Work Outdoors for the Los Padres Forest!

Let’s head outdoors this second week of January for a healthy start, and to reconnect with the nature in our backyard – balancing the indoor parties and holiday festivities that just ensued. One way to do that (and be of service) is to volunteer with the Los Padres Forest Association (LPFA) on any of the upcoming January through February cleanup projects of visitor centers, trail heads, and backcountry trails. There are great opportunities for everyone, from those with no experience all the way to the more advanced back country peeps; and of course there is the annual Super Bowl Trail Clean Up project. Here’s the line-up:

From January 11 – 15, work on the Sespe River Trail (north of Ojai) during MLK weekend. The project starts on the 11th with a 4.5-mile backpacking hike to Bear Creek Camp to set up for the weekend. The work needed includes fixing the slide between Bear Creek and Kerr Spring, a tricky endeavor that would be ranked advanced. All volunteers will be packing in their own gear and food, and camping outside over the weekend. LPFA team leaders provide the tools and supplemental foods and beverages for meals.

January 21 is the Wheeler Gorge Visitor Center (Ojai) cleanup project. The Wheeler Gorge Visitor Center, operated by nonprofit Los Padres Forest Association, had been closed since January 10, 2023, due to the closure of State Route 33 through the National Forest. This volunteer one-day project is an easy peasy fun time… think yard work with dad – raking, sweeping, painting, trash clean up, along with other odds and ends. A quick rewarding experience getting fresh air, exercise, and volunteering outdoors. 

January 26 is a one-day cleanup of the Matias Connector Trail (Santa Barbara), from River Road to Matias Potrero. Another fun one-day project for teens through adults. 

February 11, LPFA continues its tradition of a Super Bowl Trail Project in the Ozena Fire Station 72 area of the Los Padres National Forest. They need volunteers to do trail work in the Deal Canyon area, and promise everyone will be home in time for the Super Bowl. For details on the project TBA, see the 411.

411: https://lpforest.org/winter-volunteer-opportunities/

Email: VOLUNTEER@LPForest.org