Grass Valley, Calif.— Volunteer at Western Nevada County’s State Parks! Beginning April 24, California State Parks is hosting a two-day training for volunteering at Empire Mine State Historic Park, South Yuba River State Park, and/or Malakoff Diggins State Historic Park.
A wide variety of volunteer activities are available to match any interest, from public speaking to hands-on activities, indoors or outside! Time commitment varies by activity. The following activities are offered at some or all of the parks, and include training and mentoring:
- Trail Rovers: Answer visitors’ questions and keep trails clean while you hike in the beautiful parks.
- Gift Shop: Meet people from around the world in our park Visitor Centers, which generate income to support the park educational and volunteer programs.
- School Tours: 3rd – 5th grade guided school tour programs are offered at all three parks.
- History Tour Leaders: Lead group tours of the historic buildings and features at Empire Mine, Bridgeport (South Yuba River SP), or North Bloomfield (Malakoff Diggins SHP).
- Tour Assistants: Follow on History, Nature, or School tours to assist tour guides and guests, and help keep the park’s historic features safe.
- Blacksmiths: Interact with visitors while you demonstrate making period ironwork in a forge to sell in our gift shop, at Empire Mine year-round or Malakoff Diggins school programs.
- Landscape Gardening: help keep Empire Mine’s historic rose garden and other Estate landscaping beautiful and manicured
- Facility Maintenance: Help park staff with maintenance and repairs of Empire Mine’s historic facilities and exhibits
- Living History: Wear Living History period clothing reproductions while giving tours and/or staffing special events
- Special Events: Help with activities offered at park events such as Miner’s Picnic, Humbug Day and Holidays at Empire Mine.
- Gold Panning: Teach visitors and students how to pan for gold at Bridgeport’s Visitor Center (South Yuba River SP), and at community event State Parks tables.
- Nature Trail Tours: Lead or assist with wildflower walks, geology hikes, and other natural history topics of your choice or expertise
- Habitat Restoration: Participate in weed bashes and other habitat restoration projects at South Yuba River SP, and/or adopt your own plot to maintain healthy native plant habitat.
Training begins with a required 2-day Orientation. Applicants can then attend activity-specific training for any of the parks that they are interested in volunteering at. The orientation for all three parks will be offered from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Empire Mine SHP, on both Fridays and Saturdays; trainees only need to attend one of the days each week:
Session 1: Friday April 24th or Saturday April 25th AND
Session 2: Friday May 1st or Saturday May 2nd
RSVP is required. Applicants may sign up by contacting Sierra Gold Sector Volunteer Coordinator Jean Rhyne at (530) 686-7110 or Jean.Rhyne@parks.ca.gov. More detailed information on the volunteer program activities can be found at www.parks.ca.gov/SierraGoldVolunteers.
WHAT: Volunteer Training for Empire Mine SHP, South Yuba River SP, and Malakoff Diggins SHP
WHEN: Fridays and Saturdays, April 24 – May 2,9 a.m. – 3 p.m.
WHERE: Empire Mine State Historic Park, 10791 E. Empire St, Grass Valley
COST: Free
FOR INFO: Volunteer Coordinator Jean Rhyne: (530) 686-7110, Jean.Rhyne@parks.ca.gov