Opportunities From: Santa Clara Valley Open Space Authority

The Open Space Authority is hosting a special enrichment all about badgers! We've recently had the privilege to learn more about badger movements in the Santa Clara Valley and we are super excited to host Lilian Amarel, our GIS analyst, who has been working to help us model badger preferences and potential movements in the Coyote Valley.  We are going to be hosting this presentation both online and in-person at our offices at 33 Las Colinas Lane.

When you sign up, please note whether you would like to attend in person at our offices, or if you would like to attend online so that we can track attendance.

We are seeking two volunteers to come help staff represent the Authority for Diwali, the Festival of Lights, in Morgan Hill . This event will be hosted on November 16, 2-8 p.m. at the Ann Sobrato High School Gymnasium.

Staff will be present at this event and will be bringing materials to and from the event. We are seeking volunteers who can attend and engage the public around Open Space and our mission to connect people to nature. Please wear a clean collared shirt with your name-tag as this is a formal event. 

This will be our first time participating in this event but we are excited to share resources and opportunities for further connection with our neighbors in Morgan Hill! We hope you can join us!

We are seeking two volunteers to come help staff represent the Authority for Diwali, the Festival of Lights, in Campbell in partnership with Campbell Desis. This event will be hosted on October 18, from 5 to 10 p.m. at the Westmont High School Cafeteria.

Staff will be present at this event and will be bringing materials to and from the event. We are seeking volunteers who can attend and engage the public around Open Space and our mission to connect people to nature. Please wear a clean collared shirt with a name tag as this is a formal event. 

This will be our first time participating in this event but we are excited to share resources and opportunities for further connection with our neighbors in Campbell! We hope you can join us!

Come represent the Authority at the San Jose Roots  celebration on Nov. 1.  Share your love of open space preserves and your excitement for upcoming educational activities with visitors at the Authority's booth!

Here is the event description from organizers:

History San José is honoring the cultural diversity of the region on November 1st at the San Pedro Square Market. San José Roots celebrates San José's history, starting with its earliest periods to its present innovative spirit. The free program aims to provide a platform for cultural exchange, storytelling, and artistic expression, showcasing the rich historical and contemporary contributions of various communities in San José. Community members will get to enjoy hands-on activities from the Spanish and Mexican eras, community booths from local historical and cultural organizations, tours of Gonzales/Peralta Adobe and Carmela & Thomas Fallon House, along with cultural performances on the San Pedro Square Market Stage and the Fallon House Stage in with collaboration Mosaic America. To accommodate more community partners and cultural organizations, History San José is closing W St. John Street between Almaden Ave/Terraine Street and N. San Pedro Street, providing an open, vibrant, and pedestrian-friendly space for the festivities.

The event itself will be from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. and we have set up shifts from 10:30 a.m. 1:30 p.m. and 1:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Nearby parking may not be free and info can be found at https://parksj.org/. Please save receipts so that you can be reimbursed later. Staff will be present at this event and we would love to have your help to engage the public as well as set-up and take down the booth. 

Come represent the Authority at San Jose Museum of Art's annual Dia de Los Muertos celebration on Nov. 1.  Share your love of open space preserves and your excitement for upcoming educational activities with visitors at the Authority's booth!

This celebration is free and open to the public—everyone is welcome. It's a family-friendly event filled with hands-on activities and special performances, all themed around Dia de Los Muertos. Attendance is typically 1000–1200 with a lot of young families. 

The event is indoors and the museum is providing a table and chairs-- we only need to provide our outreach materials. Nearby parking may not be free and info can be found at https://parksj.org/. Please save receipts so that you can be reimbursed later. 

 We will email sign-ups and update this listing as more details become available. Upon signing up, Kat Hill will be reaching out to see if you are able to take a booth outreach kit and schedule a time for you to pick up materials during the week before the event.

Help us engage our communities at Raptor Fest! We need 3 volunteers to support the information booth and interactive activities during this event.  The event runs from 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Nov 15; timing is expanded to account for set-up and take-down times. 

Raptor Fest  is a free -educational event that highlights very important species of raptors who play an integral role in the health of our ecosystems!  The event will be hosted at Rancho San Vicente, a newer addition to Calero County Park that was protected by POST and is rapidly becoming a destination to view a variety of raptors. 

