Angeles National Forest

Volunteering

Be a Volunteer on The Angeles National Forest

Volunteers are all smiles after a full day of trail maintenance (William S. Hart Regional Occupational Training Program - ROP)

Caring for the Land and Serving People - that's the mission of the Forest Service. On an urban National Forest like the Angeles, it's a pretty big job, and the truth is, we couldn't accomplish it without the help of our volunteers.

If you're already a volunteer or partner, thanks for all that you've done. We hope you stay at it! If you've never volunteered, but you're interested in getting involved, please take a few minutes to explore this site.

There are many ways you can volunteer. Some of these involve sweat, blisters, and bug bites. Some require pounding nails or maintaining trails. Campgrounds are the home base for hosts. An archeology site is where you might find volunteers sifting through soil layers. Watershed restoration, reforestation, plant surveys, wildlife surveys, interpreters and naturalists at Visitor Centers… these areas all need volunteer help.

Chances are, if you've got a skill or interest, we might be able to match it with a need.

Volunteer Information

If you are interested in volunteering to assist the Angeles National Forest, contact the Forest Service District Office closest to you, or one of the organizations listed below.

You may also wish to fill out a Volunteer/Partner Information Form and return it to us by one the following methods:

Fax: (626) 574-5207
E-mail: friendsoftheangeles@gmail.com
Mail paper copy to:
Angeles National Forest
Attn: Volunteers
701 N. Santa Anita Avenue
Arcadia, CA 91006

TreePeople to Coordinate Station Fire Volunteer Tree Planting

The Angeles National Forest will partner with ©, a Los Angeles-based environmental nonprofit organization, in coordinating tree planting by volunteers in a portion of the area burned by the Station Fire. TreePeople will recruit, train, and lead crews of volunteers in planting thousands of seedlings in the 2011 and 2012 planting seasons, as part of a comprehensive ecosystem restoration effort in the burned area.
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TreePeople/Angeles National Forest Memorandum of Understanding (MOU)

Tree People's California Wildfire Restoration Initiative

Volunteer Tree Planters Encouraged to Train NOW for 2011 Planting

Although volunteer tree planting in the Station Fire burned area will not begin until Spring 2011, TreePeople is offering an opportunity for volunteer planters to get trained ahead of time so that everyone will be ready to "hit the ground running" when it's time to plant on the Angeles. They are looking for new volunteers RIGHT NOW to join in on their 2010 planting effort in burned areas on the nearby San Bernardino National Forest -- including people willing to train as reforestation leaders. Click here, if you are interested and follow the instructions on how to get signed up and involved.

Trail Maintenance Training: Sign up Now for "Trailwork 101"

The Forest Service will conduct a series of trailwork training sessions this winter, under the leadership of Andrew Fish, Non-Motorized Trails Manager for the Angeles National Forest. The first session, "Trails 101: Basic Concepts of Trailwork," will be held on Saturday, January 30, 2010, at the Angeles National Forest Supervisor's Office in Arcadia. (Click here for details and to sign up)

Additional Volunteer Opportunities

Angeles Volunteer Association, Inc.

Wilderness patrols, Visitor Center staffing, nature trail guides, trail maintenance, mountain bike patrol and many other projects. For more information check their website at www.angelesvolunteer.org, (a non-Forest Service website).

California Trail Users Coalition (CTUC) (Non Forest Service site)

The C.T.U.C. works with all trail users in maintaining trails, and is committed to educating trail users in order to promote ecological use of public lands. For more information check their website or call (818) 353-4682 for more information.

Forest Fire Lookout Hosts (Non Forest Service site)

Members of the Angeles National Forest Fire Lookout Association help restore, maintain and host two historic forest fire lookout towers on the Angeles National Forest. For more information check their website or call (909) 338-3923.

HabitatWork.org (Non Forest Service site)

Habitat Works is an environmental stewardship action group performing volunteer projects to improve wildlife habitat in Southern California. Projects vary from weekend campouts and backpacking trips to 1-day habitat improvement projects. Upcoming opportunities and more information can be found on their website, HabitatWork.org, or call 818-353-4653.

San Gabriel Mountains Trail Builders (Non Forest Service site)

Since 1984, the San Gabriel Mountains Trailbuilders, an all-volunteer public service organization, has worked closely with the Angeles National Forest in constructing and maintaining hiking trails in the San Gabriel Mountains. For more information call 626-303-1078 or email info@sgmtrailbuilders.org.

The Scenic Mt. Lowe Railway Historical Committee (Non Forest Service site)

Formed in 1992, this dedicated group of volunteers works to restore remnants of, and to preserve the historic Mt. Lowe Railway site. For more information check their website or call (562) 868-8919 or (626) 968-5092.

Volunteers of the Angeles National Forest (Non Forest Service site)

Members manage the Grassy Hollow Visitor Center, 6 miles west of Wrightwood, CA. They provide environmental education programs for visitors and school groups (elementary through High School), conduct snowshoe hikes in winter, and are involved in many other community activities. For more information check their website or call (760) 249-4650.  

Volunteer.gov (Non Forest Service site)

Volunteer.Gov/Gov is a Web-based, electronic tool for government administered volunteer programs.