Joshua Tree Climber Steward 2023-24 Apply Now

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Go to www.volunteer.gov and apply to Joshua Tree's Climber Steward program.  We are looking for folks to commit to living, working, and playing in Joshua Tree next season.  10-20 weeks. 32 hrs/week.  $150/week stipend.  More interest in SAR (Search and Rescue) and PSAR (Preventive) is important this time. Send your resume and climbing resume (simple style) and letter of interest to: Bernadette Regan, Climbing Ranger  bernadette_regan@nps.gov

We will be interviewing and hiring 8 Stews by the end of May.  

https://www.volunteer.gov/s/global-search/climber%20steward

bump

I have a problem with paying a stipend for a volunteer gig. Volunteer doesn’t pay anything and work pays at least fed minimum wage. Are they getting free food and camping and entrance pass, training, equipment, clothing etc? Are they the eyes and ears of law enforcement rangers? 

The $150/week stipend is provided by the Friends of Josh. FOJT is the official sponsor providing the Stews with uniform like clothing, shoes, ropes, etc… Camping is provided and their entrance fees are complimentary during their 10 week stint. All training is provided - that includes things like self-rescue, search and rescue, preventative SAR, raptor monitoring, how to be a good example, how to serve free coffee, etc… The work they do is priceless and many have used the Climber Steward program as a step into the work world.  They have become Rocky climbing rangers, Yosemite PSAR and YOSAR, Sequoia Rangers, Forest Service and more.

Law Enforcement and Stews work together to protect this park - that is the mission of the Park Service.  Even if you don’t have a t-shirt that says, ‘Climber Steward’ we all need to be Stews and teach others how to keep this place unique. 

We all need the be the " eyes & ears" of all our public lands, Federal State and local. Without public support and vigilance to protect these lands they will not be special places where we the public can have unique experiences.

Me! Me! Pick me!

Is there still time to apply ?

Nope. Get lost. Mine.

Jay we will be hiring 10 Stews so there will be plenty of room for you and anyone else who’d like to share their time with JTNP.

Goal is to have it sorted out by June 4 - send your letter of interest, work and climbing resume to bernadette_regan@nps.gov.

Johnny Victor wrote:

We all need the be the " eyes & ears" of all our public lands, Federal State and local. Without public support and vigilance to protect these lands they will not be special places where we the public can have unique experiences.

The mountain bike associations had a similar volunteer patrol. They said that the patrol would report cars parked in lots late to rangers and report riders on closed trails and what have you. Which means riders wouldn’t trust them and would shun them. Hope it’s not the same as the climbing steward neighborhood watch. Relations between rangers and climbers haven’t always been good. Now that the NPS park service and BLM is requiring permits to climb and hike it’s likely to get worse. 

Diego Climber wrote:

. Now that the NPS park service and BLM is requiring permits to climb and hike it’s likely to get worse. 

Permits to climb and hike? I haven't heard of that. Are you sure? Sounds inaccurate.

Maybe you mean permits to backpack and install bolts.

When the climbs were first done no one applied for a permit. There were no permits. There would be no bolted climbs or anchors if they were all permitted. Nationwide there are now a ton of places that require climbing and or hiking permits. For example Zion and Yosemite . It’s coming to every park with climbing. Parks are actively trying to make bolt and anchor replacement illegal which puts lives at risk. The Access Fund opposes that. I’m not advocating for volunteers to radio in law enforcement to cite or arrest people for things like replacing bolts walking or parking after hours. I don’t equate walking off trail to chopping down a Joshua tree or spraying a rock with paint.

The wilderness areas have established used trails with no vegetation now. The next step is making it illegal to enter wilderness without a permit lottery.

Once a guy claiming to be an out of uniform, off duty JT ranger harassed people for camping too close to a backcountry camping area. 

Diego Climber wrote:

When the climbs were first done no one applied for a permit. There were no permits. There would be no bolted climbs or anchors if they were all permitted. Nationwide there are now a ton of places that require climbing and or hiking permits. For example Zion and Yosemite . It’s coming to every park with climbing. Parks are actively trying to make bolt and anchor replacement illegal which puts lives at risk. The Access Fund opposes that. I’m not advocating for volunteers to radio in law enforcement to cite or arrest people for things like replacing bolts walking or parking after hours. I don’t equate walking off trail to chopping down a Joshua tree or spraying a rock with paint.

The wilderness areas have established used trails with no vegetation now. The next step is making it illegal to enter wilderness without a permit lottery.

Once a guy claiming to be an out of uniform, off duty JT ranger harassed people for camping too close to a backcountry camping area. 

We need to know how old you are before you can use the "back in my time" argument.  I'm 59 and this seems pretty damn crotchety, even for my tastes.

Even then, I'm not sure what you're arguing for.  Are you saying it's good that wilderness areas have use trails and no vegetation?  If not, why would you be complaining about a possible permit requirement to mitigate that?   

Dad how are you getting to the climbs? By flying? We’re using trails that keep plants from growing . Not all approaches are over rocks  I’m just saying if the stewards are the eye sand ears of law enforcement it should be for crimes. I’d be cooler with them if they carry food and water for people who ran out. 

@Bregan Bernie is it OK if the stews sleep late and wander around the desert while getting paid?

Diego Climber wrote:

@Bregan Bernie is it OK if the stews sleep late and wander around the desert while getting paid?

Cmon now, It’s Not My Name, it’s going to be okay.