SJMA Volunteer Opportunities
Volunteers are the heart of the San Juan Mountains Association. We have a wide variety of volunteer programs to meet a broad range of interests from visitor outreach to outdoor education to stewardship projects and more!
Some volunteer programs are long term, others are one-time projects. Some require experience, others just a short volunteer training, and others need no training at all.
Interested in volunteering? Scroll down through these opportunities to learn about each one as well as how to sign up!
Questions? Contact SJMA’s Volunteer Coordinator, volunteer@sjma.org
Stewardship Volunteers
SJMA offers a multitude of stewardship volunteer programs – Trail Ambassadors, Wilderness Solitude Monitoring, stand-alone events, and Adopt-A-(Forest)-Road. As an SJMA stewardship volunteer, you can have a powerful impact on how visitors experience and enjoy this treasured place.
Trail Ambassador Program
For more than 30 years, our SJMA volunteers have had the unique opportunity to positively affect the thousands of visitors to the San Juan Mountains by providing trail & wilderness education, safety guidance, responsible recreation, Leave No Trace ethics, and completing stewardship projects on our public lands. By partnering with local land managers including the San Juan National Forest, the GMUG National Forests, the Rio Grande National Forest, and the Bureau of Land Management, our volunteers serve as educators at the most popular trailheads and on the highest priority conservation projects.
Volunteer trail ambassadors provide education at Ice Lakes Trailhead, Blue Lakes Trailhead, and Chicago Basin area.
Ice Lake Trailhead
Help us protect & educate at Ice Lake!! High visitation in the summer months has caused substantial impact in the fragile high alpine areas near Ice and Island Lakes. Volunteers can spend time at the trailhead—talking with people as they arrive—and/or head onto the trail to chat with hikers and backpackers. Ice Lake Trail Ambassadors will kindly & effectively communicate Leave No Trace, safety, and responsible recreation information to visitors.
What does training look like? In May, there is an in-person, group training that is required for both new and returning volunteers. It is a great opportunity to meet with folks who have volunteered at Ice Lake before and hear their experiences. If you miss the training, you can still get one-on-one training and join in later in the season. Contact volunteer@sjma.org if you missed the training. All Trail Ambassador volunteer training documents can be found here.
Blue Lakes Trailhead
It is not clear at this time whether SJMA will have volunteers at the Blue Lakes TH in 2026. The role of volunteers in similar to the Ice Lake Trail Ambassadors.
Chicago Basin
Passionate about protecting Chicago Basin and the Weminuche Wilderness? As a volunteer, you can have a powerful impact on how visitors experience and enjoy this treasured place. Chicago Basin volunteers ride the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Train (D&SNG) to Needleton, and spend 2 – 3 nights in the backcountry. During your stay, you’ll talk with visitors who are hiking/camping in the area about Leave-No-Trace practices, Wilderness regulations and recommended practices, and provide accurate trail information. The program begins in mid-June and ends in mid-September.
In addition, we need volunteers to help pack in and set up the basecamp in mid-June and pack it out again in mid-Sept. While we generally plan to spend one night out, volunteers who help with this can stay and explore for a number of nights or do it all in one day without spending a night.
Transportation: SJMA provides complimentary round-trip tickets for the train from Durango and to Needleton. You will arrive in Needleton around 11am. On your 3rd or 4th day, you will take the train back to Durango, arriving around 6PM.
Camp: Volunteers have the choice of camping at the SJMA basecamp (< 1 mile from train stop) or backpacking into Chicago Basin. Volunteers will receive one free backpacking meal.
- Camping at Basecamp: Want to educate trail users but enjoy the luxuries of car camping and/or aren’t wanting to haul it all for 6 miles? This is the gig for you!
- SJMA’s Needleton Basecamp is so well stocked that all you need is your sleeping bag, mat, clothes, and food.
- It’s less than one mile from the Needleton flagstop.
- Basecamp volunteers are asked to be at the Needle Creek trailhead kiosk around 11 am each day to greet new visitors and impart wisdom. After that, there are many options including hiking along the Animas River trail to catch folks hiking in from Purgatory Flats.
- Go here full list of basecamp supplies.
- Backpacking into Chicago Basin: Backpacking into Chicago Basin isn’t easy, but it’s certainly rewarding!
- In addition to educating fellow trail users, you’ll have opportunities to naturalize fire rings, disguise illegal campsites, make notes on trail damage, and just plain wander around in the high country.
- Signing up for this shift assumes that you will not be staying at the Needleton basecamp, but you can always communicate in advance with those volunteers if you’d like to spend a night there.
- Backpacking volunteers should also review the list of basecamp supplies as there are many items there that will be useful in Chicago Basin.
