Our Volunteers Are Making a Difference for the Planet
Build meaningful connections with visitors and nature
Help make Santa
Clara Valley a better place
Protect and restore natural lands for future generations to enjoy
Trail Patrol, Land Steward
Tim has always been an avid hiker looking for the best places to explore around Santa Clara County. When he read about Coyote Valley Open Space Preserve in a local paper he decided to check it out and it soon became regular favorite. He spotted an ask for volunteers to go out to help build a fence at Coyote Valley; he attended and loved working with fellow Authority volunteers and staff. He has since become an involved member of our volunteer community. Between his shifts working as a firefighter with NASA, watching for fires at the lookout station with CAL FIRE and his commitments as a student for a citizen's academy for Valley Water, Tim has been a regular volunteer for both Land Stewards and Trail Patrols. Anyone who has met Tim appreciates his warmth, professionalism and wonderful sense of humor. Thank you Tim for all your excellent service!
Years of volunteering
with us
Favorite Program
Favorite Open Space Preserve
As a volunteer for the Open Space Authority, you will help preserve and protect valuable natural resources for yourself and future generations. At the same time, you’ll get a chance to learn about the environment, meet interesting people, work hard, and have fun. Learn more about volunteer roles. You can also volunteer for roles on the Authority's committees.
Enjoy and Protect
Trail Patrol team members are agency ambassadors and information resources for visitors, and commit to patrolling the Authority’s open space preserves a minimum of once a month, on foot, bicycle or horseback.
Fun and Fairs
Community Outreach Volunteers represent the Authority at community festivals, nature or science themed fairs, and other public events.
Restore and Preserve
Land Steward volunteers assist Authority staff with trail maintenance, habitat restoration, fencing and cleanup projects.
Educate and Inspire
Docents share information about nature and the Authority's mission and work, leading groups on fun, educational programs and activities.
Learn and Manage
Trail Masters is a fun, hands-on, skills-based program designed to train volunteers to complete trail maintenance and field work alongside Authority staff
Trail Patrol, Docent, and Community Outreach roles are open to anyone 18 years of age and older. Youth aged 14-17 are welcome in the Land Stewards Program or for Internship and Special Projects with parental consent. Contact Gavin for more information.
Volunteer Handbook
