Volunteer

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Explore the upside of outside and volunteer with us!

Our award-winning park system features 154 facilities across 56,000 acres of land, including parks, camping parks, sports parks, community and teen centers, open-space preserves, and historic sites. Some 380 miles of trails take visitors through multiple climates and habitats - from the coast to the desert and the valleys to the mountains.

That is a lot of outside! To maintain, operate, and enjoy these incredible locations, we engage local community members who volunteer their time so everyone can experience “the upside of outside” throughout San Diego County!

Becoming a volunteer is as easy as 1, 2, 3!

Look at some of the fantastic volunteer opportunities below.
Select an opportunity and express interest. (Some opportunities require you to visit the park location, while others start with an online form)
Meet with Volunteer Services, complete any screening, and volunteer!

For individuals who need to complete community service hours for court, probation, or another justice-involved program, enroll using our Court-Ordered Community Service Enrollment Form.

Volunteer Opportunities:

Upcoming volunteer events - Check out our upcoming events where you can volunteer! Events may include park beautification, tree planting, gardening, and supporting special events like the Warrior Hike Challenge, Green Friday, and more!

Campground or Park Host (live on-site in your RV or travel trailer. Feel free to complete the Campground and Park Host Interest Form.) - The primary role of a campground host (camp host) or park host is to provide park visitors with information, assistance, and services. This is accomplished by encouraging compliance with park rules and regulations, acting as a contact if emergencies occur when a ranger or site supervisor is off duty, and collecting fees from visitors when trained and authorized. Camp Hosts are typically located in a campground, and Park Hosts are found in a local park, preserve, or attached to a nature or community center operated by DPR. Depending on the location, additional host roles may include staffing a nature center or historical site, interpreting natural and historic resources, maintaining facilities and landscaping, removing litter, making simple repairs, and performing light housekeeping and janitorial duties or other work as assigned to support park operations. Hosts may be specialized, such as maintenance-focused, interpretive/education-focused, or recreation-focused options, which will be indicated in recruitments and host agreements.

Camp and Park Host volunteers fulfill a minimum of 20 work hours per week in exchange for a waived-free campsite, which includes electrical, water, and sewer hookups, where hosts may park a suitable motorhome or travel trailer in good repair, with kitchen, bathroom, and shower facilities, subject to approval by the site supervisor. (Please note, selected hosts need to have weekday, weekend, and holiday availability, and we are not able to accommodate all hours completed in two days) It is also a requirement that hosts live on-site, meaning they sleep in their motorhome or trailer to be the off-hours contact at the location should an emergency arise.

For individuals, couples, or families interested in hosting at one of our parks, please complete the Campground and Park Host Interest Form.

Park Docent/Naturalist – Docents and Naturalists may lead hikes, tours, and/or provide interpretive programs at the parks, historic sites, and open-space reserves. In some cases, they may be involved in presentations or ongoing research and development. The most common places where people volunteer their time are Rancho de los Peñasquitos Adobe and Rancho Guajome Adobe. Docents lead tours of the historic adobes, create public presentations and brochures, work with school children, and help coordinate special events. Ongoing training is provided.

Los Penasquitos Canyon County Preserve | San Elijo Lagoon Ecological Reserve and Nature Center | Rancho Guajome Adobe | Santa Ysabel Nature Center | Vallecito County Park

Community and Teen Center Assistant – Just like our community, there is so much happening at the community and teen centers. Some ways to help are through administrative support, maintenance, gardening, coaching, and special event work. Choose the center that works best for you from Fallbrook Community Center, Lakeside Community and Teen Center, Spring Valley Community and Teen Center, and Valley Center Community Hall and Park!

Park Assistant - Provide services in partnership with staff by providing visitors with information, assistance, and services. This is accomplished by encouraging compliance with park rules and regulations, acting as a contact if emergencies occur when a ranger or site supervisor is off duty, and, when trained and authorized, collecting fees, maintaining facilities and/or landscaping, removing litter, making simple repairs, and performing light housekeeping and janitorial duties or other work as assigned to support park operations. Take a look at all of our parks and find the sites that best fit you!

Park Patrol – Open-space areas and park preserves are often patrolled by individuals hiking, cycling (on your own bike), and on horseback (sorry, you must supply your own horse, but equestrians are welcome!) Patrol members assist the public by encouraging compliance with park rules and regulations, ensuring visitor safety, reviewing the status of newly planted trees, and aiding in the maintenance of trails and open areas.

Historical Interpreters and Archivists – Help to preserve our local history you are assisting in the management and research of park information, preserving documents and artifacts archives, delivering historical outreach, and developing our historical programs.

Student, Youth, and Service Learning - We love working with the next generation of park ambassadors! Students, Scouts, and other individuals under the age of 18 are welcome to apply to complete community service, plan and implement a service project, or just volunteer to learn. There are many opportunities which may include but are not limited to trash and debris pick-up to protect native species, planting trees, and trail maintenance.

Group and Corporate Events - We provide great team-building volunteer opportunities for organizations, corporations, and civic groups. Park clean-ups, trail building, planting native vegetation and trees, special events, and more! There is no limit to what you can do to experience “the upside of outside.” We encourage groups to consider a donation to the San Diego County Parks Society to support their project. For more information, email us at ParksVolunteer@sdcounty.ca.gov.

For individuals who need to complete community service hours for court, probation, or another justice-involved program, enroll using our Court-Ordered Community Service Enrollment Form.

Volunteer Requirements:

A background check is required for most County Parks and Recreation volunteer positions
A medical screening is required for most County Parks and Recreation volunteer positions
Training is provided for all volunteer positions, and work records are maintained
Some positions require extensive training

Having trouble identifying the volunteer opportunity for you? Have more questions? Contact me!

Tony Richardson
Coordinator, Volunteer and Public Services

ParksVolunteer@sdcounty.ca.gov

5500 Overland Ave., Suite 410 | San Diego, CA 92123

Volunteer Application

Volunteer Status Agreement

Background Check Packet

Live_Scan Instruction Sheet

Volunteer Confidentiality

Code of Ethics