Volunteer
OHV Volunteers are a group of trained volunteers and enthusiasts on motorcycles, all terrain vehicles, or in 4x4 vehicles that greet fellow OHV enthusiasts, share information about back-country travel on public land managed by the Forest Service, and assist in handling emergencies. These friendly and knowledgeable volunteers encourage safety, stewardship, and respect for public lands.
The OHV Volunteer program operates under a volunteer agreement between the National Forest Association and the Forest Service. OHV Volunteers represent the Forest Service with the express purpose of educating visitors to the National Forest. They carry no law enforcement authority to enforce regulations beyond that of any other citizen. Instead they use their influence, a product of their experience and training, to encourage responsible off-highway travel on public lands thereby creating a culture of responsibility that will help promote continued access to public lands for off road enthusiasts for generations to come.
Key Activities
Click on the links below to learn more about the type of OHV Volunteerism you are interested in.
- Education Rides
- OHV Dealer Outreach
- Information Kiosk
- On the Right Trail Education Program
- Public & Media Outreach
- Trail Maintenance
- Special Projects
- 4x4 Group
To Become an OHV Volunteer
The OHV Host program and the On the Right Trail Program are managed by the National Forest Association in partnership with other agencies. OHV Hosts must fulfill the following requirements to join:
- Have a strong commitment to the vision, mission, purpose and objectives of the OHV Programs
- Complete and return the OHV interest card
- Demonstrate the ability to interact with National Forest visitors in a courteous, informed and positive manner
- Complete the required training
- Maintain your uniform in good condition and wear it only while on duty
- Agree to a minimum of 90 hours for service (Hosts) or less than 90 hours for special projects and On the Right Trail volunteers
To Learn More
If you have a strong interest in becoming an OHV Volunteer please contact our volunteer coordinator:
Dale Johnson
OHV Volunteer Coordinator
(626) 353-4223 • dalepsi@verizon.net
Education Rides
A group of trained volunteers rides routes on ATV's, motorcycles, and 4WD vehicles providing information and watching for illegal trail use, missing signs, or hazardous trail conditions.
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Through partnering with local OHV dealers, the OHV Volunteer program distributes information about responsible riding, and information on places to take your OHV. Key components include attending dealer open-houses, and distributing a point-of-purchase packet full of useful OHV information.
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If you love visiting OHV dealerships and talking shop, why not sign-up to be an OHV Volunteer Dealer Liaison? Responsibilities include networking with OHV dealers and sales staff, reporting upcoming events and special functions to the OHV Volunteer Coordinator, and helping to maintain an adequate supply of OHV education materials at your dealership.
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OHV Volunteers host kiosks at popular OHV staging areas where they can greet and interact with Forest visitors.
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On the Right Trail is a partnership of the National Forest Association, National Off Highway vehicle Conservation Council, the Forest service, Honda Motor Corporation, Tread Lightly!, the Bureau of Land Management, Sierra Club, Lake Arrowhead Chamber of Commerce, and Rim of the World School District.
Contact our Program Manager at the number listed below to have the On the Right Trail program at your school.
Volunteers are needed and will receive Tread Lightly! Training. Contact Ben vonDielingen, Program Manager at (909) 382-2872 or by email at bvondielingen@fs.fed.us.
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The OHV Volunteer program makes it a point to regularly present OHV-themed messages to the general public. Whether these messages are in person at a trade show, in print, online, or on television, they all share the same goal: to promote responsible, safe recreation, on our public lands while having a good time.
Freedom & Trails (PDF)
ATV Sizing (PDF)
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Trail Maintenance
Coordinate trail maintenance under the Adopt-A-Trail Program, where local OHV groups and community associations help to maintain the rougher routes.
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Special Projects
These one or two day projects allow individuals with limited time to commit to participate.
Last year, we:
- Eliminated 288 illegal fire rings, 39 of which were hot
- Notified law enforcement of 14 traffic accidents
- Discovered and reported 2 meth labs to law enforcement
- Found 7 stolen vehicles
- Found 4 lost forest visitors
- Provided medical aid to 6 people
- Made over 1000 public contacts
- Removed 5 abandoned vehicles
- Removed over 2 tons of trash
- Logged over 10,000 hours on the trails
- Planted 600 trees in burned areas
- Planted more than 100 trees and bushes at Pinnacles Staging Area
- Eliminated nearly 100 illegal trails or bypasses
4x4 Group
The 4x4 group is our largest group patrolling the forest. Trained hosts supply their own vehicle and gas. The National Forest Association and Forest Service provide leadership, training, materials and supplies.
The 4x4 volunteers meet at one of the Host Post facilities about 8:30AM. There are Host Posts at Northshore (Lake Arrowhead), Cajon (Lytle Creek), Big Bear, and Mill Creek, We check in, get first aid kits, radios, and magnetic signs for our vehicles. After a short briefing, by our Forest Service Liaison, which includes important information relating to fire conditions, problems from the prior day, washed out roads or other pertinent information, the group leaves for patrolling. There are many different areas to patrol. Each driver can choose the area they are interested in or they can pair up with other 4x4 vehicles.
The day ends with all of the patrols meeting at the Host Post Site for a debriefing with the Coordinator on duty and the Forest Service Liaison. At 5:00 PM everyone leaves for home or the campsite for an evening of fun and awaiting another day of patrol the following day.
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