Volunteer with County Parks

Community volunteer days are a fun way to be with others and beautify our parks and beaches! Volunteer days include fun activities such as painting, weeding, fence building, beautification, invasive plant removal and more!

Volunteer Days at East Cliff County Parkway
 •  Saturday, November 16, 9am - 12pm
 •  Saturday, December 7, 9am-12pm
 •  Please sign up here.

Garden Work Party at Felton Discovery Park
 •  First Saturday of every month 9am-11am
 •  Please email volunteer@scparks.com to sign up!

Volunteer Beautification Days at Pinto Lake County Park
 •  Please email volunteer@scparks.com to sign up!

If you have a passion for a particular park or project and want to work independently, we can work together to support your idea! Some current independent volunteer projects include infrastructure repairs, painting, pulling invasive plant species, weeding and pruning, maintaining interpretive signage, trail watch and rules informant. Independent volunteers need to have prior approval of their desired project and or area in the park.

Santa Cruz County Parks engaged with an 8 member team of the AmeriCorps National Civilian Community Corps (NCCC) in the winter months of 2023. Check out the presentation below to see how they positively affected our community and enhanced our Parks.  AmeriCorps NCCC is an AmeriCorps program that engages with 18-24-year-olds in a team-based national and community service in the United States. They strengthen communities and develop leaders through projects designed for direct, team based service.  

• AmeriCorps 2023 Red 4 Team 

Volunteers at Quail Hollow Ranch County Park may lead interpretive programs, remove non-native plants, assist with children's programs, maintain trails or garden, among other things. In return for your time you will gain a greater understanding of one of the more well-kept secrets of the Santa Cruz Mountains and feel good about giving back to your community.

Felton Discovery County Park, adjacent to the Felton Library, promotes environmental literacy through its design and programs. Volunteers meet monthly to maintain the native plant gardens and remove invasives. Docents help develop and implement programs and activities for people to learn about and interact with the natural world. Join us!

A docent is a volunteer that has special knowledge or skills to teach or impart on park goers, community members, or children. A docent will work closely with Parks staff to have any classes, curriculum, or programs approved. Some current docent opportunities include history talks, Visitor Center host, Trail Watch and interpretive programs.

We can accommodate your group to accomplish a meaningful and rewarding volunteer event! We work with businesses, fraternities, sororities, rotary clubs, Eagle/Girl/Boy Scouts and schools to create unique opportunities in our parks!

Individual volunteers or volunteer groups may adopt a park, natural area, beach, or sections of paved/natural trails. Responsibilities may include park beautification, reporting park or trail needs, installing and monitoring bird nesting boxes, and other environmental projects.

Spend your spare time this summer helping recreation staff lead games, art & crafts projects, sports, and more for children ages 5-12. This program for teens ages 14-17, gain valuable work experience and learn important job skills!

The Junior Lifeguard Volunteer Program is designed for teens ages 14-16 who want to develop their leadership skills and gain valuable work experience while volunteering with the Aquatics Junior Lifeguard Camp Program. Please reach out to swim center staff at kelli.rogers@santacruzcounty.us.

We are looking for two dedicated volunteers to join our Park Host Program! Our Park Hosts live on-site in exchange for 20 hours of volunteer work each week.

Email volunteer@parks.santacruzcountyca.gov to apply

• Pinto Lake County Park in Watsonville
• Quail Hollow Ranch County Park in Felton