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Salmon-Challis National Forest 1206 S. Challis St. Salmon, Idaho 83467 (208)756-5100 Click here to visit the SCNF website. The USDA Forest Service (USFS) is over 100 years old and has entered its second Century of Service. Although the USFS has utilized volunteers since Day One, the agency's volunteer program took on a life of its own in the 1970's. Today, volunteers perform an incredibly wide range of tasks throughout America's 155 National Forests and 20 National Grasslands. There are many volunteer opportunities available on the Salmon-Challis National Forest (SCNF). Currently, most of these volunteer opportunities are geared for either groups or seasonal positions. The SCNF leadership anticipates additional development of episodic volunteer opportunities for the 2010 field season. According to Jeff Slagg, North Zone Developed and Dispersed Recreation, Leadore Ranger District (208) 768-2514, "We do use volunteers for the North Zone of the Salmon-Challis N.F. (Salmon-Cobalt, North Fork and Leadore RDs) Developed/Dispersed Recreation program. For 2009 we have filled volunteer campground hosts at the following locations: Bighorn Crags CG, Meadow Lake CG, Big Eightmile CG, Spring Creek CG (fall), Corn Creek CG (fall), Cadagan Flats Dispersed Area (fall), and Ebenezer CG (fall). We also have a volunteer roving recreation maintenance worker on the Salmon-Cobalt R.D and a volunteer agreement with the Lemhi County Waterways for campground/dock maintenance." SCNF Forest Supervisor BIll Wood said, "We do have an active volunteer program, especially in trails, and are always seeking more opportunities. I do feel confident that if you contact any of the District Rangers you would find them eager to enter into more volunteer partnerships." Regional Forester Harv Forsgren noted, "As you know volunteer programs are very important to me...indeed it was a volunteer position with the Forest Service that lead to a thirty-plus year thrilling and satisfying career. As a result of Forest Supervisor Bill Wood's leadership and the cadre of Ranger's he has hired I think the Forest is in a better position to bring more attention to capturing opportunities to make use of volunteers." In 2008, RSVP partnered with USFS Region 4 Staff to execute a Memorandum of Understanding that offers potential for RSVP and USFS to work together to identify and describe various volunteer tasks. (Click here to download a PDF copy of the MOU.) In recent days, RSVP has been in email and telephone contact with various R4 and SCNF Staff regarding opportunties to be of possible assistance regarding volunteerism. SCNF Staff and leadership have indicated their high regard for use of volunteers on National Forest lands and projects, as well as their willingness to work together. In the meantime, if you have a specific idea about how you might wish to offer your volunteer services on a trails project, we suggest that you contact Challis-Yankee Fork District Ranger Kris Martinson at (208) 879-4100. She is the supervisor of SCNF forest-wide trails program. Likewise, if your focus is more on the Salmon area itself, we suggest you contact Scott Feldhausen, Acting District Ranger on the Salmon-Cobalt District in Salmon. His telephone number is 208-756-5247. In the coming months and Year 2010 ahead, SCNF officials have indicated there will probably be a wider variety of episodic one-day or short-term volunteer projects available to the public. Currently, there are no openings on any Passport In Time projects on the SCNF. Both local PIT project rosters are full. Our thanks to all of the various SCNF and R4 officials who demonstrated their strong concern and commitment to the use of volunteers in our National Forests. THANK YOU! Region 4 of the USFS easily has the best volunteer program of any of the Regions nationwide. Bill Lyons and his staff there do an outstanding job in helping to organize and promote volunteer opportunities throughout the huge Region 4. We think they are the best, hands down, and we salute their untiring efforts on behalf of volunteering in Region 4! Click here to see the Region 4 volunteer page. It has the best and easiest link into the Regional database of volunteer listings.