Volunteer Rangers

We ask that you could commit to an average of two opportunities per month over the course of a year, either at the weekend or during the week. Some Volunteer Rangers choose to give more than this and we recognise that in some months volunteering might not always be possible for you.

Being a Volunteer Ranger would be great for someone….

• With enthusiasm and a love for the natural environment
• With good communication skills, so that you’re comfortable meeting and interacting with members of the public
• Who can work as part of a team
• With a good general knowlge about the local area you’d like to volunteer, and would like to learn more about the National Park
• Who is willing to travel (we are able to cover resaonable travel expenses)
• Aged 18 years or over

The Cairngorms National Park is the largest National Park in the UK. We look for volunteers to get involved across this area. Volunteer Rangers have the opportunity to volunteer in the areas closest to them, whilst also being able to get to know areas that are further afield.

Volunteer Ranger activities include practical conservation tasks, as well as opportunities to engage with members of the public. Patrolling paths and trails both in communities and more remotely is a key element of what engagement means for us, where we ask Volunteer Rangers to share leaflets, general information, positive guidance, and litter pick along the way.

Practical conversation tasks include upland path maintenance, invasive species removal, fence line repairs and patrolling community paths around the National Park. Opportunities also include volunteering with Junior Rangers, Health Walks, the Badaguish Dementia Centre and other nature for health groups.

Much of your activity will be undertaken in partnership with ranger services across the National Park, giving you the opportunity to volunteer alongside experienced paid ranger services either through engagement activity or practical conservation.

Training is provided over the course of two to three months, at varying locations in the National Park. Some of these training sessions will be online, others will be in person. Training includes a first aid qualification, a session on safe group work, a session on the Scottish Outdoor Access Code, how to share guidance positively, safe tool usage, and inductions to specific sites across the National Park.

Volunteer Rangers are provided with a range of clothing and kit as part of their role. We ensure that clothing has a visible Cairngorms National Park logo on it so Volunteer Rangers are identifiable when out and about. We also provide travel expenses to ensure you are not out of pocket for your journeys to and from volunteering opportunities.

We would encourage you to read into the Cairngorms National Park Partnership Plan 2022-27 to find out more about what we do. (Cairngorms National Park Partnership Plan 2022-27 – Cairngorms National Park Authority LINK). The nature and climate crisis requires leadership and action, and this plan sets out both. Habitat, wildlife, and communities have experienced significant change over the years, with volunteering playing a key role in positive change.