Active Volunteer Groups

image of group touching hands

There are numerous ways to volunteer with the Angeles National Forest. Many volunteers choose to join groups based on their geographic areas and interests. Below is a list of active volunteer groups and organizations that work with the Angeles National Forest and San Gabriel Mountains National Monument.

Angeles National Forest Lookout Association

Fire Lookout volunteers are dedicated to preserving the historic fire lookouts and protecting the national environment through fire detection and environmental education. Volunteers provide an enjoyable experiment for members of the public. They strive to increase the public's awareness of its role in the conservation of the natural and historic environment of the Forest.

Interested volunteers should visit www.anffla.org to be notified of upcoming opportunities for training and other events.

Angeles Volunteers Association

The Angeles Volunteer Association (AVA) is a public service organization dedicated to the preservation and care of the Angeles National Forest and the San Gabriel Mountains National Monument.  Our volunteers assist the U.S. Forest Service in staffing the Crystal Lake Visitor Center, and the forest's efforts to maintain resources and to provide visitors with opportunities to enjoy outdoor activities, such as camping, picnicking hiking, and fishing.

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Bear Canyon Trail Crew

Bear Canyon Trail Crew is dedicated to maintaining the Bear Canyon Trail in the Angeles National Forest. The 5-mile trail traverses the front range of the San Gabriel Mountains connecting the Gabrielino National Recreation Trail with the Mt. Lowe Fire Road. Due to its location in a narrow canyon, flooding and tree falls are major problems. Work is focused on making the trail passable for hikers.

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Concerned Off-Road Bicyclists Association

The Concerned Off-Road Bicyclists Association (CORBA) is an all-volunteer non-profit organization serving the mountain biking community of the Greater Los Angeles area, including the Rim of the Valley corridor. CORBA is dedicated to preserving open space, maintaining access to public lands, and improving and expanding trail opportunities for all to enjoy. CORBA conducts volunteer trail maintenance on the Angeles National Forest, Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation area, and surrounding open spaces and public lands.

CORBA's Mission: We are passionate about mountain biking, public trails, and preserving our open space for future generations. CORBA is committed to ensuring equal access for all trail users, and to contributing to everyone's enjoyment of the trails. CORBA organizes and coordinates activities that support mountain biking recreation and that promote the conservation, administration, and the maintenance of our public lands.

Fisheries Resources Volunteer Corps

The primary mission of the FRVC is to protect and monitor 14 wild trout streams and 4 tributaries of these streams in the Angeles and San Bernardino Forests through regular stream patrols by trained FRVC Volunteers, who perform various tasks while on patrol. Much of our work involves interacting with forest visitors while answering their questions and making them aware of camping, fire, fishing, and safety regulations.

Habitatwork Organization

Habitat Works

Habitat works support stewardship volunteers caring for wildland ecosystems through habitat improvement projects on national forests and wildlife refuges, state parks, and private preserves in Southern California.

Mt. Wilson Bicycle Association

MWBA’s mission is to bring out the best in our community by encouraging low-impact riding, volunteer trail work participation, cooperation among different trail user groups, innovative trail management solutions and grassroots advocacy. Our advocacy goes beyond speaking on behalf of our community; we encourage and foster its growth. We educate mountain bikers on trail etiquette not only with each other but also with other user groups and most importantly, we promote and organize regular trail maintenance days in the San Gabriel Mountains.

Restoration Legacy Crew

Restoration Legacy Crew (RLC) is an all-volunteer public service organization dedicated to restoring and maintaining hiking trails within the Angeles National Forest. Current focus areas are the Dawn Mine Trail and Tom Sloan Trail.

San Gabriel Mountains Heritage Association

The San Gabriel Mountains Heritage Association, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, is working to preserve this historic natural treasure through educational programs for schools, families and other groups. We know that lasting bonds with nature are formed in childhood. Our school programs plant seeds that not only deepen understanding of the natural and cultural history of this unique landscape, they plant seeds of wonder and appreciation. Like all of us, children will grow to cherish and preserve what they love. Our role is to provide a place for this to happen. "Preservation through education." Along with programming, our group supports the Angeles National Forest by staffing visitor centers and maintaining interpretive exhibits. If you value this matchless landscape why not consider lending a hand or supporting us with a financial contribution?

  • Contact San Gabriel Mountains Heritage Association
  • Visit San Gabriel Mountains Heritage Association page

San Gabriel Mountains Trail Buidlers

The San Gabriel Mountains Trailbuilders (SGMTB) is a non-profit public service organization dedicated to constructing and maintaining hiking trails in the San Gabriel Mountains in Southern California. The primary task is maintaining hiking and nature trails throughout the Angeles National Forest and San Gabriel Mountains National Monument. However, SGMTB also performs bridge building and repairs, hiking trails, fire mitigation activities, removing or covering graffiti and vandalism, and repairing and replacing trail signs.

  • Interested volunteers should contact Ben White at 626-303-1078
  • Email San Gabriel Mountains Trail Builders

Pacific Crest Trail Association

The mission of the Pacific Crest Trail Association is to protect, preserve, and promote the Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail as a world-class experience for hikers and equestrians, and for all the values provided by wild and scenic lands.

  • Email PCTA - Angeles Chapter 

 

TreePeople

TreePeople is an environmental nonprofit organization whose mission is to inspire, engage, and support people to take personal responsibility for the urban environment, making it safe, healthy, fun, and sustainable and to share our process as a model for the world. TreePeople inspires and supports the people of LA to come together to plant and care for trees, harvest the rain, and renew depleted landscapes. We unite with communities to grow a greener, shadier and more water-secure city at homes, neighborhoods, schools and in the local mountains.

Volunteers of the Angeles National Forest

Volunteers of the Angeles National Forest (VANF) staff the Grassy Hollow Visitor Center and supply information, directions and education to the public by means of our knowledge of the area, pictorial displays and video presentations of forest lore, as well as our extensive display of preserved local animals, birds and reptiles. In addition, we maintain a feeding station to provide a local bird appreciation and viewing opportunity from the Visitor Center deck.

  • Email Volunteers of the Angeles National Forest

Other Volunteer Groups

 

 

 

 

 

 



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