Forest Park Conservancy (FPC) is proud to steward and care for the vast natural area that is Forest Park. As our efforts to care for the park increase, so do our need for Forest Park Ambassadors!
This year, Forest Park users will see more Ambassadors than before, and our goal is to have 50 trained Ambassadors out on the trails this summer. Read on to learn more and see how you can get involved.
About the Program:
Forest Park is so large and welcomes a high volume of visitors throughout the year. As a lean (but mighty!) team at the Forest Park Conservancy, we can only do so much. This is why our volunteer Ambassadors play a critical role in stewarding the land, increasing connections to nature, and expanding responsible community engagement within the park.
Ambassadors help to connect with other park users about responsible recreation, land use, and through those connections, contribute to the enduring ecological health of Forest Park.
Ambassadors are volunteers that are trained by expert Forest Park Conservancy staff, helping to promote everything from the “Leave No Trace” framework, how to wayfind in Forest Park, and answer questions about Forest Park. Ambassadors can be stationed at a table as a “Trailhead Ambassador” or be hiking along the trail talking with other park visitors as a “Roaming Ambassador”.
Spending time in Forest Park means interacting with a delicate ecosystem. Helping others to minimize their impact in a welcoming, inviting way can have lasting generational impacts.
What’s New This Year
As you may have heard, FPC is a leading partner of the Forest Park Wildfire Risk Reduction Program. Through this program, FPC engages with the community to inform on relevant work in and around Forest Park as well as measures that folks can take to reduce the risk of fire on their own property and in the park. This year, we are incorporating this education into our Ambassador Program training.
Additionally, this year we will be giving away free dog waste bags to any pet owners who may have forgotten theirs, or want to try out a compostable option from our generous program sponsor, Jewett Cameron. We are thrilled to partner with a sustainable company that provides a responsible solution to one of our most prominent ongoing problems.
We are also excited to renew our partnership with Cotopaxi and will be giving away a free backpack to all of our Ambassadors! Ambassadors will also be a part of four guided hike opportunities from the Cotopaxi store on NW 23rd.
Commitment of Becoming a Forest Park Ambassador:
- Attend required volunteer training and sign a volunteer waiver (see upcoming training dates below!)
- Participants are encouraged to volunteer once per month on a Saturday.
- Has transportation to and from the trailhead and can carry equipment.
Perks:
- Get access to exclusive product discounts from the pet line of products from Jewett Cameron’s Lucky Dog brand.
- Free backpack from one of our program sponsors, Cotopaxi!
- A limited edition Forest Park bandana by Forest Park Conservancy!
- Opportunity to meet people and build your communication skills.
- Learn more about Forest Park, the Forest Park Conservancy, and become an expert!
- The reward of helping protect Forest Park and increasing the number of stewards for Forest Park.
Upcoming Trainings:
We have two upcoming Ambassador trainings, one on Saturday, March 11th and Tuesday, March 14th. Sign up today to secure your spot.
If you can’t make it to either of these dates, don’t worry! We will have follow-up training opportunities in May and June as well. Be sure to sign up for FPC’s e-newsletter for monthly updates on upcoming trainings.
Questions about the upcoming trainings or how to get involved? Send an email to Zac Peal, FPC’s Stewardship Director at zachary@forestparkconservancy.org.
Thank You
Thank you to this year’s Forest Park Ambassador Program Presenting Sponsor, Jewett Cameron, along with the generous in-kind support from our partners at Cotopaxi.
