Volunteers power public lands across the Colorado River District

For Randolyn “Randy” Funk, volunteering is rooted in gratitude. 

An avid outdoors enthusiast long before becoming a campground host, Funk said her decision to volunteer grew out of a deep appreciation for access to public lands.

“I’ve always been an outdoor person — hiking, backpacking, camping with my kids,” Funk said. “Public lands gave my family so much. Volunteering felt like a way to give something back.”

Funk has served as a campground host at Burro Creek Campground since 2019. Like her, visitors are drawn to the campground for its quiet setting and opportunities to rockhound, birdwatch, hunt or simply relax by the wash, and many return year after year, forming a steady community of regulars.

Though she has volunteered at federal sites across the country — including National Park Service and U.S. Forest Service locations — Burro Creek’s beauty set it apart, bringing her back time and again despite her original plan to always move on to somewhere new.

Funk’s typical day begins with a morning walk through the campground to check sites, greet campers and answer questions. 

She makes additional rounds throughout the day and evening, ensuring visitors understand how reservations and site tags work while answering questions about local recreation opportunities.

“Most of my job is helping people feel comfortable and informed,” she said. “You have to have patience. You have to like talking to people.” 

As a retired science teacher, Funk looks for what she calls “informal interpretation moments” — opportunities to help visitors learn about wildlife, local geology or campground etiquette.

She credits volunteers with helping federal land managers stretch limited staffing across millions of acres.

“These agencies need all the help they can get,” Funk said. “When volunteers take care of the day-to-day presence on the ground, it supports the staff and helps protect the resource.”

For those considering volunteering, her advice is straightforward.

“You need patience, flexibility and a willingness to serve,” she said. “If you take care of yourself and stay positive, you can make a real impact.”

Funk’s time at Burro Creek is ending as she relocates closer to family, but her dedication to volunteering will continue in her next chapter.

Recreation Site Host — Lake Havasu Field Office

For Tom Dolan, volunteering with the Lake Havasu Field Office began during a transition in life — and grew into a long-term commitment to public lands. 

Now in his 14th year serving the Lake Havasu area, Dolan has become a steady presence along the Parker Strip. 

Since 2018, he has remained primarily at Quail Hollow while overseeing multiple day-use sites. 

“I just kind of fell into it at the right time,” Dolan said. 

“I started at Standard Wash and really loved it. I built a good rapport with the field office, and it grew from there.” 

Today, Dolan oversees day-use areas in the Parker Strip Recreation Area and assists with supply oversight for fellow site hosts there. 

His daily responsibilities include maintaining vault toilets, monitoring trash removal, restocking supplies and keeping sites presentable. 

“It takes ambition and pride,” Dolan said. “If you feel good about yourself and where you’re living, you want to keep it looking nice.” 

Dolan greets visitors, answers questions about dispersed camping regulations and directs recreationists to off-highway vehicle areas and local hikes such as Painted Rock. 

“I just help people get acclimated,” he said. “If they have questions, I try to point them in the right direction.” 

Dolan serves as an extra set of eyes and ears for the field office. He observes conditions, reports issues and helps maintain a visible presence that supports safe recreation. 

In addition to human visitors, Dolan regularly encounters wildlife at the site, including burros and sheep. 

“It’s part of living out here,” he said. “You respect the environment you live in.” 

For those thinking about volunteering, Dolan recommends it. 

“If you like people and you’re outgoing, volunteering is great,” he said. “Give it a try.” 

After more than a decade of service, he believes volunteers help extend the reach of field staff and improve visitor experiences.

Wendy Steward 

Founder, Friends of the Lower Colorado River — Yuma Field Office

When Wendy Steward saw repeated social media posts describing the Gila River–Colorado River confluence as trashed and unusable, she chose action over frustration. 

That decision led to the creation of the Friends of the Lower Colorado River. 

The volunteer-led group formed in January 2025 and now partners with the Bureau of Land Management’s Yuma Field Office and the Bureau of Reclamation. 

“Our mission is to protect and preserve the lower Colorado River as a vital resource for clean and safe waterways while maintaining public access for families in Yuma,” Steward said. 

The confluence where the Gila and Colorado rivers meet is one of the area’s most accessible recreation launch points. 

Families float, anglers gather and residents escape the summer heat along its shoreline. 

“We use it ourselves,” Steward said. “We didn’t want to see it decline.” 

In April, the Friends group hosted its first cleanup at the confluence. 

Volunteers removed 1.79 tons of debris — 3,946.274 pounds — as well as approximately 500 pounds of discarded tires. 

“It was eye-opening,” Steward said. “But it showed what’s possible when people show up.” 

Afterward, the group secured sponsorship support to place a seasonal dumpster at the site. 

Trash accumulation dropped significantly. 

“Once the trash was gone and people had a place to dispose of waste properly, the site improved quickly,” she said. 

The group’s five-member board includes anglers and paddlers who regularly use the river. 

Steward has built partnerships with local businesses and civic organizations to sustain cleanup efforts. 

“Yuma shows up,” she said. “There are good people who care about this river.” 

For Steward, the goal extends beyond cleanup days. 

“At the end of the day,” she said, “we just want people to enjoy the river without worrying about broken glass or debris.”

Volunteer with us

Volunteers play a vital role in keeping public lands accessible, welcoming and well managed across the Colorado River District. 

The BLM and other Department of the Interior agencies invite you to get involved by supporting the stewardship of our nation’s treasured landscapes. 

By volunteering, you help keep public lands clean and trails thriving, protect wildlife and preserve cultural resources. 

Every hour and every minute counts. Every effort matters! Individual contribution strengthens the legacy of stewardship that future generations will inherit. 

As part of the Freedom 250 celebration of the anniversary of American Independence, volunteers who give 250 hours of volunteer service and track their hours through Volunteer.gov are eligible to receive a federal public lands year-long recreation entry pass.

Contact us on Volunteer.gov or at one of our field offices.