Get involved
Volunteer with Flathead Rivers Alliance.
Over 300 volunteers donate more than 1,750 hours each year on the Three Forks of the Flathead. Programs run Memorial Day to Labor Day, with trainings beginning in mid to late April.
Summer program
Become a River Ambassador.
Serve as a liaison with the public at popular river access sites along the Three Forks. Ambassadors celebrate the river’s outstanding remarkable values, share safety and etiquette tips, explain river rules, suggest floats, collect access-site user information, and offer loaner life jackets through our partnership with MT FWP.
We’re looking for 30 to 40 volunteers. Minimum commitment: four 2-hour shifts between Memorial Day and Labor Day. Information sessions in spring; training with Flathead National Forest, Glacier National Park, and Montana FWP.
Citizen science
Become a Recreation Monitor.
In collaboration with Flathead National Forest and Glacier National Park, we’re piloting a citizen science river recreation monitoring program. Trained volunteers use the Survey123 mobile app to collect river user, wildlife, and invasive species data as they float.
Data collected enhances agency river patrol data sets and helps focus education and resources where they’re needed.
Citizen science
Water Quality Monitoring.
Volunteers gather baseline water quality data on the North and Middle Forks, May through October, in partnership with the Monitoring Montana Waters program at Flathead Lake Biological Station.
Due to training and scheduling requirements we’re not accepting new volunteers for this program right now. Check back in 2027, or contact program@flatheadrivers.org about MMW’s pesticide monitoring program.
Flathead National Forest, Glacier National Park and Montana FWP have and continue to be instrumental in assisting with training and providing education materials for our volunteer programs. Programming is made possible through partial funding from National Park Foundation, Flathead National Forest, Flathead County Resource Advisory Committee Title II Project funds, Whitefish Community Foundation, river community, partners, and donors.
Meet the 2025 volunteer team
Erich Spitz
Julie Raine
Lee Jester
Lisa Jones
Maddy Westbrook
Mary Person
Terry Richardson
Spring Richardson
Gary Christensen
Amanda Becker
Kevin Ness
Mark Fuller
Michael Obannon
Nancy Cohn
Rachel Leakway
Silas Smith
Sunshine Flamer
Hannah Tallmadge
Andy Marvin
Clare George
Kate Foley
Coming Soon… you??We are always training (and finally getting around to taking a headshot for) new volunteers! Want your name on the FRA Wall of Fame and Support? Get in touch!
Before your shift
Know your access site before you get there.
Every River Ambassador site is in the Three Forks River Guide: 360° views of the launch, directions, and measured accessibility data.