California State Parks

Natural Resource Volunteering

Natural resource volunteers play a pivotal role in habitat restoration and monitoring, wildlife surveys, and invasive species eradication in our parks. Typical tasks include:

• Pulling weeds;
• Planting native species;
• Monitoring vulnerable species populations, and;
• Cleaning up beaches and trails in parks.

Group Service Projects

Additionally, we welcome group organizations like scout groups, high schools, college classes, or other interest groups looking to come out to the island for volunteer service project days to help with natural resource management. Such groups often, but are not required to, camp overnight on island, in which case it is your responsibility to reserve a campsite. If you wish to inquire further and schedule a service project day, please reach out to volunteer.angelisland@parks.ca.gov or 415 435 9380.

The Mounted Assistance Unit performs volunteer patrol duties at the Auburn State Recreation Area, augmenting official regular patrols by Park Rangers.

Auburn SRA volunteers assist park staff by protecting the natural and cultural resources of the park, performing needed trails and facilities maintenance, promoting safe and responsible recreation practices to park visitors, providing public education and interpretation to inspire stewardship.

Members provide information and assistance to park visitors concerning trail conditions, directions, park use fees, and park rules and regulations.

MAU participates in trail improvement and maintenance projects, and in education and interpretation that complements MAU’s mission in the park (i.e., trail etiquette or member recruitment).

The Auburn State Recreation Area Canyon Keepers is a volunteer group that promotes healthy recreation by providing assistance and information for visitors to the state park. They organize hikes, conduct trail maintenance, provide guided history walks, maintain a native garden, remove litter, perform roving trail education, and assist the professional ranger staff through volunteer work.

Railtown photo club take photographs and video of activities throughout the park for use in volunteer recognition, social media marketing, etc.

Wilder Ranch has opportunities both coast-side and mountain-side of Highway 1, which divides the park. Lead tours with ocean views on the Old Cove Landing trail! There are birds, harbor seals, whales, plants and more that park visitors are just waiting for you to tell them about. Lead monthly backcountry hikes to show intermediate hikers some of our most popular trails, and help them connect with the history and nature of Wilder Ranch

Opportunities include:

Leading birding walks along the Old Cove Landing trail to help visitors spot and identify local birds

Leading coastal walks to show park guests the trail and inform them about the local flora and fauna

Roving at the Wilder Beach Overlook to answer visitor's questions

Leading or co-leading backcountry hikes. These hikes are around 5 hours, 8 miles with 1,000 feet of elevation gain. 

and more! For questions or more information, contact wilderranch@ports.ca-us