We are excited to have volunteer champions to represent the Authority at this fun event! Details coordinating pick-up and drop-off of materials will be confirmed as we get closer to the event. Please let us know if you are able to transport materials (kit, table, canopy, weights and cart) when you sign up.  We will send out further details to sign-ups as they are confirmed.

Date: November 1, 2025

Shift time : 4:30 PM - 9:30 PM

Hike Time (approx.): 6:00 PM - 9:00 PM

Location: Little Uvas Preserve

Program Run Time (when the public will be there): 5:00 PM - 10:00 PM

Shift Description: Our volunteers will support the Dia de los Muertos event by joining our partners on the hike, and helping the group stay together. 

_________________________________

Event description: Our partners at No Worries Amigo will be hosting a fun Día de los Muertos event at Little Uvas Preserve in partnership with SCVOSA! This event is to celebrate the Día de los Muertos holiday, where we remember loved ones who have passed through stories, food, and sharing memories. There will be local food, some music, and fun activities (including a sound bath!)

PROGRAM DETAILS (Please note: the volunteer shifts vary from what is listed below. See above for specific volunteer shift information)

Date: November 1, 2025

Shift time : 4:30 PM - 10:30 PM

Location: Little Uvas Preserve

Program Run Time (when the public will be there): 5:00 PM - 10:00 PM

Shift Description: Our volunteers will set up and take down a welcome table, letting the public know more about our agency and our work -- it's sure to be a fun time! You'll greet participants, share resources, and generally be a welcoming face for Open Space Authority. 

_________________________________

Event description: Our partners at No Worries Amigo will be hosting a fun Día de los Muertos event at Little Uvas Preserve in partnership with SCVOSA! This event is to celebrate the Día de los Muertos holiday, where we remember loved ones who have passed through stories, food, and sharing memories. There will be local food, some music, and fun activities (including a sound bath!)

PROGRAM DETAILS (Please note: the volunteer shifts vary from what is listed below. See above for specific volunteer shift information)

Date: October 25, 2025

Shift time: 6:00 PM - 10:00 PM

Hike Time (approx.); 7:00 PM - 10:00 PM

Location: Rancho Cañada del Oro Open Space Preserve

Event Run Time (when the public will be there): 3:00 PM - 9:00 PM

Shift Description: Our volunteers will support the Breast Cancer Glow hike by joining our partners on the hike, and helping the group stay together. 

_________________________________

Event description: Our partners at No Worries Amigo will be hosting a fun Breast Cancer GLOW event that will include an all-abilities stroll on the lower ADA trails and a trail run. There will be food, activities, and lots of fun! A majority of proceeds from this event will be donated to Susan G. Komen. This is a permitted event through SCVOSA. 

PROGRAM DETAILS (Please note: the volunteer shifts vary from what is listed below. See above for specific volunteer shift information)

Date: October 25, 2025

Shift times: 2:30 PM - 9:30 PM

Location: Rancho Cañada del Oro Open Space Preserve

Program Run Time (when the public will be there): 3:00 PM - 9:00 PM

Shift Description: Our volunteers will set up and take down a welcome table, letting the public know more about our agency and our work -- it's sure to be a fun time! You'll greet participants, share resources, and generally be a welcoming face for Open Space Authority. 

_________________________________

Event description: Our partners at No Worries Amigo will be hosting a fun Breast Cancer GLOW event that will include an all-abilities stroll on the lower ADA trails and a trail run. There will be food, activities, and lots of fun! A majority of proceeds from this event will be donated to Susan G. Komen. This is a permitted event through SCVOSA. 

PROGRAM DETAILS (Please note: the volunteer shifts vary from what is listed below. See above for specific volunteer shift information)

Come represent the Authority among our neighbors at Happy Hollow! On Oct. 25, 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Happy Hollow is hosting a Green Halloween Fair! They will be providing tables, chairs and we will need to bring our own canopy and kit. Volunteers will bring a small kit with giveaways and collateral and encourage attendees to join us for upcoming events. Kat will coordinate the pick-up and drop-off of a kit with volunteers.

