Environmental Education and Interpretive Program Volunteers
For more information call (520) 724-5375 or email Environmental Education
Volunteer Interest FormJoin the active volunteers working in Pima County’s Tucson Mountain Park, Cienega Creek Natural Preserve, Agua Caliente Park, Canoa Ranch, and other Pima County Parks. There are a variety of volunteer positions available with Pima County’s Environmental Education and Interpretive programs.
Tour Guides for the Agua Caliente Park Ranch House Visitor Center and Art Gallery. Volunteers meet and greet visitors and lead tours of the historic ranch house and grounds.
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Volunteer Naturalists lead or assist with nature walks, birding and other wildlife viewing programs at Agua Caliente Park, Tucson Mountain Park, Cienega Creek Natural Preserve, Canoa Ranch, Sweetwater Wetlands and along the Santa Cruz River, Colossal Cave Mountain Park, and other locations in Pima County.
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School and Youth Program volunteers work side-by side with NRPR educators to engage students in science study and nature-based activities at Agua Caliente Park, Tucson Mountain Park, Pima Prickly Park, and along the Santa Cruz River.
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Buffelgrass Speakers’ Bureau volunteers deliver educational presentations to local community groups to raise awareness of buffelgrass and other invasive species.
Sonoran Desert Weedwackers volunteers help with buffelgrass pulls. To
sign up please visit the Arizona-Sonora Desert Musuem Bufflegrass and Fountain Grass Control page.
Living with Urban Wildlife volunteers receive training to deliver digital slide presentations that offer practical tips for coexisting with wildlife in the urban setting. Volunteers work with NRPR educators to engage the public at large community events and make use of the interactive features of the mobile Living with Urban Wildlife exhibit.
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Wildlife Camera Volunteers visit their assigned NRPR camera site at least once per month to check the camera, exchange SD cards and batteries, and to take field notes and photographs that document each visit.
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Historic Canoa Ranch Volunteer Opportunities
For more information call (520) 724-5375 or email Environmental Education
Volunteer Interest FormInterpretive Tour Guides lead or assist with scheduled tours for the general public, organized groups, and special events. Volunteer Tour Guides interpret the historic buildings, cultural history, and natural resources at Historic Canoa Ranch. The tour schedule is determined in advance. Large groups are divided into manageable sizes to be led by individual guides or teams of guides. A typical tour consists of a group of 8-15 adults on a walking tour of the ranch headquarters for a 30- 90 minute period.
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Greeters and Exhibit Monitors are stationed inside the heritage area during tours and open hours to provide general information and interpret the historic buildings, cultural history, and natural resources at Historic Canoa Ranch. Greeters assist with tour registration, direct visitors to the tour staging areas, and answer other general questions. Exhibit Monitors are stationed in historic buildings where artifacts and other ranch memorabilia are displayed to provide information to visitors and to safeguard exhibits.
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Volunteer Naturalists lead or assist with nature walks, birding and other wildlife viewing programs at Historic Canoa Ranch. Volunteer Naturalists share their knowledge of Sonoran Desert ecology with park visitors during guided birding walks around Canoa Lake, thematic nature walks, Anza Trail hikes, and informal interpretive stations.
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School and Youth Program volunteers work side-by side with NRPR educators to engage students in site specific learning, science study and nature-based activities, at the lake and heritage area at Historic Canoa Ranch.
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Events volunteers assist with hosting large public events at Historic Canoa Ranch. Opportunities include physically active jobs such as event set up and clean up, and less demanding tasks that include staffing visitor information, water and first aid stations, and other duties as assigned. Orientation provided on-site day of or in advance of the event.
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Site Restoration volunteers assist NRPR staff with light restoration/construction work on the buildings inside the historic heritage areas. Projects include surface preparation prior to painting, painting interior and exterior walls on buildings, and other landscape elements. Light woodworking projects including surface preparation and general repairs prior to re- staining wooden surfaces on both interior and exterior locations. Repair and restoration of the corral areas including repair or replacing damaged materials in the fencing and gates. Other light construction, repair, or maintenance work as needed.
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Landscape Restoration and Maintenance volunteers work on general landscape projects inside the heritage area including clearing unwanted vegetation, pruning hedges, planting flower beds, raking court yard areas, basic weeding and general landscape beautification.
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Community Partners in Pima County Parks
Friends of the Canoa Parks
Green Valley Gardeners
The Green Valley Gardeners have teamed up with Pima County Natural Resources, Parks and Recreation to re-establish some gardens and landscaping at Historic Canoa Ranch. The results of this partnership are evidenced by several flourishing gardens throughout the site.
Trails Volunteers
For more information call (520) 724-5375 or email Environmental Education
Volunteer Interest FormDo you enjoy trails and appreciate the experience they provide for getting out into Pima County’s natural open space parks? Are you interested in volunteering to help build and maintain these trails?