- Camping at Basecamp: Want to educate trail users but enjoy the luxuries of car camping and/or aren’t wanting to haul it all for 6 miles? This is the gig for you!
What does training look like? In May, there is an in-person, group training that is required for both new and returning volunteers. It is a great opportunity to meet with folks who have volunteered in Chicago Basin before and hear their experiences. If you miss the training, reach out to volunteer@sjma.org. All Trail Ambassador volunteer training documents can be found here.
Interested in becoming a Trail Ambassador Volunteer?
Volunteer shifts for Trail Ambassadors go live the first Monday in March. Click below to explore other volunteer shifts currently available.
Contact SJMA’s Volunteer Coordinator, volunteer@sjma.org, for more information
Wilderness Solitude Monitoring (WSM)
Stewardship volunteers don’t just educate the public, they also help collect invaluable data. Our Wilderness Solitude Monitoring volunteers roam specific trails in the Weminuche Wilderness while collecting data on Wilderness solitude experiences. This data is part of a years-long process for the National Forest to get an accurate picture of Wilderness use and inform future management decisions.
Wilderness Solitude Monitoring is important, but also really fun! It’s easy to combine a WSM shift with a hike you’d already be doing, along the stunning trails of the Weminuche.
For 2026, many of the trail segments will be deep in the wilderness and will require either an overnight stay or an ambition to cover a bunch of miles in one very long day.
Locations: Throughout the beautiful Weminuche Wilderness
When can I expect these programs? May – October, mostly in the summer months
What does training look like? We require a one-time 90 minute training for wilderness solitude monitoring. Once you’ve completed the training, you can sign up for as many shifts as you’d like.
Interested in becoming a Wilderness Solitude Monitoring Volunteer?
Volunteer shifts for Wilderness Solitude Monitoring are released as available. Click below to explore other volunteer shifts currently available.
Stand-Alone Events
Each year, SJMA works with our land management partner agencies to plan stand-along volunteer events around priority stewardship needs in the area. For example, we typically host a group volunteer project on National Public Lands Day (the largest volunteer event in the nation on the fourth Saturday in September), complete trash clean up projects, or complete trail work projects.
Colorado Trail Segment 25.1
In 2024, SJMA adopted the section of the Colorado Trail from Molas Pass to Rolling pass—also known as Segment 25.1. This 12 mile stretch of trail is arguably one of the most beautiful sections of the 486-mile trail. It also receives a lot of use in the summertime! It is open to foot, stock, and bicycle traffic. Each summer, SJMA recruits crews of volunteers to help on one or two multi-day trail work hitches so that we can keep this trail in great shape for all trail users. Stay tuned for details on the 2026 projects.
Keep checking back for additional volunteer opportunities. These include:
- Colorado Public Lands Day: Third Saturday in May
- Hardrock 100 Collaborative Clean-up: Occurs Tuesday before the race
- Overnight trail work projects
- National Public Lands Day: Fourth Saturday in September
Interested in our Stand-Alone Volunteer Events?
Volunteer projects are released as available. Click below to explore other volunteer shifts currently available.
Contact SJMA’s Volunteer Coordinator, volunteer@sjma.org, for more information
Adopt-a-Road – “Eyes and the Ears of the Forest”
Did you know that since 2000, SJMA has organized a group of dedicated volunteers to take care of Forest Service Roads? These are everyday citizens getting involved in stewarding their lands. What do they do?
- Pick up trash from roadsides
- Clean up dispersed campsites
- Check culverts of debris
- Connect with visitors while encouraging responsible behavior
- Upgrade Forest Service signs
Interested in Adopting a Forest Road?
Contact SJMA’s Volunteer Coordinator, volunteer@sjma.org, for more information
Volunteer Naturalists
Youth Education Programs
Do you love working with kids? Spending time in nature? Want to hone your teaching skills, all while enjoying beautiful locations at the Durango Nature Center and local National Forest land? If you answered “yes”, consider becoming a volunteer naturalist.
SJMA Volunteer Naturalists help us deliver experiential outdoor education programs to elementary and middle school groups. As a volunteer, you will help connect kids to nature & serve your community.
Volunteers will lead small group activities related to various natural history and environmental science concepts. No experience or special skill sets required, other than a passion for connecting kids with nature.
Locations: Durango Nature Center, local National Forest land
When can I expect these programs? Weekdays year-round, with most opportunities in the spring, fall, and winter.
What does training look like? Most volunteer naturalists start by shadowing a couple education programs. To shadow a program, sign up for one at the link below and email volunteer@sjma.org that you’re interested in shadowing. Once you’re ready to lead groups on your own, we’ll complete a background check for you and then you’re ready to educate!
Interested in helping Youth Education Programs?