Help us engage our communities at the Spina Farms Pumpkin Patch. We are seeking enthusiastic volunteers to staff the information booth and festivities of this autumn tradition.

Our booth will run from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on 10/4 10/5,10/11, 10/12, 10/19, 10/25 and 10/26. It will run 1-5 p.m. on 10/12, 10/19 and 10/26 and we have select OSA staff coming out to help at the booth as well. Please note that we have a separate entrance for staff and volunteer use during the busy times of day. The Spina Farms Pumpkin patch is a great place to engage with families about our shared agricultural heritage and care for open space. 

Details regarding set-up, take-down, parking and the transport of materials will be communicated as we get more details about the event and will be updated on this page.

Join us for our first BEETLES (Better Environmental Education, Teaching, Learning & Expertise Sharing) training!

In response to Docent requests and feedback, we will jump start our BEETLES training series with the topic of "Promoting Discussion" - there are more details about the specific session below from the BEETLES website.

These sessions are designed for learners, and often reference working with youth, though adults also benefit from the strategies and science included in the training. The trainings are structured and jam-packed with information, strategies, and techniques - please arrive punctually so we can start and end on time!

Training Details

Date: Saturday, November 22, 2025

Time: 9:30 AM - 1:00 PM

Location: SCVOSA Headquarters

Topic: Promoting Discussion

What is BEETLES?

BEETLES (Better Environmental Education, Teaching, Learning & Expertise Sharing) is devoted to creating:

All BEETLES resources are based on current research and understandings about how people learn, and tested by dozens of programs in diverse settings all over the country (and beyond!). Although BEETLES materials have been designed for residential outdoor science schools, they’ve been snatched up and used successfully in a wide variety of outdoor science education settings.

ABOUT THE PROMOTING DISCUSSION SESSION

Deep learning takes place when we have the opportunity to struggle with ideas, and discussion is a tremendously powerful vehicle for students to engage in that mental effort. Formulating your own ideas into words, listening to others’ ideas, and becoming aware of contradictory ideas all set up learners to make better sense of the world. Promoting discussions among learners helps instructors to better understand what students are thinking, and to make better instructional decisions to help them deepen their understanding. Discussions create an open intellectual environment where ideas are exchanged. Settings in which deep learning is the goal are often teeming with discussion.

Discussion-based instruction can be challenging. Leading an effective meaning-making discussion requires curiosity, skills, knowledge, and experience on the part of both instructor and students. The tone set by the instructor is crucial. Do learners feel safe to share ideas and ask questions about what they don’t know? Outdoor science schools provide an ideal environment for developing and refining these skills, as instructors get to work with diverse groups of students and to repeat and refine activities throughout a season. This session provides valuable knowledge, strategies, and discussion practice to help instructors treat outdoor science schools as a laboratory for developing their discussion-leading skills.

This TM Volunteer support request is for continued work on the Frankel Trail in Sierra Vista OSP. The Frankel Trail is part of an easeament within Sierra Vista and significant progress has been made in recent work days to bring this trail back to life. Help us continue the success.

Please arrive no later than 9:00 a.m. and park in the main staging area. TM Volunteers will depart from there with staff for the day. Staff leads will provide instruction and support on where our efforts are directed.

Volunteer Trail Masters should bring all PPE.

Volunteer Trail Masters bring all needed water and calories for a safe day with the team.

Please hydrate the day before joining, anticipate higher temps and arrive ready.

This TM Volunteer support request is for continued work on the Frankel Trail in Sierra Vista OSP. The Frankel Trail is part of an easeament within Sierra Vista and significant progress has been made in recent work days to bring this trail back to life. Help us continue the success.

Please arrive no later than 9:00 a.m. and park in the main staging area. TM Volunteers will depart from there with staff for the day. Staff leads will provide instruction and support on where our efforts are directed.

Volunteer Trail Masters should bring all PPE.

Volunteer Trail Masters bring all needed water and calories for a safe day with the team.

Please hydrate the day before joining, anticipate higher temps and arrive ready.

TM Volunteer support request for this day of support. We will spend time in the restoration sites located here, continuing efforts from previous years at this Cal Trans Restoration site. We will also do some work addressing populations of invasive stinkwort.