Participating in volunteer trail projects is a great way to sustain trails, not only for yourself, but for the entire Tucson community. Volunteer trail projects include new trail construction, trail and trailhead maintenance, sign installation, and rehabilitation of old trails and roads no longer in use. Current opportunities are available for group trail work events to help build new trail or becoming a trail steward for ongoing trail maintenance.
With hundreds of miles of trails in many areas surrounding Tucson and more new trails planned, there is never a shortage of trail work. Whether you’re a hiker, runner, mountain biker or equestrian, there’s a good chance you’ll find that working on trails is even more rewarding than using them.
No previous trail work experience required. Work is physically strenuous; volunteers should be in good physical condition and able to hike on uneven terrain.
Sonoran Desert Weedwackers
Sonoran Desert Weedwackers is a volunteer group dedicated to removing infestations of buffelgrass, fountain grass and other invasive plants found in the Tucson Mountains and other natural areas in Pima County. Weedwacking is hard work but the benefits are well worth the effort! Volunteers should be in good physical shape and able to hike on uneven terrain.
Community Partners in Pima County Parks
Tucson Clean and Beautiful
Have a group of five or more people, and looking to give back to your community at no personal cost? Consider adopting a site with Tucson Clean and Beautiful's Adopt-a-Park and Public areas program, check out their website for more information.
Sonoran Desert Mountain Bicyclists (SDMB)
Sonoran Desert Mountain Bicyclists is a volunteer-driven 501(c)(3) non-profit organization devoted to the promotion of the sport of mountain bicycling, and views the sport as a vehicle to promote low impact outdoor recreation, conservation, and mountain bicycling opportunities that are environmentally and socially responsible. Pima County works in partnership with SDMB to work to build, maintain, and protect multi-use singletrack and mountain bike trail access in the greater Tucson, AZ region.
Native Plant Nursery Volunteer Opportunities
For more information please contact Amy Belk or at (520) 488-8022
Volunteer Interest FormVolunteers at the native plant nursery help grow native plants and cacti for public projects. Planting, watering, weeding - we always have things to do at the nursery. Take home a free plant in exchange for your volunteer time! The nursery is located at 5845 N. Camino de la Tierra and we are open Monday thru Friday, 6:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
Native Plant Nursery Volunteer Testament
I'm currently a volunteer at the Pima County Native Plant Nursery. The Nursery provides a valuable service to the County by propagating, nurturing and supplying native plants for street divides and other public spaces. They also rescue native plants (primarily succulents) from public and private property destined for development.
For a couple hours each week, I assist the staff in virtually every required function on site from watering, planting, up potting (bumping) to preparation for delivery to project sites. This is definitely NOT volunteer "busy work" but rather necessary help for their very small paid staff.
In addition to general volunteer satisfaction, I have a concentrated opportunity to learn about virtually every Arizona Uplands native plant. I also gain a tremendous amount from discussions with professional botanists, horticulturists, and irrigation specialists.
Franklin Lane
Arizona Master Naturalist
2017 Cohort
Recreation/Community Center Volunteer Opportunities
For information contact Program Manager, Kelly Cheeseman or at (520) 724-5208
Volunteer Interest FormThere are a variety of seasonal volunteer opportunities working at Pima County swimming pools and community centers, including the Mt. Lemmon Community Center. Community Center Volunteers assist with a multitude of tasks due to the broad nature of the programs and services offered. We are customer service based; therefore, there is a range of volunteer opportunities from assisting with answering customer inquiries, filing, answering phone calls, assisting the public, assisting with preschool programs, school age youth programs, senior programs, room reservations and Staff taught Enrichment Classes. Community Center Volunteers participate in an orientation, are asked to commit to at least 8-hours per month, and develop a consistent volunteer schedule with the Center Coordinator.
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For information contact Cliff Gyves, Shooting Sports Program Director at (520) 724-5752
Volunteer Interest Form
Shooting Sports Volunteers
Pima County Natural Resources, Parks and Recreation Department has three shooting ranges, two archery ranges and a clay target center. Shooting is a safe, fun and challenging sport.
Line Safety Officers (LSO) / Assistant Range Masters / Cashiers work side by side with staff to manage Southeast Regional Park Shooting Range (SERP Shooting), Southeast Archery Range (SE Archery), and Southeast Clay Target Center (SE Clay Target), Tucson Mountain Park Rifle and Pistol Range (TMP Shooting). The majority of the volunteers serve as Line Safety Officers on the three supervised ranges (SERP Shooting, SE Clay Target, TMP Shooting).
- Line Safety Officers assist Rangemasters by monitoring and assisting shooters.
- Volunteers with advanced skills and certifications serve as Assistant Rangemasters. They are assigned and work with paid Rangemasters to provide additional Rangemaster presence where and when needed.
- Volunteers serve as cashiers and provide office administration assistance.