Currently, there are volunteer shifts available to help with Youth Education Programs. Sign up for a shift today!
Contact SJMA’s Volunteer Coordinator, volunteer@sjma.org, for more information
Interpretive Naturalist Program
While many of our educational programs focus on students, SJMA also hosts an interpretive nature walk series each summer and winter.
Our summer nature walks are free, open to the public, and led entirely by our volunteer naturalists. They have considerable experience in ecology, wildflowers, birds, wildlife, geology, and more, and love spending time sharing their knowledge in the San Juans.
Our winter interpretive hikes are co-hosted with Mountain Studies Institute and are free and open to the public. These snowshoe hikes explore snow science, winter ecology, and our snowy landscapes.
We are always looking for more passionate volunteers to join our interpretive naturalist team. Become an SJMA volunteer naturalist and share your knowledge of the San Juans with our community!
When can I expect these programs? Summer and winter
What does training look like? Many volunteer naturalists start by attending a training (in January for winter hikes or May for summer walks) and shadowing a few events. Our current team of naturalist volunteers will help you prepare to lead groups on your own, whenever you’re ready. If you are interested, email volunteer@sjma.org.
Interested in becoming an Interpretive Naturalist?
Currently, there are volunteer shifts available to help with interpretive events. Sign up for a shift today!
Contact SJMA’s Volunteer Coordinator, volunteer@sjma.org, for more information
Visitor Information Volunteers
Public Lands Ambassadors
Do you enjoy talking with people, promoting responsible use of our public lands, and sharing your love of the San Juan Mountains? If you answered “yes”, consider becoming a Public Lands Ambassador!
Volunteering as a Public Lands Ambassador is an exciting way to connect people to the outdoors in Southwest Colorado. We are looking for volunteers in Durango’s San Juan National Forest Supervisor’s Office.
As a Public Lands Ambassador, you will:
- Answer questions about recreation and land stewardship
- Encourage Leave No Trace principles and responsible use of our public lands
- Assist with the SJMA bookstore
When can I expect these programs? Weekdays year-round
What does training look like? As a volunteer, you’ll work with our Visitor Information staff to train and shadow for a couple shifts while you learn all of our systems.
Interested in becoming a Public Lands Ambassador?
Unfortunately, there are no volunteer shifts available at this time. We will update this as soon as they become available.
Contact SJMA’s Volunteer Coordinator, volunteer@sjma.org, for more information
Durango Nature Center
Nature Center Docent
The Durango Nature Center is SJMA’s outdoor learning laboratory and outpost in the pinyon juniper ecosystem south of Durango. The Nature Center hosts many of our youth educational programs and summer camps, and we are currently exploring new ways for the public to enjoy this space.
Nature Center Docents will welcome the public to Durango Nature Center, lead interpretive hikes on our nature trail, and share information on responsible recreation in Southwest Colorado.
When can I expect these programs? Weekends in May through September
What does training look like? Docents will attend a one-time training on site at the Durango Nature Center. Once you’ve completed the training, you can sign up for as many volunteer shifts at the Nature Center as you’d like. If you’d like to lead interpretive hikes, you can jump right in or start by shadowing an SJMA staff member during your shift.
Interested in becoming a Nature Center Docent?
Volunteer shifts at the Durango Nature Center are released as available. Click below to explore other volunteer shifts currently available.
Contact SJMA’s Volunteer Coordinator, volunteer@sjma.org, for more information
Christmas Trees for Conservation Fundraiser
Support SJMA’s only annual fundraiser – Christmas Trees for Conservation! With your help, we improve forest health by cutting small ladder fuel trees in the National Forest and selling them as Christmas trees to raise money for our stewardship and education programs that take place year-round.
Each winter, we need YOUR support to harvest white firs, transport trees to Durango, and sell them at our tree lot in town. This is a great opportunity to support your local public lands, and to feel connected to our community during the holiday season.
White Fir Harvest Day
What: There’s a job for everyone – carry, collect, net, load, transport, and unload white firs. Sawyers are also needed!
When: November 21, 2026
Where: TBD
Tree Lot Set-Up
What: Help unload, set up both white and balsam firs
When: November 23-24, 2026
Where: Corner of Camino del Rio and College Avenue (Train parking lot)
Tree Lot Sales
What: Sign up for a morning or afternoon shift to help sell our Christmas Trees.
When: Opening November 27, 2026
Where: Corner of Camino del Rio and College Avenue (Train parking lot)
Interested in learning more about our fundraiser and how it is helping to improve forest help? Want to know our tree lot hours? Check out our Christmas Trees for Conservation informational page. Or contact SJMA’s Volunteer Coordinator at volunteer@sjma.org.
