Dakota County Parks

General Description

Enjoy the outdoors while also assisting park visitors with questions, directions and first aid care. Our patrol units offer a vital service to the trail programs by being trained individuals who are onsite to assist our park users with day to day operations and emergencies. Qualified candidates are enthusiastic and frequent users of our parks that want to serve as friendly ambassadors to our guests. Volunteer on your own time (no set schedule), while personally enjoying the trails, it doesn’t get better than that!

Location

Dakota County's Equestrian Trail Ambassadors patrol the trails found at Lebanon Hills Regional Park in Eagan. Click here to learn more about our equestrian trailhead at Lebanon Hills Regional Park. 

Duties and Responsibilities

• Help provide a safe and enjoyable experience to all park visitors.
• Provide directions and help answer questions.
• Assist in the event of an emergency.
• Provide customer service in a friendly and professional manner.

Qualifications

• Must be 18 years old or older.
• Good physical fitness and customer service skills.
• Must provide your own equipment (snowshoes, hiking gear, bike, rollerblades, etc.).
• Completion of all required training.
• Complete a background check with the county (if applicable).
• Carry a cell phone with you while on patrol to be accessible to contact.

Benefits

• Free CPR/First Aid training.
• Great way to gather hours for school requirements, professional development, etc.
• Set your own schedule and times. Volunteer as much as you want throughout the year.
• Great opportunity to grow personally in customer service, emergency prep, and people skills.
• Join an amazing community of people who love exploring our county parks and trail systems.

Time Commitment

The Equestrian Trail Ambassadors is a yearlong program. Volunteers are asked to commit to 25 hours per year. The Equestrian trails are available spring through fall.  

Required Training

Volunteers must complete all training before volunteering as a Trail Ambassador. Please complete all training requirements before your first outing. 

• Trail Ambassador Training (Required for new volunteers and a great review for returners) Training link will be sent by email. Please complete by December's social. 
  
• Trail Ambassador Social (Optional) - December 2 at 6:00 - 8:00 p.m. (In-person): This event is not mandatory but we welcome everyone to come and enjoy dinner and a chance to mingle with other patrollers and learn more about the program. We also are giving away free swag! 
• CPR & First Aid Certification (Required) - This training will be hosted online and can be completed by the volunteer on their own time. If you are in need of a renewal, you will be notified by email.

Activity Level

Active - Involves physical exertion for an extended period of time; can involve rough, uneven or steep terrain. Not recommended for volunteers with physical limitations.

Contact Information

Garrett Zaffke | Community Relations and Volunteer Services Coordinator

Dakota County Communications

1590 Highway 55| Hastings, MN 55033

Direct: (651) 438-4635 | Fax: (651) 438-4405 | Email: garrett.zaffke@co.dakota.mn.us