9:00 a.m. meetup at 6280 Canada Rd. Gilroy, CA 95020. The main gate near to the cattle corral and large burnt Eucalyptus trees. Look for the Authority vehicles.

This TM Volunteer support request is for continued work on the Frankel Trail in Sierra Vista OSP. The Frankel Trail is part of an easeament within Sierra Vista and significant progress has been made in recent work days to bring this trail back to life. Help us continue the success.

Please arrive no later than 9:00 a.m. and park in the main staging area. TM Volunteers will depart from there with staff for the day. Staff leads will provide instruction and support on where our efforts are directed.

Volunteer Trail Masters should bring all PPE.

Volunteer Trail Masters bring all needed water and calories for a safe day with the team.

Please hydrate the day before joining, anticipate higher temps and arrive ready.

TM Volunteer support request for this day of support. We will spend time in the restoration sites located here, continuing efforts from previous years at this Cal Trans Restoration site. We will also do some work addressing populations of invasive stinkwort.

9:00 a.m. meetup at 6280 Canada Rd. Gilroy, CA 95020. The main gate near to the cattle corral and large burnt Eucalyptus trees. Look for the Authority vehicles.

This TM Volunteer support request is for continued work on the Frankel Trail in Sierra Vista OSP. The Frankel Trail is part of an easeament within Sierra Vista and significant progress has been made in recent work days to bring this trail back to life. Help us continue the success.

Please arrive no later than 9:00 a.m. and park in the main staging area. TM Volunteers will depart from there with staff for the day. Staff leads will provide instruction and support on where our efforts are directed.

Volunteer Trail Masters should bring all PPE.

Volunteer Trail Masters bring all needed water and calories for a safe day with the team.

Please hydrate the day before joining, anticipate higher temps and arrive ready.

Help us engage our communities at Pumpkins in the Park! We are seeking 2 volunteer who can stay for the duration of the event and engage with the public alongside staff. The event runs from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Pumpkins in the Park brings thousands of visitors to enjoy a fun-filled family celebration and spread awareness to one of our region’s unique natural resources, the Guadalupe River Park. We are excited to have volunteer champions to represent the Authority at this fun event!

Staff will set up and take down materials, volunteers only need to arrive and be the best representatives they can be. 

This is a public hike led by our docent, John Harshman, in partnership with SCVBA. Docents are invited to join and sharpen their skills on bird identification. You do not need to be an expert to join, but an interest in learning is required. 

Note: We are seeking docents who are interested in leading birding hikes - let Mel know if you are interested in doing so, and we'll set you up for success!

Binoculars are highly, highly recommended. 

Date: November 23, 2025

Volunteer shift time: 7:45 AM - 12:30 PM

Program run time (when the public is there): 8:00 AM - 12:00 PM

Location: Máyyan 'Ooyákma - Coyote Ridge Open Space Preserve

Note: If you are an ASTRO DOCENT - please DO NOT register here  - 

please check your email for where to sign up.

The Basics

Volunteer shift time: 5:00 PM - 9:00 PM

Date: November 15, 2025

Program Time: 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM

Location: Rancho Cañada del Oro Open Space Preserve:

Project code (when recording your well-deserved volunteer hours): Starry Nights

Tell me more!

⭐Description: Join us to help with Starry Nights at Rancho Cañada del Oro Open Space Preserve! Assist us and our partners from San Jose Astronomical Association (SJAA) to bring the excitement of our glittery skies to the community - and learn some stuff while you're at it! Don't know stars? No problem! That's why we got the pros.

What we'll need help with is ensuring the event runs smoothly and efficiently - we hope you'll sign up and join us for one of our most popular events.

What we're asking YOU to help with:

What should I bring? Let us know if you have questions or concerns.

More information:

Notes: 

What we told the public:

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

This is a public hike led by our docent, John Harshman, in partnership with SCVBA. Docents are invited to join and sharpen their skills on bird identification. You do not need to be an expert to join, but an interest in learning is required. 

Note: We are seeking docents who are interested in leading birding hikes - let Mel know if you are interested in doing so, and we'll set you up for success!

Binoculars are highly, highly recommended. 

