San Gorgonio Wilderness Volunteer Partnership

Location:

Southern California east of LA

What is fostering progress?

The success of this partnership is largely the result of the dedication and energy of the volunteers themselves. As the District Ranger described, "These individuals contribute their time, money, and interest to assisting in the mission of the Forest Service. The Association is an integral part of the District team." The strong connection which the volunteers have with the wilderness area has provided an incredible motivation for them to invest significant energy into protecting the area. Says Ward, "I keep being surprised. If you just ask people to do stuff, it's amazing what people will do for you. I think, 'No. I can't ask anyone to do that,' but then I do and they just jump right in and do it."

 

John Flippin, the current SGWA volunteer coordinator, highlights the two-way nature of this partnership. The Forest Service provides the SGWA with funding for supplies, equipment, and volunteer training, and the SGWA provides needed services for the Forest. Bob Wood, Recreation Officer on the San Bernardino National Forest, attributes the long-standing partnership to the large number of people interested in volunteering. Of the 200 plus members he says, “it’s just their thing; they like to spend time in the woods hiking around.”

 

Another key point to the program's success has been the District's recognition of the volunteers' efforts. Each fall the District puts on a "nice big awards ceremony" for the volunteers at a mountain lodge where every volunteer receives an award in appreciation of their contribution to the National Forest. As Ward explains, "It is a very important part of the volunteer program. They all really look forward to it." The SGWA's contribution to the Forest Service was also recognized nationally in 1991 when the group was granted the Chief's Award. Two members of the group were flown to Washington, D.C. to receive the award. Said Krueper, "Everyone back there was very appreciative, wishing that something like this would happen on their forests too."

 

This site was developed by the Ecosystem Management Initiative through a partnership with the US Forest Service and the US Department of Interior. Read more.