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Volunteering with San Mateo County Parks

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The San Mateo County Parks Department offers a variety of volunteer opportunities to people of all ages, backgrounds and abilities.  The focus of volunteer projects is to assist Park Ranger staff with the preservation and protection of park facilities, parklands, and native plant and wildlife habitats.  Volunteers learn about their native environment and enjoy a sense of pride and participation in our County Parks.    The volunteer effort to build and protect our County Parks has doubled within the last five years with over thirty-thousand volunteer hours logged for 2003. Check out some of our current volunteer opportunities: Edgewood Park Volunteer Trail Patrol Program Volunteer Horse Patrol  Upcoming Events: (last updated 8/25/2008) 24th Annual California Coastal Cleanup Days California Coastal Cleanup Day is the largest volunteer event focused on the marine environment in the country. In 2007, more than 60,000 volunteers worked together to collect more than 900,000 pounds of trash and recyclables from our beaches, lakes, and waterways.  Come pick up trash in Mirada Surf West or Coyote Point County Park. Saturday, September 20, 2008  - Mirada Surf West County Park Time: 9:00 am - 12:00 pm Location: Meet at Coronado/Highway 1 in Mirada Surf West County Park. Details: The County Park Department will provide all gloves, trash bags and water. Directions: Park on one of the residential streets east of Highway 1 - not on the shoulder of Highway 1.  Please cross Highway 1 in the crosswalk at the Coronado stoplight.  Registration is required for this event: Please call Ranger Sarah Lenz at 650-728-3584 or email slenz@co.sanmateo.ca.us. Saturday, September 20, 2008 - Coyote Point Park Time: 9:00 am - 12:00 pm Location: Meet at Ranger Station or Coyote Point Museum. Details:  The cleanup will begin along the shoreline at the Marina and end at City of San Mateo's Ryder Park. Depending on the tides and as time permits, cleanup will continue along the shoreline to the windsurf launch area and beach. The County Park Department will provide all gloves, trash bags and water. Directions: From the south: Take the Dore exit. Turn left on N. Bayshore, take a slight right onto the ramp, continue straight leading to Coyote Point Drive or take the Anza Blvd. exit.  Turn right on Airport Blvd. Follow Airport Blvd. south to Coyote Point Drive. Turn left into the Park.   From the North:  Take the Burlingame/Broadway Exit. Go east over the freeway. Turn right onto Bayshore Highway.  Turn left on Airport Blvd. Follow Airport Blvd. south to Coyote Point Drive. Turn Left into the Park. Registration is required for this event: Please call Parks Ranger at (650) 573-2593 for more information. National Public Lands Days Saturday, September 27, 2008 - Junipero Serra County Park Time: 8:30 am - 12:30 pm Location: Junipero Serra County Park, Meet at the Park entrance. Details: The Parks Department is celebrating National Public Lands Day. We will work with Park Rangers We’ll have painting of restroom and picnic shelter buildings, removal of eucalyptus debris in the picnic area, repairs to existing table sites and installation of relocated picnic sites. Directions: When coming to Junipero Serra Park from the north (San Francisco), use Highway 280 (southbound). Turn off at the Crystal Springs Road exit. Turn right onto Crystal Springs Road. The park entrance is 1/2 mile up the road on the left-hand side. When coming to Junipero Serra Park from the south (San Jose), use Highway 280 (northbound). Turn off at the Skyline Blvd exit. At the first stoplight turn right onto San Bruno Ave. Turn right onto Crestmoor Dr. The park entrance will be on your right. Number of Volunteers Needed: 50 Registration is required for this event: Please contact Ranger Al Zuker at (650) 589-5708 or azuker@co.sanmateo.ca.us. You may also contact Cecily Harris Financial Services Manager San Mateo County Parks Department at (650) 363-4027 or email charris@co.sanmateo.ca.us. Saturday, September 27, 2008 - Huddart  County Park Time: Registration 8:00 - 8:30 am. Trail work and lunch until 2:00 pm Location: Huddart County Park, Meet at Sequoia Day Camp. Enter through gatehouse on Kings Mountain Road. Details: The County Parks Department is partnering with REI, Bay Area Ridge Trail Project and San Mateo County Parks and Recreation Foundation to celebrate National Public Lands Day. We will work with Park Rangers on rocking a half-mile section of Skyline Trail.  Directions: When coming to Huddart from the north (San Francisco) or the south (San Jose), use Highway 280. Turn off at the Woodside Road (Highway 84) exit. Turn westbound (towards Woodside). Proceed approximately 1.5 miles through the Town of Woodside. Turn right on Kings Mountain Road. Proceed up the hill to the main park entrance. Registration is required for this event: We are providing lunch and need to have an accurate volunteer count. Please email Steve Bacosa, Outreach Specialist at REI San Carlos at sbacosa@rei.com.  You may also contact Cecily Harris Financial Services Manager San Mateo County Parks Department at (650) 363-4027 or email charris@co.sanmateo.ca.us.  Below are some general areas where ongoing volunteer assistance is needed: Trail Patrols Hike trails and report any trail conditions that you feel Park Rangers should be made aware of such as fallen limbs or trees, overgrowth that narrows the trail, wildlife sightings, hazardous conditions, etc.  Public contact and providing park and trails information with trail users may also be part of this volunteer activity. Habitat Restoration Restore parklands that have been impacted or harmed by non-native plants and/or damaged by other events. Trail/Facility Maintenance Assist with the repair and upkeep of park picnic areas, tables, signs, fences, buildings, and other park facilities and structures. Park Docents (Environmental Education) Lead hikes for school groups and organizations.  Introduce visitors to the ecology and history of a park and encourage appreciation of our natural features. Visitor Services Staff reception desks at visitor centers and provide general park information to visitors. Community Outreach Assist staff with correspondence and mailings, visit schools and provide presentations and attend certain fairs to encourage volunteer recruitment and volunteer participation. Special Events Assist park staff with set-up and displays, represent park volunteers at booths, participate in special annual type events such as "Earth Day," "California Trails Day," San Mateo County Fair, Volunteer Recognition Events and Volunteer Training Workshops. Qualifications: Enjoy working outdoors Enjoy individual and group activities Enjoy participation in any needed training Enjoy the partnership of voluteerism and the environment For more information the Community Programs and San Mateo County Parks Volunteer Coordinator, at (650) 599-1306 or email: nramirez@co.sanmateo.ca.us Community Organizations - Below are some local organizations that also help in our county parks: Friends of Huddart and Wunderlich County Parks Friends of Fitzgerald Marine Reserve Friends of San Bruno Mountain State and County Park Friends of Edgewood County Park and Natural Preserve Folger Stable Friends of San Pedro Valley County Park