Volunteer Opportunities
We have a variety of volunteer opportunities available throughout the year. If you are interested in joining us, please full out a volunteer application!
While we accept volunteer applications throughout the year, please note that many of our volunteer programs recruit on an annual basis. If you register interest for these programs during their "off season," we will recontact you when that program begins recruiting. The best way to learn about open volunteer opportunities is through our bi-monthly e-newsletter, our website, and/or on our social media channels.
How to get Involved:
Trail Work Parties & Stewardship Hikes
No training required / One-time commitment / All seasons
Once each season we host ACFL trail work parties doing a variety of tasks in partnership with Anacortes Parks and Recreation. Appropriate for volunteers ages 12 and up.
During the fall and winter, we also offer stewardship hikes learning about and removing invasive species along the trails.
These events do not require a volunteer application and will be listed on our upcoming events & activities calendar.
Guest Educator
No training required / One-time commitment / All seasons
Educators, if you have a special skill or knowledge set and would like to serve as a guest co-leader of a hike or at our Forest Discovery Center in a classroom setting to share ACFL-related knowledge.
Administrative and Event Volunteer
Some training required / one-time commitment / all seasons
Throughout the year we would love an extra set of hands to help with some odd jobs like folding newsletters, posting flyers throughout town for our events, freshening up our space, staffing events such as our annual benefit, and more.
Forest Discovery Center Docent (Volunteer Applications Currently Closed)
Training required / recurring commitment / June-September
Docents are the face of our Forest Discovery Center. Working in teams and supported by staff, they greet and answer visitor questions, sell merchandise, and provide a key function in running our small nature center in Downtown Anacortes to promote sustainable recreation in our beautiful forest lands.
Available shifts are Noon - 4pm on Fridays and Saturdays, officially starting the second weekend in June.
Required Training: TBD
Trail Ambassadors (Volunteer Applications Currently Closed)
Training required / recurring commitment / May - August
Trail ambassador teams are strategically stationed at the busiest trailheads during weekends throughout the summer. They are a resource for trail users, educating visitors on the wonders of our forest and how to recreate safely and respectfully.
Citizen Science Volunteer (Volunteer Applications Currently Closed)
Training required / recurring commitment / all seasons
Our team-based water quality monitoring projects help us track a variety of key indicators in various spots across the Little Cranberry Lake area. This information helps inform us and the Forest Advisory Board on the health of our forests.
Macroinvertebrates: 10am to 1pm on the second Tuesday of every other month a team collects samples and brings them back to the Forest Discovery Center where other volunteers join and sort and count macroinvertebrates.
Water quality: Teams collect and test water samples in the field.
Learn more about the volunteer experience:
Ongoing Ways to Get Involved:
Meet
Attend our monthly Board meetings at 6pm on the second Wednesday of each month. Please email us at info@friendsoftheacfl.org for details.
Lead
Are you interested in serving on the Board of Directors? Contact board@friendsoftheacfl.org to learn more.
Join Together
Every year in March, you are welcome to join us at our annual meeting for an informative presentation, board elections, an update on Friends of the ACFL business, and socializing.
Show Up
Attend monthly Forest Advisory Board meetings (cityofanacortes.org). Share your opinions and observations with this appointed body that helps to set ACFL policy for the City. Meetings are on the first Thursday of each month at 6pm.
Speak Up
Write or call your City Councilor (cityofanacortes.org) about ACFL issues. Make sure your elected representatives know that you support the preservation and protection of the ACFL.
Your ideas are always welcome. If you’d like to get involved or have an idea for a Friends of the ACFL, contact us at info@friendsoftheacfl.org