Forest Service — South Lake Tahoe, CA, CA
volunteer
Source: Publicly Sourced
Are you interested in serving our public lands? Consider joining our volunteer program! We offer local and RV volunteer positions, spent working along the Tahoe shoreline.
This volunteer opportunity serves either the Tallac Historic Site or the Taylor Creek Visitor Center, or possibly both sites. These two sites are ‘sister’ interpretive sites, located less than one mile apart. Both sites are operated in cooperative partnership between the USDA Forest Service Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit (LTBMU) and the Great Basin Institute (GBI). Volunteers are recruited through both organizations and are jointly managed.
The Tallac Historic Site (THS) is a unique property that preserves turn-of-the-century Lake Tahoe in time, giving modern-day recreationists the chance to experience 1920s culture. The site was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1987 and consists of more than 20 historic structures. During special events, volunteers wear period-appropriate attire and play a role in living history experiences.
The Taylor Creek Visitor Center (TCVC) is a unique interpretive center that focuses on natural history, ecology, and Lake Tahoe recreation. It’s located alongside Taylor Creek, a critical ecosystem and tributary of Lake Tahoe. The site consists of a visitor center, accessible walking/hiking trails, and a Stream Profile Chamber, an interactive viewing area where the public can experience Taylor Creek from underneath the water’s surface.
Volunteers are important stewards and representatives of THS, TCVC, the U.S. Forest Service, and GBI, offering services such as interpretation & education, land management, retail sales, museum docent, tour operations, leading field trips, structural repairs, and facilities maintenance. Work responsibilities are varied, with each volunteer capable and expected to perform more than one designated task; though, duties are matched to the volunteer’s skillset.
HOW IT WORKS
THS and TCVC are operated in cooperative partnership between the USDA Forest Service Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit (LTBMU) and the site’s interpretive association, the Great Basin Institute (GBI). Volunteers are recruited through both organizations and are jointly managed. For the duration of service, volunteers receive RV hook-ups with laundry facility access at no cost. In 2026, both sites are expected to be open Wednesday through Sunday, so priority will be given to those with weekend availability.
Session dates are as follows:
Volunteers are required to commit to a minimum of two months of service, between the following dates:
Session 1: May 1 – June 30
Session II: July 1 – August 31
Session III: September 1-October 31
Preference given to those available for multiple sessions/longer timeframes.
In exchange for a RV campsite, RV volunteers provide 4 days/week of service to the Tallac Historic Site and/or Taylor Creek Visitor Center, for a required total of a minimum of 28 hours/wk.
Volunteers are required to commit to a minimum of four hours per week towards general facilities maintenance and cleaning, including bathrooms.
VOLUNTEER JOB DUTIES
Volunteer responsibilities include, but are not limited to:
APPLY TO VOLUNTEER!
Interested in signing up? Ready to take a dip in Lake Tahoe? Complete the volunteer application now!
For more information or questions, please contact Lannette Rangel and/or Erin Gavlock at Lannette.rangel@usda.gov or egavlock@thegreatbasininstitute.org
Apply on the official agency site (link above).