Strengthening stewardship: Volunteers power public lands across the Eastern Region
Across the Forest Service’s Eastern Region, volunteers are a powerful force shaping national forests and grasslands. They serve alongside employees, contributing time, energy and expertise to public lands that belong to everyone. This National Volunteer Week, we thank our volunteers—thousands of individuals—and our partner organizations for their year-round commitment to the landscapes that…
#Volunteers
Spring break, Shawnee-style
University of Illinois students work together, using a crosscut saw to remove a downed tree from a wilderness area on the Shawnee National Forest. The group helped make trails safer for the public by removing trees and conducting trail maintenance during their five-day visit to the forest. The…
#Volunteers, #Students
2024 Volunteer Program Winners
Central to the success of Forest Service conservation efforts are the dedicated volunteers who embody the spirit of the National Forest Act of 1972, often referred to as the Volunteers in the National Forest Act. The Act promotes sustainable forest management, outdoor recreation, mineral and energy management and public involvement in conservation. The Act laid the foundation for preserving our…
#ForestVolunteers, #Volunteers, #VolunteerAwards
Acknowledging the importance of volunteers
Arthur Phalo, National Volunteer Program Manager
Washington, D.C.—April is National Volunteer Month, a time to reflect on the incredible impact of volunteering and to express our heartfelt gratitude to those who dedicate their time and energy to helping others. Volunteers play a crucial role in supporting…
#Volunteers, #ForestVolunteers
From a mining aqueduct to recreational gold-the restoration of an historic Alaska trail
A newly installed Forest Service sign orients recreators on the reconstructed Fish Creek bridge, one of 64 bridges that were rebuilt along the fourteen-mile trail. (Photo courtesy of Dave Haas)
In the 1880s, Douglas Island, now part of Juneau, Alaska, was the site of the largest gold mining complex in the world. A 14-mile-long aqueduct carried water…
#Alaska, #Bridges, #Volunteers, #TrailMaintenance
Volunteer spotlight: Roger Robidoux, White Mountain National Forest
White Mountain National Forest volunteer Roger Robidoux gives a hiking safety presentation to Forest Service staff at the Lincoln Woods trailhead on Aug. 24, 2023. (USDA Forest Service photo by Glenn Rosenholm)
NEW HAMPSHIRE—Seeing his youthful vigor, you would never guess that White Mountain National…