Volunteer Programs

Volunteer in the beautiful California State Parks of the Sierra foothills!

A wide variety of volunteer opportunities to match any interest are available at Empire Mine State Historic Park, South Yuba River State Park, and Malakoff Diggins State Historic Park. Volunteers can participate in any or all of the following activities after completing comprehensive training offered each spring and fall. 

 

Empire Mine SHP:

• Tour Leaders/Assistants: Lead or Assist with Estate & Mine Yard Tours, Garden Tours, and/or Nature Trail Tours

• Trail Rovers: Answer visitors' questions and keep trails clean while you hike through the beautiful forest

• Blacksmiths: Interact with visitors while you demonstrate forging period ironwork to sell in our gift shop

• Gift shop: Meet people from around the world and financially benefit our park's non-profit association

• School Tours: Lead tours and/or Assist with 3rd-5th grade school programs

• Landscape Gardening: help with gardening and maintenance of our Rose Garden and other Estate landscaping

• Living History: Wear Living History period attire while giving Tours and/or staffing Special Events

• Special Events: Staff and/or assist with event setup and takedown for interpretive park events such as Miner's Picnic or Holidays at the Park.

• Facility Maintenance: Help park maintenance staff with construction projects, fixing historic facilities, and other handyman needs 

• Administrative Assistance: Basic computer tasks to document Empire Mine's history, improve interpretive programs, and other administrative assistance

 

South Yuba River SP:

• Visitor Center: Greet visitors to the historical community of Bridgeport and operate the non-profit's gift shop

• Gold panning: Teach visitors and/or students how to pan for gold at our gold troughs

• School programs: Lead tours and/or assist with 3rd - 5th grade school programs

• Trail Rovers: Answer visitors' questions, and keep trails clean while you hike

• Nature tours: Lead or assist with wildflower, geology, and other natural history hikes

• Habitat Restoration: Participate in weed bashes, adopt your own plot to maintain healthy native plant habitat, and other habitat restoration activities

 

Malakoff Diggins SHP:

• Town Tours: Lead or assist with tours to share the colorful history of North Bloomfield

• School programs: Lead tours and/or assist with 3rd-5th grade school programs

• Gold panning: Teach visitors and students how to pan for gold at our gold troughs

• Living History Special Events: Help bring the town to life by staffing and/or assisting with annual events such as Humbug Day.

• Visitor Center: assist park staff with the gift shop and addressing visitors’ questions.

• Trail Rovers: Answer visitors' questions, keep trails clean, and report trail maintenance issues

 

Apply Now!

Start by setting up an applicant profile on our Better Impact volunteer program webpage, and you will be contacted ahead of the next scheduled training to confirm. If you are interested in volunteering at multiple parks, make only one profile, and additional parks can be added to your profile after training. 

Empire Mine State Historic Park: Click here to see our volunteer opportunities and apply

South Yuba River State Park: Click here to see our volunteer opportunities and apply

Malakoff Diggins State Historic Park: Click here to see our volunteer opportunities and apply

For more information about the program or if you have trouble setting up a profile, email or call Volunteer Coordinator Jean Rhyne at (530) 686-7110.