Overview: Volunteers at MTRP

Nancy and George’s dedication to the park is astounding and we are deeply grateful for their service. 

Nancy and George Varga have been dedicated volunteers at Mission Trails Regional Park for decades, and have made their mark at the park.

George joined the Volunteer Trail Patrol group shortly after the visitor center opened in 1995, patrolling regularly until 2020. He has also hosted popular Star Parties and set up telescopes for park events. For more than ten years, George has participated in the monthly raptor presentations at the visitor center with Dr. Bob Gordon. George joined the Trail Guide program in 2003 and has led 254 walks.

Nancy, one of MTRP’s longest-serving trail guides, began volunteering at the visitor center front desk and became a guide in 1998. She has led 185 walks, attended 159 monthly meetings, and presented at several. Nancy has also contributed many stunning photos and articles to Trail Talk, the trail guide’s monthly newsletter.

Together, George and Nancy have created ten informative displays at the front kiosk, covering topics like wildflowers, turkey vultures, and horned lizards.

Over the years, they have also received several awards, including joint MTRP Volunteers of the Year in 2003 for their post-Cedar Fire support. Nancy was Trail Guide of the Year in 2002, and George received the same honor in 2011, along with three Volunteer Patrol Member of the Year awards.

This past year, George celebrated his 30 years of volunteer service at the park.

Nancy and George’s dedication to the park is astounding and we are deeply grateful for their service. 

The Mission Trails community wishes you both happiness on your move out of the neighborhood and officially sign off your volunteer duties at MTRP.

Many opportunities to volunteer 

There are many ways to volunteer at Mission Trails: choose from single-day or longer-term opportunities. Work in the park as a trail guide or on a ranger-led work crew (resumes in September), or at the visitor center. 

Front desk volunteers welcome guests to the park, answer questions about the trails, activities, and programs, and process sales in the gift shop. 

Interested in reading stories aloud and building crafts? Consider volunteering for the MTRP Foundation’s Trail Tykes program – a popular story time and craft program catering to the park’s youngest learners.

If you, or someone you know, are interested in volunteering at Mission Trails, visit: mtrp.org. For any questions, contact us at (619) 668-3281 or email mtrp@mtrp.org. 

We hope to see you at the park soon.

Taylor Crowley is the communications and events coordinator with the Mission Trails Regional Park Foundation.