VOLUNTEER
Give Back. Get Involved. Make History.
Become Part Of Our Park’s Story
Love the park? There’s a place for you here! Volunteering with the Gold Discovery Park Association (GDPA) is a chance to meet people, share your talents, and help care for a place that means so much to our community.
Whether you enjoy lively events, working with visitors, organizing behind the scenes, or bringing big ideas to life, we’d love to have you join our park family.
Community Events
Help bring our community together! From Gold Rush Live, to the Coloma Community Markets, volunteers help with setup, cleanup, fundraising efforts, crafts, education, and promotion. Enjoy good company, meals during your volunteer shifts, and the fun of making these events happen.
Gift Store
Meet visitors from around the world and become part of our friendly mercantile crew! Help work the register, stock shelves, and price merchandise—all while supporting the park. Regular volunteers enjoy a generous store discount, snacks, and plenty of good company.
Park Projects
Get outside, lend a hand, and help care for the park! From restoration and building projects to trail work, historic orchard care, and defensible space, there are many ways to put your skills and enthusiasm to work. Make a hands-on difference in a place you love!
Fundraising
Turn your love for the park into lasting support. Help us connect with donors, build partnerships, and raise funds for preservation, education, and ongoing park projects. Passionate about a particular building or program? Help us champion its future!
Why Support State Parks?
Public lands bring us together. They give us places to explore, connect with nature, learn about our history, and make memories with the people we love.
Keeping those places welcoming and their stories alive takes ongoing care, funding, and community support. At Marshall Gold Discovery State Historic Park, there are many projects that need attention and limited resources to make them happen.
Your time and talents help close that gap. By volunteering with GDPA, you support educational experiences, community events, preservation projects, and fundraising that benefits the park.
We Love Our Volunteers!
The Perks of Volunteering…
Our volunteers are at the heart of what we do, and we believe in making sure they feel appreciated. When you join us, you can look forward to:
Community and connection. Make friends, meet your neighbors, and become part of the park family. Volunteering can be a wonderful social outlet!
Volunteer appreciation events and gifts. We love celebrating the people who make our work possible.
An annual appreciation dinner. A chance to gather, share a meal, and celebrate everything we’ve accomplished together.
Meals when you volunteer at events. You help take care of our events, and we help take care of you.
Opportunities to earn park passes. Log your volunteer hours and work toward complimentary park passes at qualifying service levels. Ask us about current requirements.
Find Your Place at the Park
Help Bring Our Events to Life
Our events bring history, creativity, and community together—and volunteers make them possible! Whether you love interacting with guests or prefer helping behind the scenes, there are plenty of ways to participate:
Help with event setup and cleanup.
Prepare and serve food at fundraising barbecues.
Assist with educational activities and crafts.
Welcome visitors and help them find their way.
Promote events and spread the word.
Volunteer opportunities may include Coloma Gold Rush Live, Christmas in Coloma, the Coloma Community Market, the Golden Hour Gala, cemetery programs, paranormal tours, and other special events and fundraisers. Available roles vary by event.
Volunteer in the Mercantile
Looking for something social, welcoming, and fun? Join us in the mercantile!
Meet visitors from all over the world, chat with fellow park lovers, and help make the store a friendly stop during their visit. Volunteers can help:
Welcome visitors and work the register.
Stock shelves and arrange merchandise.
Price items and keep displays looking their best.
Regular mercantile volunteers also enjoy a generous store discount—plus snacks, good company, and plenty of fun! Ask us about the regular volunteer commitment and discount details.
Help Care for the Park
Love working outdoors or seeing a project come to life? Help preserve and improve the places that make Marshall Gold Discovery State Historic Park special.
Depending on current needs and park staff direction, opportunities may include:
Restoration and preservation: Help care for historic structures and features so their stories can be shared with future generations.
Building and improvement projects: Contribute practical skills to projects that support park programs and improve the visitor experience.
Trail work: Help maintain welcoming trails and access to the places visitors come to explore.
Historic orchard stewardship: Assist with the ongoing care of the park’s historic orchard.
Defensible space and vegetation management: Support coordinated efforts to manage vegetation and reduce wildfire risk.
Other hands-on projects: Pitch in as new needs and opportunities arise throughout the park.
Whether you bring years of experience or a willingness to learn, we’d love to hear from you. Projects are coordinated with park staff, with roles based on project needs, volunteer skills, and any required training.
Have a skill to share or a project you’re passionate about? Join us and help care for the park’s future!
Help Fund the Projects You Care About
Have a favorite historic building, educational program, or corner of the park? Help us support its future.
There are many ongoing projects throughout the park, and funding is limited. Volunteers can help identify potential donors, build community partnerships, gather support, and raise money for projects they care about.
Whether you have fundraising experience or simply a passion for this place, we’d love to hear your ideas.
Bring Your Skills to Our Board
Help shape GDPA’s future by serving on our Board of Directors.
We welcome people with different backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives so our board reflects a broad understanding of the park and our community. Skills that can make a valuable contribution include:
Fundraising and donor cultivation
Volunteer coordination
Event management
Marketing and communications
Finance and budgeting
Record keeping, documentation, and secretary duties
If you have experience to share and a commitment to supporting the park, we encourage you to ask about board service.
Join Us!
Your time matters. Your skills matter.
Tell us what you enjoy, what you’re passionate about, and how you’d like to get involved. Together, we can help keep Marshall Gold Discovery State Historic Park a vibrant place to visit, learn, and connect.