Volunteer Wilderness Rangers (VWRs) are LPFA volunteers who have the experience and ability to lead their own projects as representatives of LPFA and the USFS. They provide a number of critical volunteer activities in the backcountry areas of the Los Padres National Forest. These projects can be any size and scope across the forest, and be focused on trails or areas that VWRs are interested in maintaining, or more open to what LPFA has on its agenda for the season. Activities include:
- Trail work
- Leading trail work groups
- Promote new volunteers stewardship
- Backcountry patrols
- Surveying trails and campgrounds
- Hiker outreach
- Surveying roads
- Registers maintenance
- Trailhead outreach
- Repairs to structures, maintenance of historic buildings
- Other tasks — whatever needs to be done in support of the Forest
If this is something you are interested in doing, read on! And if you have any further questions, reach out to VOLUNTEER@LPForest.org.
WHAT ARE SOME OF THE GENERAL DUTIES AND EXPECTATIONS?
- Know and follow VWR Protocols
- Participate in volunteer events
- Lead trips for trail/campground patrols, trailwork, and more – strive for at least 3 per year
- Attend the annual VWR Trainings
- Know how to appropriately represent LPFA and Forest Service
- First Aid Certificate (Basic CPR / First Aid required, Wilderness First Aid or higher preferred)
- Be active in VWR emails (read and respond)
WHAT IS THE PROCESS OF BECOMING A VWR?
- Volunteer on some of our single and multi-day events, and preferably at least one “Working Vacation” to get to know us and what we do
- Fill out this application
- Attend a VWR Training
