Forest Ambassadors

Forest Ambassadors with Wild Alabama

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The Forest Ambassadors Program supports a safe, welcoming, and informed experience for visitors to the Bankhead and Talladega National Forests—especially at popular trailheads and high-use recreation areas. Forest Ambassadors serve as friendly, knowledgeable points of contact for the public by sharing maps, answering questions, and offering guidance to help visitors enjoy the forest responsibly.

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This role is a great fit for individuals who enjoy connecting with people and supporting conservation, and it does not require hiking. Ambassadors typically serve 4–5 hour shifts stationed at trailheads, where they provide information and assist visitors as they begin their trip.

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What Forest Ambassadors Do

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Forest Ambassadors help visitors by:

• Participating in basic training (approximately 4–5 hours)

• Sharing the mission and work of Wild Alabama

• Promoting Leave No Trace ethics and responsible recreation

• Educating visitors about the Forests and Wilderness areas, including what makes a federally designated Wilderness area unique

• Helping visitors make informed decisions based on their group’s experience and abilities

• Informing visitors about important regulations such as group size limits, fire restrictions, and other site-specific guidelines

• Encouraging visitors to follow day-use requirements when applicable

• Providing maps, answering questions, and offering general trailhead guidance

• Recording visitor interactions and reporting significant safety concerns or violations to appropriate authorities​

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What Makes a Great Forest Ambassador

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The ideal Forest Ambassador is:

• Honest and respectful

• Reliable and able to commit to scheduled shifts

• Conscientious and attentive to detail

• Comfortable engaging with visitors from all backgrounds

• Excited to represent Wild Alabama and support positive public land experiences​

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Program Partnership

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The Forest Ambassadors Program is a grant-funded service project and a collaborative effort between the Sierra Club, the U.S. Forest Service, and Wild Alabama. Wild Alabama manages the program, supports the Ambassadors in the field, and provides visitor-use data to the U.S. Forest Service to help inform future improvements to accessibility, education, and conditions in the forest and wilderness.

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Interested in Getting Involved?

For more information, please contact Forest Ambassador Program Director Lindsay Madison at:
lindsay@wildal.org