Date: November 12, 2025

Volunteer shift time: 7:45 AM - 12:30 PM

Program run time (when the public is there): 8:00 AM - 12:00 PM

Location: Rancho Cañada del Oro Open Space Preserve

Sign up if you are interested, we will send you the lesson for review! The content is very thorough, and we would like to have a small group lead so more folks can be trained to lead in the future.

Let Mel know if you're curious. Details below!

Volunteer shift time: 2:15 p.m. - 5:15 p.m.

Date: Saturday, November 8, 2026

Program Time: 2:45 pm. - 4:45 p.m.

Location: Spreckles Hill

Description: As OSA begins long range planning for Coyote Valley, our Spreckels Program will be a crucial component in informing our community members of our efforts, in addition to exposing them to the importance of open spaces. This is a structured, developed program with specific talking points and stops. That said, we still want docents to bring their own style, knowledge, and expertise to the walk! In other words, please DO talk about the birds, animals, and plants along the way! Embrace nature and the experience. 

As a formalized program, docents are required to participate in training in advance of facilitating. If you would like to train, we encourage you to do so! Let us know and we can coordinate. 

We're piloting the program as an evening walk in hopes of catching folks as they get off work, and will revisit once we host a few walks if attendance numbers are low.

Note: 

If docents are interested in training on this program, please let Mel know so we can schedule and plan accordingly. 

Join us on Thursday, November 6 for our next monthly Docent Learning Luncheon!

Date: November 6, 2025

Time: 12:00 PM - 1:30 PM

Location: IN-PERSON: Santa Clara Valley Open Space Authority Main Office (Valley Oak Room)

Please bring a lunch and get ready to mingle and learn with other docents.

Here's what to expect
We will have a presentation from Brad Haakenson, one of our Astro Docents, who will give us an overview of things you can watch for in the night sky. As the nights get earlier, it's a perfect time to put things in your back pocket that you can share with your community (and friends/family!). We're sure it will be stellar!

After, we'll dive deep into programs - specifically brainstorming community group partnership opportunities, among other things.

We hope this will be fun and informative, so please come prepared, and bring your calendars!

Join us to help clean up the Palassou House as a part of our annual maintenance. Come learn about this historic building and the Palassou Ridge Preserve.

Please note that youth (14 and older) are allowed to participate with the supervision and accompaniment of an adult guardian. If you plan to bring a guest (youth or adult) please have them create a volunteer portal account, submit release of liability (and parental permission form, if they are a youth) and sign up for the opportunity through the portal. Space is limited at this location so prior registration is required. 

We have limited parking at the site; please communicate if your vehicle is high clearance since that will help conserve parking for those that can’t make it over the creek bed to the house area. Please also note that there is no cell reception at this work location. 

We will provide clean gloves, tools, dust-masks and other project-related supplies for the day as well as training and a safety debrief on site. If you've been to previous events, please re-use gloves given at other event. We will be meeting promptly at Palassou (located east of Gilroy) between 8:30 a.m. and 8:45 a.m.
Please contact Kat (khill@openspaceauthority.org) if you have any questions about this Land Stewards event.

Bonus points - a beautiful view to enhance your meaningful time. Sign up for one or all!

Please note the times have changes for October, November, and December hikes.

Program Description for the Public

Take an unforgettable evening adventure on a guided 4-mile Arrowhead Loop Trail at Coyote Valley Open Space Preserve. We will leave when the light is golden and the grasslands are alive with birdsong. As we ascend toward the ridge, this gentle climb offers sweeping views of the Coyote Valley and surrounding foothills. Once we reach the top, settle in to watch nature’s double feature: the sun sinking below the Santa Cruz Mountains in one direction, and the moon rising over the Diablo Range in the other. The transition from day to night is quiet and magical here. After dark, we begin our descent under the moonlight. With headlamps or flashlights in hand, we will follow the trail down through oak woodlands and open meadows. It’s peaceful, a little thrilling, and a completely different way to experience a familiar landscape. Bring water, layers, a flashlight or headlamp and maybe a thermos of something warm. Times will vary on this hike series so check our calendar for departure times.

Help us engage our communities at Picnic by the Lake hosted by the Office of CA Senator Dave Cortese and in partnership with Santa Clara County Parks and Recreation at Hellyer County Park! We are seeking 2 volunteer per shift who can engage with the public alongside staff.

