Volunteer Opportunities Make A Difference in your County Parks
Here are 11 ways you can volunteer with Sonoma County Parks. Do you have other suggestions? Contact us!
Volunteers help in just about every aspect of park operation and maintenance. All our volunteer opportunities offer you the chance to get more involved in your local parks and learn more about the wonderful resources of Sonoma County. Volunteers with Regional Parks attend an orientation where they learn about the park system and delve into the specifics of their chosen position. Field orientations are required for some positions.
All volunteers are required to be fingerprinted with some positions requiring more thorough background checks. We invite you to contact John Ryan, Parks Volunteer Coordinator, at (707) 565-3356 or parksvolunteer@sonoma-county.org to learn more about these rewarding volunteer positions.
Dog Park
Volunteers are needed to help maintain the Elizabeth Anne Perrone Dog Park located in Sonoma Valley Regional Park, the Animal Care Center Dog Park located in Ragle Ranch Regional Park and the Ernie Smith Dog Park located in Ernie Smith Community Park. These fenced-in areas offer a safe place for dogs to run off leash. Volunteers talk to visitors about park etiquette, remind visitors to pick up after their dogs and perform light maintenance around the park. Volunteers can assist with park fundraisers but it is not a requirement.
Environmental Discovery Center
Volunteers at the Environmental Discover Center (EDC) help with many facets of day-to-day operations. Duties can include designing and building educational displays, taking visitors on a tour of the Center, assisting staff with educational programs, answering the phone and helping the staff develop the Center’s curriculum. The EDC Volunteer may also be called upon to lead nature walks and help with additional activities such as “Arts & Crafts.”
Gate Opener
Gate openers are needed at Helen Putnam Regional Park, Schopflin Fields and Shiloh Ranch Regional Park to open park gates and restrooms before 7:00 a.m. This position is ideal for a group of volunteers who work as a team opening gates seven days a week. Volunteers are also asked to report any vandalism or hazards they find.
Litter Pick Up
Picking up litter in our parks saves a lot of staff time. Volunteers get to hike/walk the trails and safely collect litter. Volunteers also report on conditions at the parks when appropriate.
Maxwell Farms Stewardship Group
Park visitors concerned and enthusiastic about Maxwell Farms Regional Park created this Stewardship Group. Their role is to be a liaison for the park with the surrounding community and provide suggestions for park improvements. They also schedule workdays and hold educational walks, talks and seminars.
Mounted Assistance Unit
Mounted Assistance Unit (MAU) Volunteers patrol various County parks on horseback. They report back on trail conditions and talk to the public. Working under our department’s guidelines, volunteers generate reports on safety issues, erosion concerns, environmental indicators and visitor use patterns. Reports can be filed via phone, e-mail, fax or hard copy. In addition, some MAU Volunteers make public contacts to educate visitors about park rules and regulations. They also attend an annual meeting and participate in other special events.
Photographer
Volunteer Park Photographers are always looking for that perfect photo for our website, flyers, posters, etc. On occasion, volunteers undertake special photo assignments or attend department events to capture photos.
Restoration
Restoration volunteers are asked to help with site specific projects. They may be asked to use tools to remove invasive plants such as Scotch and French Broom or to replant an area with native plants. The work is hard but rewarding.
Tolay Fall Festival
The Tolay Fall Festival is held every October over two long weekends at Tolay Lake Regional Park in Petaluma. Volunteers staff craft and educational booths, and help in the Night Time Creatures Barn, on the Hay Ride and in the Pumpkin Patch. Volunteers are also needed for special assignments and to help with set up in September. Volunteers make this a great experience for children and their families.
Trail Monitor
The Trail Monitor Volunteer assists park staff by walking park trails and reporting back on their condition. Working under our department’s guidelines, volunteers generate reports on safety issues, erosion concerns, environmental indicators and visitor use patterns. Reports can be filed via phone, e-mail, fax or hard copy. In addition, some Park Trail Monitors make public contacts to educate visitors about park rules and regulations.
Visitor Center
The Visitor Center Volunteer helps out at the Visitor Center in Gualala Point Regional Park. Their duties include meeting and greeting the public, answering questions concerning the park and helping with the daily running of the Center. Depending on their skills and interests, Visitor Center Volunteers can construct exhibits, give nature talks or demonstrate a craft.