**APPLICANTS LIVING IN WASHINGTON COUNTY WILL RECEIVE PRIORITY ACCEPTANCE FOR THIS PROJECT AS PART OF OUR WILDERNESS STEWARD PROGRAM. ALL ARE WELCOME TO APPLY.**

SUWA occasionally reserves projects for student groups, nonprofits, and other organizations seeking to engage on the issues primary to our mission.
Contact volunteer@suwa.org for more information.

The Landscape

Washington County, located in the southwestern corner of Utah, is home to several vast and varied Wilderness areas. With Zion National Park nearby, the public lands surrounding the city of St. George are full of stunning colors, flora, and fauna. This is a transition zone, where the Colorado Plateau meets the Mojave Desert. In 2009, Congress designated a number of wilderness units in this region, which today serve as wild pockets of land where visitors can find solitude and peace. Native wildlife like the Desert Tortoise live here, and vistas of sandstone cliffs, slickrock domes, and narrow canyons stand in contrast to rolling pinyon-juniper hills and sage flats.

These protected lands offer outstanding opportunities for primitive recreation, including hiking, horseback riding, canyoneering, and camping. Since the Wilderness designation of this area is relatively recent, attitudes of visitors are still changing, and proactive management is needed to guide stewardship and respectful visitation of these amazing places.

The Work

This project combines a hands-on Stewardship Project with training for the Wilderness Stewards Program. Residents of Washington County are encouraged to apply, whether to renew their participation or to join the program for the first time. The Wilderness Stewards Program is a volunteer-based monitoring effort that supports the BLM in tracking and addressing impacts to designated wilderness.

The stewardship component of this project will focus on campsite clean-up and the implementation of wilderness rules and regulations. The training component will emphasize mapping skills, site monitoring, and documentation.

Volunteers can expect to participate in activities such as:

• Using hand tools, including shovels, rakes, and wheelbarrows
• Medium to heavy lifting of natural materials
• Installing educational signage

All necessary tools and safety equipment will be provided, including gloves, eye protection, and hearing protection.

Project Rating

Moderate – Expect walking or hiking on uneven terrain; work vehicles will likely be nearby or a short walk away. Project work may include mid- to heavy-lifting, various tool use such as raking and shoveling, and potential to carry fencing, signage or natural materials.

All projects take place outdoors: Please consider your comfortability working in remote landscapes at varying elevations and under variable weather conditions. Our team strives to ensure that all projects provide meaningful work for volunteers of all abilities. Please reach out to the Project Lead if you have questions or concerns.

Volunteers Needed: (8)
Contact: volunteer@suwa.org

Itinerary
A general itinerary will be provided to registered volunteers in a Welcome Letter.

•  Thursday, October 29th – Saturday, October 31st

Camping & Meals

Specific location of camping site(s) will be provided in the Welcome Letter sent to registered volunteers. Campsites are often remote dispersed sites with no running water or pit toilets.

SUWA provides dinners during the project dates as well as snacks and drinks during workdays. Volunteers are responsible for all additional meals (breakfast, lunch) during their stay.

Volunteer Responsibilities

Participants are responsible for their own food, water and camping gear as well as transportation to and from the project site(s). Volunteers should plan to be away from camp all day each of the work days. A recommended packlist will be sent along with the project Welcome Letter (4) weeks prior to the start date. If camping gear is a barrier to your attendance, please reach out to the Project Lead to discuss options.

Registration & Acceptance Timeline

A 2026 General Volunteer Application is required for this project. 

• Once we have received your application, you will receive a confirmation email within (5) working days of submission.
• We log all applications until (8) weeks prior to the project. At this point, you will first receive an email confirming whether you have been placed on the“project roster” or a “waitlist.” If you are selected for the project roster, you will then complete a Volunteer Agreement.
• At (4) weeks before the project start date, registered and confirmed participants will receive a Welcome Letter with a comprehensive itinerary, including: driving instructions, a Project Map for mobile devices (when applicable), a notification about carpools and/or caravans, and any additional information pertinent to the project.
• Within (2) weeks of the project you will receive a direct call from the Project Lead to answer any additional questions you may have.
• Individuals on the waitlist will be contacted if space opens due to cancellation within (2) weeks of the project start date.

If you have any questions at any point throughout the process, please do not hesitate to contact us here.

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