Volunteer

Volunteer River Guide

Join Our Team of River Guide Volunteers

Since before FOR knew it was going to be a non-profit called Friends of the River, commercial River Guides volunteered their skills and time to take people down the beautiful Stanislaus River to protect the river canyon from reservoir death. Guests included a future president of the U.S., Governors, and Senators. Connecting people to California Rivers remains an important aspect of FOR advocacy and has grown into a sustainable Rafting Program. All FOR river trips are led and guided by volunteers who are highly skilled in whitewater navigation and safety procedures.

As an FOR River Guide, you will join a long standing team of river advocates; many are now in powerful positions as esteemed scientists, city mayors, and Directors of many successful California non-profits protecting fish, riparian zones, and river flows. Everyone is welcome. FOR River Guides are professional and personable and come from diverse backgrounds, but what they share in common is a love of rivers and a passion to protect them. They will also have your back on and off the river.

• • • • Must be 18 years old
      • CPR / First Aid Required (Wilderness First Aid Preferred)
      • Swift Water Rescue Certification Preferred, not Required

If you would like to join the FOR Rafting Program or attend one of our guide schools, please contact Amy Stroud at astroud@friendsoftheriver.org.

Volunteer HEADWATERS Editor

Friends of the River has a history of publishing the Headwaters newsletter 2 times a year. The draft/working communications objectives of HEADWATERS are:

• Foster a sense of river community and get to know the people who are making a difference
• Educate regarding the opportunities and threats faced by California rivers
• Inspire love and action on behalf of rivers
• Reflect the beauty of rivers and their importance for a healthy planet
• Share the science behind the policy

Due to the pandemic and staff turnover, we have not published since early 2020.

Accountabilities: Publish hard copy and electronic copy of HEADWATERS newsletter 2 times a year

• Work as part of the FOR communications team to clarify communication objectives, design the new layout, and determine types of content and features of the publication
• Ensure Headwaters meets the communication objectives
• Write, edit and solicit content
• Set expectations for authors and reviewers
• Lead publishing workflow
• Participate in FOR Communications team meetings, as needed, to successfully publish Headwaters

Volunteer Social Media Coordinator

Friends of the River seeks a passionate environmental advocate who wants to make a difference by educating, inspiring, and activating people through social media. This position is a member of the communications team, and works closely with FOR staff.

Accountabilities:

• Participate in regular communications editorial meetings with FOR staff
• Help develop creative ideas for new social media content
• Perform research, as assigned
• Assist in the growth of new supporters by raising awareness through various social media platforms
• Interact with followers and supporters by communicating and answering questions through FOR’s social media pages
• Monitor postings to ensure message is consistent with FOR’s mission and values
• Monitor and measure FOR’s social media performance