Over Memorial Day Weekend, the Volunteers of the Angeles National Forest (VANF) served the public by answering hiking, camping, and other forest questions along with selling Adventure Passes on the deck of their new home at Big Pines. Having gone through a plethora of names, beginning with Big Pines LA County Camp in the early 1920’s, the building in which the volunteers will work is now being called Big Pines Visitor Center (BPVC). On Saturday, June 26th, the doors were once again opened to the public.
Requiring over 200 hours of work by the volunteers, all of their displays and possessions were moved from Grassy Hollow VC to rooms in Big Pines VC, which also had to be renovated. Volunteers built displays, painted walls, hung and labeled pictures …. And then there was the paperwork and training required for adapting their procedures and rules. While still a work in progress, BPVC – along with the other visitor centers in Angeles National Forest – were given permission by the USFS/SGMNM to open after being closed for over a year due to Covid.
Visitors are encouraged to come by Saturdays, Sundays, and some holidays, from 10am to 4pm. Locals are encouraged to not only visit, but to join the ranks and help protect our forest while enabling and educating visitors how to enjoy it safely. If you are interested in becoming a volunteer, go by the visitor center to pick up a form or text 760-887-5334.
