Arizona State Parks provides a wide range of recreational and educational opportunities for visitors every day, but park rangers' efforts alone are not enough.

Arizona State Parks needs help to ensure that resources are protected, amenities are at their best, and that visitors enjoy an unforgettable experience. Currently, there are open volunteer positions in the cool pines at Riordan Mansion State Historic Park in Flagstaff and at Lyman Lake State Park near St. Johns.

At Riordan Mansion State Historic Park, the staff would like to have a summer on-site volunteer couple. Summer on-site volunteers live on the mansion grounds in their own RV on a site with electric and water hook-ups.

The on-site volunteers donate 20 hours each per week and assist as tour guides, docents and can help in the visitor center. Volunteers should be comfortable with gift shop sales, working with people, and historical interpretation.

The State Park rangers provide the training for these positions for volunteers, and they would help at the park through September.

At Lyman Lake State Park, there is also a need for a summer on-site volunteer couple. Assistance from a volunteer is needed in the Park office from 12:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. daily and in the maintenance host area.

A maintenance service volunteer will assist the park staff with general maintenance, cleaning of cabins and yurts and small construction projects. Examples of projects include daily park maintenance, trail work, painting, plumbing, weeding or other projects designated by the volunteer coordinator.

The park's on-site volunteers donate 20 hours each per week, and this volunteer opening is available immediately through October 2009.

The Arizona State Parks volunteer program has more than 800 volunteers who actively participate in the program each year. These volunteers support all 30 State Parks and Natural Areas.

Volunteers provided 174,063 hours to Arizona State Parks last year. That roughly equals 84 full-time employees. The park system employs 349 full-time staff members, thus the volunteer program provides 25 percent more staff time.

For more information about the volunteer opportunities, visit http:/azstateparks.com/volunteer/v_onsite.html or call each park directly.

Riordan Mansion is located next to Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff on Riordan Road. Contact the park directly by calling (928) 779-4395.

Lyman Lake State Park is located 11 miles south of St. Johns Arizona on US 191. Contact the park directly by calling (928) 337-4441.

For information about Arizona State Parks call (602) 542-4174 (outside of the Phoenix metro area call toll-free (800) 285-3703) or visit AZStateParks.com.

Dinghy Digest ®