CCSPA supports the work carried out by California State Parks volunteers and docents. State Parks volunteer positions are diverse, and there’s a wide variety of opportunities to utilize skills and interests. There are volunteer opportunities available at both the San Luis Obispo Coast District and the Oceano Dunes District. Please see below for more information and to find the State Park contact.

If you are interested in any of the following positions at the Oceano Dunes District, contact State Park Interpreter II Mallory Claassen by phone at (805) 474-2664 or email at mallory.claassen@parks.ca.gov.

Pismo State Beach Monarch Butterfly Grove Volunteers provide education to promote the conservation of western monarch butterflies and help to provide a positive visitor experience at the grove. Volunteers rove about the grove and answer questions about the monarchs and may also be trained to provide formal public talks on the monarch life cycle, migration, and ongoing conservation efforts. 

Adventures with Nature (AWN) Volunteers have the opportunity to develop their own program outline for a guided walk based on any natural, cultural or recreational resources found within our park district. AWN programs currently include a variety of topics including, but not limited to, raccoons, lagoon life, shoreline habitat, cultural history of the area and native plants.    

Oceano Dunes District Rovers interpret the park’s natural and cultural resources to the public in various locations throughout the district. Rovers serve as a greeter and educator to visitors in the parks. 

Chumash Education Volunteers assist with weekly school group programs held at the Oceano Dunes District Visitor Center and Guiton Trail (Oceano Lagoon). The Chumash Education program is very popular amongst local schools and features a variety of engaging activities and lectures for students.

Pismo Clam Outreach Team was created to help lessen the amount of illegal take of undersized Pismo clams and educate how to properly rebury a clam. Participating in Pismo clam outreach involves roving on the beach. Roving shifts normally average about three hours and align with low tide periods. 

Oceano Dunes District Visitor Center Volunteers work the front desk of the visitor center, answer visitor questions, make sales from the nature store, and interpret the exhibits. This is a great position for those that can work independently, enjoy meeting new people, and are passionate about park resources and activities. 

If you are interested in any of the following positions at the San Luis Obispo Coast District, contact the District Volunteer Coordinator by email at vol.slocoast@parks.ca.gov.

Museum and Visitor Center Volunteers provide high quality interpretive experiences to visitors of all ages. These volunteers serve as Department ambassadors by inspiring park stewardship. Volunteers participate in special events such as Summer Solstice, Skeleton Saturday, and Saturday Scientists. They also work behind-the-scenes, curating and maintaining museum exhibits and managing the library at the Morro Bay Musuem of Natural History.

Spooner Ranch House Volunteers offer tours that give a glimpse into what life was like for the Spooner family living in what is now Montaña de Oro State Park in the early 1900s and have the opportunity to train to provide living history programs.

Coast Mounted Assistance (CMA) was originally established in 1973 to assist State Park employees with mapping and constructing the trails system within Montaña de Oro State Park. Today, these volunteers also patrol park beaches and trails, provide information to park visitors, and help maintain the Horse Camp facilities.

SeaLife Stewards paddle in kayaks on Morro Bay waters to educate visitors in an informal manner about how to observe wildlife while minimizing disturbance. The program developed out of the increasing realization that many visitors may be unaware of wildlife sensitivity to human disturbance, both intentional and unintentional.

Black Hills Gang and Central Coast Concerned Mountain Bikers (CCCMB) are volunteer groups that assist State Park staff in maintaining and building trails in State Parks.

Campground Hosts live onsite at State Park campgrounds for 3-4 months and provide some of the basic operational services and information to the visiting public. Hosts usually assist with other duties including selling firewood, campground checks, and/or park maintenance.