Cultivating a Culture of Stewardship

The Friends cultivate a culture of stewardship through service, cooperation, and partnerships to sustain the Greater Mt. Pisgah area.

We coordinate youth, elders, businesses, scientists, and citizens to increase the community's capacity to care for this priceless resource.

The Friends provide an outlet for the community to become active participants in protecting and enhancing this unique natural area for everyone to enjoy.
 Volunteers from Lane Community College, pictured  here,  help grow native plants at our nursery.

The Dirty Work: Volunteers Get it Done!

The work of our valued volunteers is evident on the sun-drenched slopes of Mt. Pisgah. Gone are huge patches of weeds, leaving room for native plants to flourish. FBP’s adopted trails (#7 and parts of #3 & #17) are dry and smooth, leading hikers and horse-riders safely through the wonderland of Buford Park. The dedicated Monday Morning Regular volunteers continue to clear invasive brush throughout the Mt. Pisgah area. And the prolific seeds in the Native Plant Nursery are literally bursting out of their pods!

FBP salutes the hundreds of volunteers whose enthusiastic labor restores Mt. Pisgah and energizes the Friends. From clearing invasives on the slopes to nurturing natives at the nursery, 450 volunteers and their 6,320 hours have paved the trails and put the plants in the ground. Thanks Friends!

Friends of Buford Park & Mt. Pisgah volunteers

  • Build and maintain trails
  • Grow native plants in our nursery
  • Clear invasive weeds
  • Plant native trees, shrubs and wildflowers
  • Lead interpretive hikes
  • Serve on board and committees

Volunteers can earn an annual parking pass while learning about and contributing to park conservation.

Click here for more information about service and volunteer opportunities.

Click to see Schedule of Volunteer Events

Click here for information about internships.

Nature’s lessons taught hands-on

  • Students of all ages learn about natural resource management
  • Volunteers become vested in the park’s welfare
  • College interns earn academic credit and professional experience

Volunteer efforts continue to increase

  • Over 600 volunteers cared for the park in 2010
  • Volunteer donated services worth $1,000,000 since 2000

Involving volunteers delivers both valuable labor and professional expertise to care for the park.  Volunteers can earn an annual parking pass while learning about and contributing to park conservation.

Scientific Advice

  • Ten-member volunteer Stewardship Technical Advisory Committee (STAC) provides scientific analysis and research reviews that inform our habitat projects. (Note: Waiting list for interested parties.) Expertise includes:
    • Wildlife biologists
    • Botanists
    • GIS mapping specialists
    • Aquatic biologists
    • Landscape ecologists
    • Forestry consultants
    • Invertebrate experts

Email us for more information on service and volunteer opportunities.