Volunteer at Fort Ross and Salt Point parks

As a small non-profit, we depend on our community for the stewardship of these public lands. We would love to have you join us as a volunteer, any time you can put in makes a difference. Docent training will be provided.

Volunteer Opportunities

Visitor Center Volunteers

Fort Ross Bookshop and Museum– Assist FRC staff during high season by helping with sales and visitor services in the gift shop. It’s a fun and comfortable way to meet our visitors and help spread the word about Fort Ross.

PRIORITY: Salt Point Visitor Center – Meet and greet visitors, answer questions, and help with sales at the Gerstle Cove gift shop during weekends from April to October. 

Cultural History Volunteers

Historic Fort and Call House – Interpret the Fort buildings and show visitors the Call house and fur warehouse. We are currently looking for Call House volunteers to guide visitors on house museum tours and help maintain the historic 1878 garden.

Orchard – Lend a hand with preservation, pruning, and orchard chores to protect the health of the historic orchard, planted during the Russian and Ranch eras. 

Natural History Volunteers

Garden and greenhouse – Volunteer to help with the education gardens at Fort Ross! There are two gardens and a greenhouse that require plant care, propagation, weeding and watering. We are growing native plants to restore the natural environment in the gardens. These areas will be used to teach children in the Marine Ecology Program.

Viola Adunca (Western Dog Violet) Surveys – Walk the coast while documenting with your smartphone the host plant for the endangered Silverspot butterfly. This data will allow State Parks to create plans for habitat restoration. 

Citizen Science: Marine Mammal Monitoring – Join our team of coastal stewards who monitor and document the populations of Harbor Seals and California and Steller Sea Lions on the shoreline just north of Fort Ross State Historic Park. 

Other Opportunities

Join the Board of Directors – Interested in serving on FRC’s board of directors? We always need skilled community members to join our board, in particular with legal, business, grant writing, and fundraising skills.

Festival Volunteers – Provide event support or lead tours that includes working the entrance, food, crafts and other kid activity areas.

California State Park Volunteer Benefits

Volunteering at Fort Ross and Salt Point is rewarding on many levels.

Getting Community Service Hours – As a 501(c)(3), Fort Ross Conservancy can tally and authorize hours towards both adult and teen community service requirements.

Working Towards a State Parks Pass – If you volunteer 40 hours in a calendar year, you will receive for the next calendar year a California State Parks pass that gives you free day-use entry to the following Sonoma and Mendocino county California State Parks:

If you volunteer 200 hours in a calendar year, you will receive a state-wide pass that allows you free day-use entry into any California State Park during the next calendar year. To accrue hours, you need to complete the volunteer service agreement and submit hours to FRC on a monthly basis. FRC then turns in your hours to the California State Parks. For more information on California State Parks Volunteer in Parks program, see Parks.ca

For more information and to sign up, contact the Visitor Center at info@fortross.org, (707) 847-3437.