Exciting Opportunities for Volunteering in Northern Ireland
Our Volunteer Ranger Programme provides exciting opportunities for volunteering in Northern Ireland.
Becoming a Volunteer Ranger is a great opportunity to give something back to the outdoor environment which you enjoy.
Walk Volunteer Rangers
In 2007, we set up the Volunteer Ranger Programme. The aim of this programme is for Volunteers to audit each of the walks listed on WalkNI.com. The resulting information is then forwarded to the relevant land managers to enable the necessary remediation work to take place. This auditing includes two key areas:
1) Long-distance walks known as “Way Marked Ways” and the “Ulster Way” completing audits of these routes twice a year.
2) Walks – there are over 200 walks across Northern Ireland with new routes being added regularly! These routes are the best walks that Northern Ireland has to offer and the Volunteer Rangers walk each route once a year to ensure that they are fit for purpose.
For more information on the Walk Volunteer Ranger Programme, please see the Volunteer Ranger Handbook or contact Joe Murray on 028 9030 3935 or j.murray@outdoorrecreationni.com . Check out the current vacancies for walking volunteers or complete an application form.
Mountain Bike Volunteers
MountainBikeNI recruits enthusiastic mountain bikers to assist with volunteer maintenance sessions at the following mountain bike trail centres across Northern Ireland;
- Barnett Demesne Trails, Belfast
- Castlewellan Mountain Bike Trails, County Down
- Davagh Forest Trails, County Tyrone
- Rostrevor Mountain Bike Trails, County Down
Each volunteer session is hosted by the trail managers and typical work includes making essential repairs to trail surfaces/features and cutting back vegetation. All tools and materials are provided on the day.
Follow this link for more information on the MountainBikeNI Volunteer Ranger Scheme or contact Ethan Loughrey on 028 9030 6941 or or ethan@outdoorrecreationni.com
Canoe Volunteer Rangers
The Canoe Ranger Programme was introduced in September of 2009. There are currently five inland canoe trails and four coastal canoe trails in Northern Ireland which we developed in partnership with a range of organisations.
- Lower Bann Canoe Trail
- Lough Neagh Canoe Trail
- River Blackwater Canoe Trail
- Lough Erne Canoe Trail
- Strangford Lough Canoe Trail
- Foyle Canoe Trail
- North Coast Sea Kayak Trail
- East Coast Canoe Trail
- South East Coast Canoe Trail
More details on these canoe trails can be found on CanoeNI.com. Similar to our Walk Volunteer Programme, Canoe Rangers are each allocated a section of canoe trail and audits are carried out on an annual basis.
For more information on the Walk Volunteer Ranger Programme, please see the Volunteer Ranger Handbook or contact Joe Murray on 028 9030 3935 or j.murray@outdoorrecreationni.com . Check out the current vacancies for canoe volunteers or complete an application form.
Ecotrails Volunteers
There are 16 Ecotrails throughout Northern Ireland. Our Volunteers audit these Ecotrails once a year to ensure that a high quality product is available to those who wish to enjoy these orienteering courses throughout Northern Ireland. See current vacancies below.
Please contact Joe Murray on 028 9030 3935 or j.murray@outdoorrecreationni.com if you would like to become an Ecotrail Volunteer Ranger. Check out the current vacancies.