National Park Service: La Verne, Here’s Your Chance to Volunteer

August 11, 2017
Share this story:

Thousand Oaks, CA, August 11, 2017 – Pomona might feel far afield when it comes to the National Park System, but throughout September, rangers will be setting up locally for the L.A. County Fair. And they’re hoping several locals will join them.

 

“For anyone who’s interested in the National Park Service, either by giving back or someday becoming a ranger themselves, volunteering is an excellent step in the door,” says Sarah Koenen, volunteer program manager and a supervisory ranger with Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area. “We’re looking for people who love interacting with the public and talking about nature.”

 

The National Park Service booth at the fair will host a number of hands-on activities in the America’s Great Outdoor Area, such as demonstrating how to pack a backpack for a hike, helping people find their future favorite trails, and giving out information on the numerous public lands that surround the Los Angeles metro area.  The America’s Great Outdoor area is hosted in collaboration with Bureau of Land Management, U.S. Forest Service, and CAL FIRE.

 

Volunteer training will be held on August 20th and 24th from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the fairgrounds. To sign up for either training or get more information, email or call Sarah Koenen at sarah_koenen@nps.gov or 805-370-2313.

 

Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area (SMMNRA) is the largest urban national park in the country, encompassing more than 150,000 acres of mountains and coastline in Ventura and Los Angeles counties. A unit of the National Park Service, it comprises a seamless network of local, state and federal parks interwoven with private lands and communities. As one of only five Mediterranean ecosystems in the world, SMMNRA preserves the rich biological diversity of more than 450 animal species and 26 distinct plant communities. For more information, visit www.nps.gov/samo.

Leave a Reply