The Forest Conservancy is recruiting for a paid position to manage the Volunteer Visitor Information Program at the White River National Forest’s newly-reopened Aspen-Sopris District Office in Carbondale.

The 30-week pilot program will support visitor information services at the office, extending the Forest Conservancy’s 25-year partnership with the Aspen-Sopris District.

“The Visitor Information Specialist position grew out of ongoing conversations between the Forest Service and the Forest Conservancy about how to strengthen visitor support on the White River National Forest,” Marcia Johnson, executive director of the Forest Conservancy, told The Aspen Times. “The reopening of the Aspen‑Sopris Ranger District’s Carbondale office created a natural opportunity to align front‑desk capacity with the volunteer presence the Forest Conservancy already provides on district trails and at the Maroon Bells Scenic Area.”

The new Aspen-Sopris Ranger District Office reopened in early February after two years of construction. The district includes the Maroon Bells Scenic Area, Maroon Bells-Snowmass Wilderness Area and the Independence Pass area.

And amid funding and staffing pressures that national forests are experiencing across the nation from the federal government, Johnson noted the White River National Forest “is not immune to those realities.”

“What I can speak to is the value of partnership in times like these,” she said. “Our volunteers and this new position help extend the Forest Service’s capacity both on the ground and in the office, ensuring visitors receive accurate information, safety guidance and a consistent point of contact. Our focus is on supporting the Forest Service where it matters most: direct visitor engagement.”

The Forest Conservancy is seeking a Visitor Information Specialist along with 10-15 volunteers to support the District Office’s front desk through front-line visitor support, stewardship messaging and recreation guidance for the 2026 season. Johnson underscored that the specialist will help strengthen community engagement and represent the conservancy’s commitment to stewardship of the forest.

Funding for the full-time position comes from a collaborative community partnership that was coordinated by the Roaring Fork Outdoor Coalition, with contributing partners, including: the National Forest Foundation, Roaring Fork Stewardship Fund, city of Aspen, Eagle County Open Space and Natural Resources, Aspen Chamber Resort Association, Pitkin County Open Space and Trails and Carbondale Tourism.

“Funding for the position began to take shape in the summer of 2025 … and reflects a shared effort to create a more consistent, integrated visitor‑facing experience,” Johnson said. “What stands out in this valley is how strongly the community has responded. Across sectors and jurisdictions, partners have stepped forward to ensure visitors are informed and the land is cared for.”

Pitkin County Open Space and Trails has also been partnering with the White River National Forest “to help augment agency capacity long before the formation of the Roaring Fork Outdoor Coalition,” according to Carly O’Connell, senior planner and landscape architect with Pitkin County Open Space and Trails and the chair of the Roaring Fork Outdoor Coalition. She noted Open Space and Trails previously funded a Forest Protection Officer to support education and enforcement in the Independence Pass area, including North Star Nature Preserve, and in 2024 supported a 400-acre prescribed burn near Filoha Meadows Nature Preserve and surrounding White River National Forest in an effort to help improve wildlife habitat for elk and bighorn sheep as well as reduce hazardous fuels.

In 2026, Pitkin County Open Space and Trails is also planning to fund a term-limited Maroon Bells Facilities and Operations Supervisor to oversee operations and maintenance of the Maroon Bells Recreation Area, O’Connell confirmed.

“Through the Roaring Fork Outdoor Coalition, Pitkin County’s partnership with the White River National Forest has become more coordinated with other area partners to help out where the U.S. Forest Service needs it most,” she said.

The Roaring Fork Stewardship Fund is also supported through Aspen Skiing Company’s uphill pass program, in addition to opt-in guest contributions collected by H2O Ventures at Maroon Bells and Hanging Lake, the release confirms. Contributions from Aspen Skiing Company are matched as well by the National Forest Foundation.

“We are very grateful to our community partners who made this position possible,” Acting Aspen-Sopris District Ranger Jennifer Schuller said in the release. “It is significant in that visitors to the Aspen-Sopris Ranger District will have reliable and readily available information to recreate responsibly and safely.”

The new, full-time position will be scheduled Monday through Friday from April 15 to Nov. 1, with possible extension into the winter. The application deadline is March 11.

For more information and to apply, visit ForestConservancy.com.

Those interested can also support local public lands by volunteering, donating, modeling stewardship and more. Visit forestconservancy.com for additional information and opportunities.