Volunteer at Fort Ross and Salt Point parks
As you know, all our parks are under-funded and under-staffed, and it’s critical that our community and non-profits step in to ensure stewardship of these public lands.
There are a wide variety of ways to volunteer.
Please know that your time on the ground makes a difference, and we’d love to see you volunteering at Fort Ross or Salt Point.
Volunteer Benefits
Volunteering at Fort Ross and Salt Point is rewarding on many levels.
Getting Community Service Hours – As a 501(c)(3), Fort Ross Conservancy can tally and authorize hours towards both adult and teen community service requirements.
Working Towards a State Parks Pass – If you volunteer 24 hours in a calendar year, you will receive for the next calendar year a California State Parks pass that gives you free day-use entry to the following Sonoma and Mendocino county California State Parks:
- Armstrong Redwoods State National Reserve
- Austin Creek State Recreational Area
- Sonoma Coast State Parks
- Fort Ross State Historic Park
- Salt Point State Park
- Kruse Rhododendron State National Reserve
- Manchester State Park
- Greenwood State Beach
- Navarro River Redwoods State Park
- Hendy Woods State Park
- Van Damme State Park
- Mendocino Headlands State Park
- Russian Gulch State Park
- Point Cabrillo Light Station State Historic Preserve
- Caspar Headlands State National Reserve & Beach
- Jug Handle State National Reserve
- MacKerricher State Park
- Westport Union Landing State Park
- Montgomery Woods State National Reserve
- Mendocino Woodlands State Park
- Maillaird Redwoods State National Reserve
- Schooner Gulch State Beach
If you volunteer 200 hours in a calendar year, you will receive a state-wide pass that allows you free day-use entry into any California State Park during the next calendar year.
To accrue hours, you need to complete the volunteer service agreement and submit hours to FRC on a monthly basis. FRC then turns in your hours to the California State Parks.
For more information on California State Parks Volunteer in Parks program, see http://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=886.
Volunteer Opportunities:
These are just a few opportunities that Fort Ross Conservancy offers. Please feel free to email us with questions and suggestions:
Salt Point & Fort Ross Trail Work – Help with trail clearing, or lend a hand by taking on a maintenance projects. We can put you to work using your carpentry, trail maintenance, gardening, or cleaning skills.
Marine Mammal Monitoring – Help us track the health of our marine mammals just offshore. We head out into the field at least once a month to count harbor seals, California Sea Lions, and Steller sea lions. This data is shared with other agencies and will soon be posted to our website so that we can interpret changes. Training & equipment provided; see the Events page for a listing of our next training.
Historic Orchard – Meet our dedicated crew who keep the Fort Ross historic orchard alive and thriving. Assist in orchard preservation and maintenance by helping us with pruning, weeding, brush removal and other landscaping activities. Orchard volunteers also learn the history of the orchard and can help provide interpretation to orchard visitors.
Call House and Garden – Get trained to be a weekend docent at the Call House, Fort Ross’ superb example of California’s ranch-era. Or join a group of dedicated gardeners who keep the Call garden looking vibrant from year to year.
Office Work – Fort Ross Conservancy’s library & office can always use a helping hand. Work with us to keep the library organized by filing, scanning manuscripts and photos, or updating our database.
Gift Shop – Assist FRC staff during high season by helping with sales and visitor services in the gift shop. Cash register training provided. It’s a fun and comfortable way to meet our visitors and help spread the word about Fort Ross.
Fort Ross Conservancy Board of Directors – Interested in serving on FRC’s board of directors? We always need skilled community members to join our board, in particular with legal, business, grant writing, and fundraising skills.
If you are interested in learning more, contact us with a short bio at info@fortross.org