The event runs from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.  with set up at 9 a.m. It will include multi-cultural performances along the scenic Cottonwood Lake as well as a resource fair for families. We are excited to have volunteer champions to represent the Authority at this fun event! Staff will set-up and take down materials with the help of volunteers.

We need at least two volunteers to come represent the Open Space Authority at the California Native Plant Society's Annual Plant Sale at Hidden Villa in Los Altos, the event is from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. so please plan to get there by around 9:30 a.m. for set-up. 

CNPS will be providing a table and chairs; OSA volunteers will be provided a kit with information about upcoming events, as well as how interested members of the public can become volunteers! 

We will ask for 2 preserve stewards to hike ahead of the group with a flashlight to assess any potential hazards. 

________________________________

Bonus points - a beautiful view to enhance your meaningful time. Sign up for one or all!

Program Description for the Public

Take an unforgettable evening adventure on a guided 4-mile Arrowhead Loop Trail at Coyote Valley Open Space Preserve. We will leave when the light is golden and the grasslands are alive with birdsong. As we ascend toward the ridge, this gentle climb offers sweeping views of the Coyote Valley and surrounding foothills. Once we reach the top, settle in to watch nature’s double feature: the sun sinking below the Santa Cruz Mountains in one direction, and the moon rising over the Diablo Range in the other. The transition from day to night is quiet and magical here. After dark, we begin our descent under the moonlight. With headlamps or flashlights in hand, we will follow the trail down through oak woodlands and open meadows. It’s peaceful, a little thrilling, and a completely different way to experience a familiar landscape. Bring water, layers, a flashlight or headlamp and maybe a thermos of something warm. Times will vary on this hike series so check our calendar for departure times.

We will ask for 2 preserve stewards to hike ahead of the group with a flashlight to assess any potential hazards. 

________________________________

Bonus points - a beautiful view to enhance your meaningful time. Sign up for one or all!

Program Description for the Public

Take an unforgettable evening adventure on a guided 4-mile Arrowhead Loop Trail at Coyote Valley Open Space Preserve. We will leave when the light is golden and the grasslands are alive with birdsong. As we ascend toward the ridge, this gentle climb offers sweeping views of the Coyote Valley and surrounding foothills. Once we reach the top, settle in to watch nature’s double feature: the sun sinking below the Santa Cruz Mountains in one direction, and the moon rising over the Diablo Range in the other. The transition from day to night is quiet and magical here. After dark, we begin our descent under the moonlight. With headlamps or flashlights in hand, we will follow the trail down through oak woodlands and open meadows. It’s peaceful, a little thrilling, and a completely different way to experience a familiar landscape. Bring water, layers, a flashlight or headlamp and maybe a thermos of something warm. Times will vary on this hike series so check our calendar for departure times.

Note: If you are an ASTRO DOCENT - please DO NOT register here  - 

please check your email for where to sign up.

The Basics

Volunteer shift time: 6:30 PM - 10:30 PM

Date: October 11, 2025

Program Time: 7:30 PM - 9:30 PM

Location: Rancho Cañada del Oro Open Space Preserve:

Project code (when recording your well-deserved volunteer hours): Starry Nights

Tell me more!

⭐Description: Join us to help with Starry Nights at Rancho Cañada del Oro Open Space Preserve! Assist us and our partners from San Jose Astronomical Association (SJAA) to bring the excitement of our glittery skies to the community - and learn some stuff while you're at it! Don't know stars? No problem! That's why we got the pros.

What we'll need help with is ensuring the event runs smoothly and efficiently - we hope you'll sign up and join us for one of our most popular events.

What we're asking YOU to help with:

What should I bring? Let us know if you have questions or concerns.

More information:

Notes: 

What we told the public:

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Help us engage our communities at the Martial Cottle Harvest Festival! We are seeking 2 volunteers to engage the public alongside staff for the duration of this event! 

The event runs from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on October 11; The Fall Festival will celebrate the harvest season, our shared agricultural heritage, and our continued connection to the land and food systems through farm tours, garden workshops, produce, crafts, homemade goods, live music and more. 

Staff will drop off materials the day before the event and will be there towards the latter half of the event to provide coverage for lunch and to take materials back at the end of the day.

