Have you ever wondered how Sedona’s hiking and biking trails are maintained, or who removes unsightly graffiti, or how the quality of the water is monitored in Oak Creek? Maybe you’ve visited one of the heritage sites and wondered how the docents are so knowledgeable about indigenous cultures. Perhaps you even temporarily left sanity behind and hiked to Devil’s Bridge last weekend and wondered about the volunteers providing water, parking/hiking alternatives, and hiking guidance in the heat.
Those activities are a small sampling of the breadth of work done by Friends of the Forest, a local nonpolitical nonprofit dedicated to maintaining, protecting, and restoring the scenic beauty of the Coconino National Forest in the Sedona area. Friends of the Forest volunteers partner with the Red Rock Ranger District by providing manpower to fill in gaps where needed. Last year, over 32,000 hours of volunteer talent were donated to the National Forest.
In becoming stewards, Friends of the Forest members are offered personal enrichment and public service opportunities based on their interest and time. The organization is always seeking new volunteers and will be holding an informational event on Thursday, September 19th from 2pm – 4pm at the Red Rock Ranger Station. This will be a great opportunity to meet members, learn about the numerous volunteer opportunities, and enjoy light snacks while socializing.
The goals of Friends of the Forest are to:
- Help the Forest Service maintain its trails and cultural resources
- Reduce environmental damage caused by increasing human impact
- Assist with education and improve communication with the community
- Enhance the forest experience for visitors and residents
No prior experience is required. Training, tools, personal protective equipment, and volunteer attire is provided. Friends of the Forest has many Committees that members can get involved with, including:
Cultural Resources — Trained as docents, volunteers provide information to visitors about the ancient cultures that once lived or visited the Palatki Red Cliffs and Crane Petroglyph heritage sites. They also conduct site photography and recording.
Fossil Creek Air Sampling — Volunteers assist the Forest Service with the replacement of air sampling filters, which monitor air quality as part of the implementation of the Federal Clean Air Act regulations. They use a Forest Service vehicle to drive to the remote site, replace filters, log data, and return the exposed filters for laboratory analysis.
Graffiti Removal — This team works in conjunction with the Forest Service to remove graffiti (etching, stickers, paint) from the forest, while protecting critical archaeological sites.
Interpretive & Education Programs — This group organizes classroom talks, demonstrations, and hikes for visitors to learn about heritage, geology, plants, and animals.
Motorized Environmental Restoration — Volunteers work with the Forest Service and other volunteer organizations to restore, improve, and maintain roads and surrounding habitats in the Red Rock Ranger District.
Preventative Search & Rescue — During summer months, volunteers share their knowledge and experience by informing hikers of what they are taking on, what they should have to be appropriately prepared, and offering them alternative destinations.
River Ranger Support — The “River Rats” volunteers support the Forest Service rangers who patrol the federally protected portion of the Verde River between Camp Verde and Cave Springs.
Trail Ambassador — These goodwill ambassadors hike Forest Service trails while wearing Forest Service volunteer identification. They answer hiker questions, promote the safe and ethical use of the forest, and pick up trash.
Trail Maintenance & Construction — The focus of these dedicated volunteers is to maintain and restore existing non-motorized trails. Sometimes, the Forest Service will request help with creating new trails and other trail-related special projects.
Trailhead Beautification — The first impression people have of a trail is the trailhead. Volunteers provide ongoing support at trailheads and parking lots, including picking up litter; clearing weeds, branches and brush; and repairing fencing.
Visitor Information Services — Stationed at the front desk of the Ranger Station and Visitor Center, these volunteers greet visitors and provide information about recreation opportunities on the Coconino National Forest around Sedona.
Water Sampling — Volunteers have been sampling Oak Creek’s water since 1999. Collections are made year-round at sites in Oak Creek and Fossil Creek.
Wildlife/Fish/Rare Plant Projects — These volunteers work on diverse projects coordinated by the district wildlife biologist such as conducting lichen and firefly inventories and retrofitting range/cattle fencing to be more wildlife friendly.
Other Opportunities — Volunteers also handle all technology support (website, system administration, proprietary apps), membership, hospitality, and the newsletter.
Don’t miss the September 19th new member event! For more information on the event and joining, visit www.friendsoftheforestsedona.org
Serving Sedona, written this week by Melissa Pontikes, Friends of the Forest, appears Wednesday in the Sedona Red Rock News.