Photo: Sophie Oehler
Help visitors choose their routes to the summit! (Photo: Sophie Oehler)
Share resources such as maps, Leave No Trace guidelines and Forest Society swag with visitors! (Photo: Sophie Oehler)
Join a fun-loving, welcoming crew!
Help protect the natural beauty of Mount Major! (Photo: Sophie Oehler)
Join an Online VTOP Info Session!
Meet the people who make this program special, connect with other interested volunteers, and learn more about how you can make a difference with VTOP!
Ready to Make a Major Difference?
Fill out a VTOP Interest Form and a member of our staff will contact you with the next step!
The Forest Society is proud to continue meaningful visitor outreach efforts at Mt Major by continuing to grow a fresh volunteer program. The Volunteer Trailhead Outreach Program (VTOP) at Mount Major began in 2022. Volunteers engage and share information with visitors at the Mt Major trailhead parking area under our new pavilion. Our program is modeled after the highly successful Trailhead Stewards Program in the White Mountain National Forest and the Adirondack Mountain Club’s Trailhead Stewardship Program.
Training is provided in online modules with a final training with a veteran VTOP member during the April-November season. Volunteer training includes basic information about Mount Major, visitor engagement, Leave-No-Trace etiquette, and share the message of HikeSafe & Recreate Responsibly.
- ENGAGE WITH PEOPLE
- TALK ABOUT HIKING
- PROTECT THE ENVIRONMENT
- SHARE A POSITIVE MESSAGE
Volunteer shifts are flexible, you can schedule on your own terms & you can have fun engaging with trail users!
Read more about the experience from VTOP participants:
"Reshaping the Mt Major Experience with VTOP"
Additional Volunteer Details:
Skills/Qualifications: Enjoy working with public, including children, families, and dog-owners; interest/skills in environmental education a plus; willingness to learn new information and stick to organizational messaging
Location: Mt Major Trailhead (Rt11, Alton Bay, NH)
Training required: Volunteers will receive training in visitor engagement, Leave-No-Trace etiquette, and share the message of HikeSafe & Recreate Responsibly both in online sessions as well as on-the-job. Led/supervised by the Stewardship Projects Manager
Commitment/Hours: A full season, April - November.
Days/hours vary depending on volunteer availability - you pick your own schedule based on open shifts. Volunteer shifts are scheduled in 2 hours increments. VTOP shifts can occur any day of the week, but priority shifts occur on high-visitor-use days e.g. weekends, holidays, school vacation weeks, and foliage season as well as mid-week to coincide with other Mt Major programming.
Made Possible By:
The 2023 Volunteer Trailhead Outreach Program was made possible by a Volunteer Generation Fund (VGF) grant provided by AmeriCorps via Volunteer NH with the intention of strengthening nonprofit organizations to recruit and retain volunteers to meet critical community needs. The New Hampshire Electric Co-op Foundation also provided support. Thank you!