If you are looking for the next opportunity to be an Authority ambassador, don't miss your chance and sign up at the link!

Details regarding parking and what to bring will be sent out to volunteers who have signed up.

Volunteer shift: 9:00 AM - 11:30 AM

The requested sweep will support the lead birding docent on this private hike adventure!

Volunteer shift: 9:00 AM - 11:30 AM

Join VET's staff from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. on November 15 to learn all about how to use interpretive techniques for engaging our preserve audiences! We will go over our mission and resources, engagement techniques for all roles and for all attendees. We hope you can make it to this training date so that you will be prepared for volunteering with us.

We will be hosting our training at the Tilton Ranch Complex-- a great place to bird, learn about agriculture and local history! If weather is uncooperative, we will train at our offices at 33 Las Colinas Lane. 

This training is a qualification for representing the Authority as a community outreach volunteer, supporting large scale public events such as Perseids and Open Access events as a preserve steward, for participating in trail patrol and for leading hikes as a docent. This training is also required for volunteers who wish to help out as a part of the Habitat Protection Team at Máyyan 'Ooyákma. We want all volunteers to be well-versed in our mission, values and resources so please take this opportunity to come learn with us!

Please sign up before November 12 to ensure staff have time to prepare you a name-tag, volunteer shirt and send out directions, if you can. Please email khill@openspaceauthority.org directly if you are trying to sign up after November 12.

Have you ever wanted to learn how to use a McLeod? Perhaps you crave the satisfaction of keeping our trail corridors in top shape? Looking for a volunteer opportunity with equal parts camaraderie and hard work? Then consider joining the 2025 Open Space Authority Trail Master training program!

Beginning on November 8, 2025 with an in-person program overview and technical instruction at the Tilton Ranch Complex. This day must be attended in order to achieve the qualification of trained Trail Master. Trainees then build skills and competencies by joining ongoing field opportunities led by staff in our preserves. Trainees are qualified after they have logged 35 hours of time in the field and demonstrated understanding of safety protocols and proper use of hand and power tools.

Trail Masters are active, hands-on, all season, field-based volunteers who love being outside. We enjoy the camaraderie shared amongst volunteers and staff while completing work together. We hike multiple miles on foot to complete our work, while carrying our own water, snacks, and gear. A Trained Trail Master is a volunteer who knows and follows established protocols for using hand and power tools safely in the presence of the public, other volunteers and staff.

There will be weekly, ongoing Trail Master volunteer opportunities in the field for trainees to join. Every Wednesday, Thursday, and Saturday of each month through spring, advertised in advance to trainees. We expect trainees to participate in the technical instructional session laid out here and participate in at least one field opportunity per month in order to complete training requirements in timely fashion. 

Questions about training should be directed to Gavin Comstock, Volunteer Programs Administrator. Those who register for this training, should consider their ability to join regular events in the field, during training and thereafter. Regular volunteer attendance is the best means to building and maintaining the habits that lead to safe participation and successful stewardship efforts. This is why we have weekly events.

We welcome Open Space Authority Volunteers to respond to this request for ongoing support in our preserves. Trail Patrol Volunteers serve as agency ambassadors, greeting all members of the public in our preserves. Volunteers should complete these activities between the hours of sunrise and sunset in one of three preserves: Sierra Vista OSP, Coyote Valley OSP, and Rancho Cañada del Oro OSP. Please wear an Open Space Authority branded volunteer shirt, a name tag, and appropriate footwear.

The goal is to engage other guests and improve their experience, we do not need volunteers to enforce rules. Rather, please report activities that are outside the guidelines for visitation in your hours reports so that staff will be able to review and respond appropriately. For staff contacts and guidelines on engagement, please see the Volunteer Resource Guide linked on the Volunteer Resource Page in the sidebar menu. 

Trail Patrol volunteers should not go to Máyyan Òoyákma Open Space Preserve to complete patrols, as we have a distinct volunteer role in that preserve to support this function, called 'Preserve Steward support at Máyyan Òoyákma'. If you are interested in supporting that effort, please contact Teri Rogoway.

Please note that trail patrol opportunities expire on a yearly basis, this one will expire on Dec. 31 2025.