2026 Silver City Front Desk - Gila National Forest

The Gila National Forest is seeking a front desk staffer for a high-impact volunteer opportunity. The Silver City Ranger District is a high-traffic area located in the beautiful town of Silver City. Locals and visitors alike utilize the front desk to answer questions, purchase permits and maps, and get oriented to their national forest. This volunteer will provide courteous customer service, answer phones, and direct callers to the appropriate Forest Service staff member.

This opportunity will recruit until all sessions are filled, so apply today!

NUMBER OF OPENINGS

1-2, seasonally, year-round. Preferred minimum commitment is 3 months due to on-the-job training requirements, and extension is possible. Maximum commitment is 6 months.

SPECIAL SKILLS

Must be self-reliant and willing to work independently after orientation. Preference given to those demonstrating strong ability to communicate with the public.

FACILITIES

Site host must be local or will need to provide their own accommodations (ie: camper, trailer, tent, etc.). Amenities include a trailer pad which can accommodate RVs/trailers up to about 30’ in length. Hookups are provided for well water (chlorinated and tested weekly by the Forest Service), standard RC/trailer electrical power (120VAC at 30 amps), septic system with a standard sewer line hook-up, and propane (Two 125-gallon tanks adjacent to the trailer pad). More detailed information will be provided to applicants selected for the project. Digital connection and phone service is limited due to area location.

NEAREST TOWNS

Silver City, NM (on-site)

DUTIES

Volunteer will be responsible for staffing the district front desk. Duties will include answer questions from the public, selling firewood permits and maps, and answer calls. This volunteer must provide courteous customer service and regularly interface with Forest staff.

QUALIFICATIONS

Must be self-reliant and willing to work independently after orientation; preference given to those who demonstrate strong interpersonal skills.

SKILLS

General Assistance, Visitor Information, Ability to work with others (volunteers, FS staff) and interact with the public

WORK ENVIRONMENT

This opportunity is located at the Silver City Ranger District, located within Silver City, New Mexico. Silver City is a full-service community with numerous grocery stores, restaurants, entertainment venues, and an active community.

Silver City offers incredible access to the Gila National Forest to the north. The Highway 15 and 35 corridors present some of the best recreation opportunities in the state, including hiking, cycling, backpacking, birdwatching, fishing, camping, and hunting. Silver City’s high desert location at nearly 6000’ of elevation offer year-round recreation opportunities.

Nearest large towns and cities are Las Cruces (2 hr drive), El Paso (3 hr drive) and Tucson (3 hr drive). The Grant County Airport offers direct flights to Albuquerque and Phoenix. Silver City has a population of approximately 10,000 people – this remoteness and small size lends itself to an engaged, outdoor-oriented population that is excited to engage with YOU at the front desk!