 video)
III. Where Does the Park Want WP and Roving Efforts to be Focused? (3 Maps, HCRSP Sandhills New Acquisition Report Form)
Wilderness Patrol (WP) is a subdivision of the volunteer program in Santa Cruz District State Parks (you can think about wilderness patrol as another activity that park volunteers can participate in). This involves hiking along a diversity of park trails, making contact with visitors and interpreting park policy and regulations, recording and submitting information about trail hazards, issues, etc. and collecting data (when appropriate) about trail usage and visitor behavior. This data is then disseminated to park departments. Many WP volunteers focus their efforts at multiple park sites.
There is little to no difference between WP and Roving - both activities are available for volunteers to participate in provided the necessary training. Both WP and Roving volunteers are interpretive by nature and must undergo an interpretive training.
MAU is the acronym for “Mounted Assistance Unit,” a specific group of WP volunteers who rove park trails on horseback. The only distinction between MAU and the rest of WP folks is the horse. Standards, expectations and procedures are the same. We are not onboarding new MAU volunteers until further notice. Park operations are adequately covered with current staffing and our program needs time to acquiesce to these new procedures and standards before bringing aboard new members.
Onboarding new WP volunteers and roving volunteers involves participation in the standard annual volunteer training program at park sites and the review of resources below. The priority of WP and Roving volunteers is to interpret park rules and regulations (as opposed to enforce them). However, the safety of our volunteers is our top priority, and it is not the expectation that these volunteers verbally engage with the public every time they encounter a violation of park policy. These volunteers are expected to use their situational awareness, best judgment, and training resources below to determine when it is appropriate to make contact.
IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT WILDERNESS PATROL, CONTACT THE INTERPRETER/S AT YOUR PARK.
I. Essential (interpretive) Trainings for WP and Roving Volunteers
This module is the DIGITIZED VERSION OF THE MANDATORY TRAINING HELD ON SEPT. 21ST, 2024.
If you did not attend said training session in person, please follow the steps below:
Watch recorded training (right)
Watch recorded video with Officer Ben Allan (below)
Review "Quick Guide: How to Interpret Rules/Regs," "Quick Guide to Roving and Wilderness Patrol," (below)
Alert park staff at your primary park that you completed questionnaire
Once you've completed this training, please notify staff at wilderranch@ports-ca.us and any other park you do Wilderness Patrol volunteering at.
Furthermore, please sign the updated "WP Duty Statement," as well as the "Standards of Conduct." These may either be signed on paper or digitally on your computer. If you sign it on paper, you must turn these signed forms into the Interpretive Staff at your park sites. If you wish to sign these forms digitally, notify park staff and we will send you these forms online via DocuSign. DocuSign is a secure way to sign documents online, and have them be automatically returned to the Interpretive Staff once signed.
Digitized Version of WP/Roving Training.mp4Watch CA State Parks Ranger Officer Ben Allan overview specific scenarios that were requested by volunteers during previous trainings.
Although Officer Allan is a Mountain Sector ranger, the recommendations for these scenarios can and should be applied at all park units.
If you are unsure of when you should and shouldn't be making contact with park visitors, reach out to the interpreters at the respective park unit.
Scenarios with Officer Ben Allan.mp4February 2023 Docent Enrichment_How to Talk about Park Rules and Regulations with Alex Tabone.mp4Watch CA State Parks Ranger & LEESD Special Enforcement Team Member Alex Tabone discuss how to interpret park rules and regulations. It is not the responsibility of WP volunteers to enforce park rules, but rather, explain why they exist.
Watch CA State Parks Ranger Officer Derek Poirier speak about our roles as volunteers as they relate to park policy, rules, and regulations.
Training_Park Rules and Regulations with Officer Derek Poirier.mp4HCRSP_How to Interpret Rules and Regs.pdfHow to Interpret Rules/Regulations
HCRSP_Quick Guide to Rules and Regs.pdfQuick Guide to Rules/Regulations
HCRSP_What to Say to Visitors with Dogs.pdfConversations about Dogs on Trails
Quick Guide to Roving and Wilderness Patrol.pdfQuick Guide to Roving and WP
Read this page for a step-by-step guide on how to handle situations with rule-breaking park visitors, when to call the Interpreters, when to call the Rangers, and when to let it go
Read this page for a step-by-step guide on how to handle situations with rule-breaking park visitors, when to call the Interpreters, when to call the Rangers, and when to let it go
II. Additional Resources Relevant to WP and Rovers
Wilderness Patrol Q&A
Wilderness Patrol Q&A
This document overviews some common questions regarding Wilderness Patrol. Specifically, info listed here is releant and appropriate to the 2024 reorganization of the program.
Wilderness Patrol_Q and A.pdfNonverbal Communication is extraordinarily important when interacting with park visitors!
Nonverbal Communication is extraordinarily important when interacting with park visitors!
Watch this short video (or listen to it as a podcast) to reflect on the importance of nonverbal communication and how we can be aware of it within our responsibilities as CA State Park volunteers! Ultimately, do this will help ensure that we are responding to the needs of park visitors.
MAU-Specific Resources
MAU-Specific Resources
Although we are not onboarding new MAU volunteers until further notice, current MAU volunteers can find useful information and resources at this link.
2025 Volunteer Manual
2025 Volunteer Manual
In the past, there has been a Wilderness Patrol specific manual. Seeing that Wilderness Patrol is an activity falling beneath the larger volunteer program, there is no longer a WP-specific handbook. Rather, the "Docent Manual" will be the appropriate handbook for all activities that volunteers participate in (including Wilderness Patrol). It is recommended that you couple the information found here with all information and resources on this page. Together, these materials encompass robust and relevant information relating to the Wilderness Patrol Program across the Santa Cruz District.
Wilderness Patrol Report Form (Google Form)
This Google Form is how you should be submitting your reports to staff. Downed trees, graffiti, trail erosion/washout, etc. All fields marked with a red asterisk are required. Staff will disseminate this information to respective departments.
III. Where Does Wilder Ranch Want WP and Roving Efforts to be Focused?
The Backcountry Trails are always helpful to have eyes on. The Wilder Interpretive Team is rarely able to get to this portion of the park. so it is extremely useful to have volunteers in this area of the park to talk to park visitors and report trail issues to us!
It's also helpful to have folks roving the Old Cove Landing Trail or near 4 mile beach on weekends. These areas are heavily used on weekends, which means they are also heavily abused. A reminder: the coast between Natural Bridges State Beach and the point past 4 mile beach is a Marine Protected Area. This means fishing and collecting in prohibited. If you see someone fishing or collecting along the Wilder coast, please report it to the Department of Fish and Wildlife by calling CalTIP at (888)334-2258 and report it to the parks Interpreter and/or dispatch!
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