Volunteer Opportunities

Tomo-Kahni State Historic Park has one of many active volunteer programs in the California State Park System, with volunteers donating several thousand hours of service since the park's creation. There is a variety of volunteer activities and no special skills are needed. Each volunteer is encouraged to find the best match between their interests, abilities and availability of time and the needs of Tomo-Kahni State Historic Park.

Training is provided on an ongoing basis, with a full multi-day training/refresher offered occasionally. Volunteer trainees work with a mentor who evaluates training needs and oversees an individualized program to ensure that training best suits the volunteer's area(s) of interest. Training is offered in the following:

  • State Park Information
  • Interpretive Skills
  • Kawaiisu Culture and Mythology
  • Natural History of Sand Canyon and the Tomo-Kahni site including geology, weather, botany and wildlife
  • Archeological History of Tomo-Kahni

All activities of Tomo-Kahni State Park volunteers are under the guidance of State Park personnel. A volunteer board meeting is held at 12:30pm on the second Monday of each month to discuss and plan activities. Meetings are open to volunteers and interested parties.

Volunteers are also needed to serve on these committees:

  • School programs
  • Fund Raising
  • Cultural History
  • Natural History
  • Newsletter
  • Oral History
  • Special Events
  • Training

If you are interested in becoming a Tomo-Kahni State Historic Park volunteer, please contact Mike Deagon at (661) 248-6692 or by email.

Tomo-Kahni volunteers operate under the auspices of the Poppy Reserve/Mojave Desert Interpretive Association (PR/MDIA), a California State Parks non-profit cooperating association. PR/MDIA's mission is to produce interpretive and educational literature and exhibits pertaining to the cultural and natural history in the Mojave Resource Area - Great Basin District of the California State Park System. PR/MDIA's scope includes the Antelope Valley California Poppy Reserve, Tomo-Kahni State Historic Park, Saddleback Butte State Park, Arthur B. Ripley Desert Woodland State Park and Providence Mountains State Recreation Area/Mitchell Caverns.

For information about PR/MDIA, please email Margaret Rhyne, President.