Find Your Path in Stewardship
Stewardship doesn’t look the same for everyone—and there are many ways to grow your connection with RFOV beyond a single project day. Whether you’re looking to build leadership skills as a Crew Leader, serve as a Project or Trail Ambassador, participate in trainings, support youth programs through the Young Stewards Program (YSP), or give financially, these pathways offer meaningful ways to deepen your impact. No matter how you choose to get involved, you’re helping strengthen community-powered stewardship across our public lands.
Trail Ambassadors
Our new Trail Ambassador Program offers a meaningful way to support our public lands by being a friendly, informed presence on the trail. Trail Ambassadors help share stewardship messages, model responsible recreation, and connect trail users with information about caring for the places we all love. This role is ideal for people who enjoy engaging with others, spending time outdoors, and helping create positive trail experiences for everyone.
Trail Ambassadors receive training in April or May and are supported throughout the season with resources, talking points, and ongoing connection to RFOV staff. Whether you’re new to volunteering or looking for a deeper way to contribute, this program offers a flexible, approachable pathway to stewardship.
Volunteer Crew Leaders
Volunteer Crew Leaders are essential to our mission. They help educate volunteers on tool use and trail etiquette, supervise project days, and contribute to a fun, safe, and rewarding experience for all. Each year RFOV offers one hybrid crew leader training comprised of online training modules and 1 full day of in-person training prior to the start of the project season.
Through this training, volunteers will learn leadership and group management techniques paired with foundational skills in the technical aspects of trail work and ecological restoration projects.
Upon completion of this training, participants can shadow current crew leaders and achieve full crew leader status after successfully leading crews on 2 projects.
2026 Volunteer Crew Leader Training May 2nd and 3rd - Contact Jack Douglas, Director of Programs to sign up.
Project Ambassadors
Project Ambassadors are an invaluable part of making our project season a success. This is a great way to be an active volunteer without having to lift heavy tools on the trails!.
Community projects and events depend on Project Ambassadors to sign in and orient volunteers, talk to the community about the project and other RFOV work, and support general project logistics such as setting up a tent, taking good photos, bringing volunteers a cold beverage, and more.
During training, you will learn about all things RFOV, common questions from visitors and volunteers, and how to be the best advocate and steward of our local public lands.
2026 Project Ambassador Training on April 23rd - Contact Tabatha Godoy, Communications & Engagement Manager to sign up.
Trainings
Each year RFOV offers a variety of trainings for volunteers and partner staff alike. These can include but are not limited to crew leader training, trail maintenance, restoration, fire mitigation, leadership on and off the trail, and many more.
Stay tuned for 2026 trainings.
Community service
Do you need community service hours? RFOV offers a variety of pathways for your community service hours to be completed. Click here for more information.
