The Galena Creek Visitor Center is managed by Washoe County Regional Parks & Open Space under a special use permit from the US Forest Service. The Great Basin Institute (GBI) is an interdisciplinary field studies organization that promotes environmental research, education, and conservation throughout the West, with the goal of increasing ecological literacy through educational outreach and direct service programs.
Galena Creek Visitor Center is a unique collaboration between Washoe County, the US Forest Service, and the Great Basin Institute. Volunteers are a vital part of the sustainability of the visitor center and the programs offered for the community. Without you, the visitor center would not be able to continue connecting our community with nature.
Visitor Center Hosts
Greeting local community members and tourists starts with a friendly welcome. Your own experience, supported with local area maps, trail maps, and a retail store, provides the public with information that guides their outdoor experience.
Trail Guides
Volunteer Naturalists provide leadership on guided community hikes, sharing knowledge in one or more of the following local categories: trees/plants, geology, history, culture.
Community Education Programs
Our Education Assistants help with Toddler Time and Homeschool programs, through which we provide environmental education to youth and families in our community.
Summer Camps
Galena Creek runs summer camp programming for kids in our community ages 8-17. Campers experience a portal to the wider world through fun, educational, hands-on discovery of the natural wonders of forests, creeks, lakes and ponds. Volunteers are an incredibly important part of our team, and aid in our efforts to provide quality outdoor experiences for all campers.
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