Volunteering in Escondido
We do our best to list all the nonprofit service organizations and public agencies that rely on volunteers to fulfill their mission. Please visit our Contact Us page to suggest additions we may have overlooked, or submit corrections.
Cultural / Civic Organizations
California Center for the Arts, Escondido
760-839-4138
artcenter.org/support/volunteer/
Volunteers serve as docents in the Museum, ushers during theater events, and assist with general clerical duties.
Escondido Fire Department
760-839-5400
fire.escondido.org/senior-volunteer-program.aspx
The Support Volunteer Program is for residents 50 and older. These volunteers assist with delivering supplies to fire stations, performing fire inspections, doing community outreach and education, installing and testing smoke detectors in Escondido homes as requested, and lead fire station tours.
Escondido History Center
760-743-8207
www.escondidohistory.org
The History Center operates the Museum Complex in Grape Day Park, including a working blacksmith, the city’s first library, an early American home, and the Santa Fe Depot. Volunteers serve as docents, greeting guests and answering questions.
Escondido Police Department
760-839-4992
police.escondido.org/volunteers.aspx
Volunteers assist with child fingerprinting, graffiti reporting, handicapped and fire lane parking violations, staff the informational storefront, and perform vacation checks for homeowners.
Escondido Public Library
760-839-4819
library.escondido.org/volunteer.aspx
The library seeks volunteers age 14 and up to assist with writing reviews of books to assist patrons in selecting reading material, re-shelving of books returned after checkout, and helping staff the Friends of the Library store.
San Diego Children’s Discovery Museum
760-233-7755
www.sdcdm.org
Volunteers help build exhibits, staff the business office, serve as visitor ambassadors, and more.
San Diego Humane Society – Escondido Campus
619-299-7012
www.sdhumane.org
Volunteers exercise animals waiting for adoption, perform community outreach, and train for emergency evacuation of livestock.
Sikes Adobe
858-674-2275
www.sdrp.org/wordpress/sikes-adobe/
Established around 1870, and featuring one of the area’s oldest adobe homes from the American era, this historic site is managed by the San Dieguito River Park. Volunteers are sought to serve as docents.
Parks / Wilderness
Daley Ranch
760-839-4680
daleyranch.org
Friends of Daley Ranch helps the city maintain the 3,200 conservation area, with volunteers helping restore the historic structures. The city utilizes volunteers to assist with horse and bike patrols, and trail maintenance.
Del Dios Highlands County Preserve
760-745-4379
www.sdparks.org/content/sdparks/en/park-pages/DelDiosHighlands.html
This county park relies on volunteers to assist with park maintenance, serve as docents, and patrol the grounds to answer any questions from visitors.
Dixon Lake
760-839-4680
www.escondido.org/dixon-lake
Volunteers are needed to assist with trash pickup throughout the park.
Elfin Forest Recreational Reserve
760-632-4212
elfinforest.olivenhain.com
The reserve is owned and operated by the Olivenhain Municipal Water District.
Escondido Creek Conservancy
760-471-9354
escondidocreek.org
Volunteers remove invasive species, fix trails, and make room for native plants and animals to flourish in the Escondido Creek watershed. They also lead school tours, serve as trail patrols, work as docents at the visitor center, and conduct water quality tests.
Felicita County Park
760-745-4379
www.sdparks.org/content/sdparks/en/park-pages/Felicita.html
This county park relies on volunteers to assist with park maintenance, serve as docents, and patrol the grounds to answer any questions from visitors.
Hodges Reservoir
760-432-2023
www.sandiego.gov/reservoirs-lakes/hodges-reservoir
Owned and operated by the city of San Diego, this recreation area offers fishing, boating, hiking and picnicking. Contact the park for information on volunteer opportunities.
Kit Carson Park
760-839-4691
www.escondido.org/kit-carson-park
Volunteers serve as docents for tours of Queen Califia’s Magical Circle sculpture garden.
Lake Wohlford
760-839-4346
www.escondido.org/lake-wohlford.aspx
Volunteers are needed to assist with trash pickup throughout the park.
Palomar Audubon Society
www.palomaraudubon.org
Focus on conservation of local birds and other wildlife for the benefit of humanity and the earth’s biological diversity.
San Diego Zoo Safari Park
760-738-5061
zoo.sandiegozoo.org/jobs/volunteer
Volunteers serve as park ambassadors, greeting visitors and answering their questions. Volunteers also assist with special events.
San Dieguito River Park
858-674-2270
www.sdrp.org
Operated by The San Dieguito River Valley Regional Open Space Park Joint Powers Authority, this park offers hiking, bird watching, and other outdoor activities. Volunteers assist with trail maintenance, habitat preservation, and serve as docents.
Service Organizations
American Legion J.B. Clark Post 149
760-745-1159
escondidolegion.org
Open to any honorably discharged military veterans, the local post promotes and participates in various patriotic and civic events, including hosting blood drives.
Assistance League of Inland North County
760-746-7532
www.assistanceleague.org/inland-north-county/
The Assistance League’s 150 members volunteer more than 26,000 hours annually to help those in need. Their programs include “Operation School Bell” and “Ready, Set, Read” providing clothing and reading support to school children, “Operation Duffel Bags” assisting foster teen graduates, “Project Seniors” aiding seniors and homeless individuals, and other scholarship and philanthropic programs benefiting many children, adults, and seniors in the community.
Consuelo Masonic Lodge #325, F&AM
760-745-4949
consuelo325.org
This Masonic Lodge supports the California Masonic Foundation’s childhood literacy program.
Escondido East Rotary Club
www.escondidoeastrotary.org
Part of Rotary International, this club raises money for Brother Benno’s and Interfaith Services.
Escondido Elks Lodge
760-745-1687
www.elks.org/lodges/home.cfm?LodgeNumber=1687
Lodge #1687 of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks hosts a Scouting unit, and supports local organizations that serve children with special needs and their families.
Escondido Jaycees
760-705-4131
www.facebook.com/EscondidoJaycees/
The Escondido Jaycees, part of the national Junior Chamber organization to promote business skills in young adults, organizes and sponsors the annual Escondido Christmas Parade.
Escondido Moose Lodge
760-745-1874
moose1874.org
Lodge #1874 of Moose International is a family fraternity that hosts fundraisers to benefit Ronald McDonald House. Every Moose Lodge also financially supports Mooseheart children’s village just outside Aurora, Ill., and Moosehaven home for low-income seniors in Orange Park, Fla.
Escondido Rotary Club
www.escondidorotary.org
Part of Rotary International, this club holds fundraises throughout the year and awards thousands of dollars in community grants to various other nonprofit service organizations in and around Esccondido.
Habitat for Humanity – Escondido ReStore
sandiegohabitat.org
Support the store that builds homes. Collectively we have helped improve access to home affordability for an estimated nearly 1.5 million people in our country through policy and systems change.
Kiwanis Club of Hidden Valley – Escondido
hiddenvalleykiwanis.org
Founded in 1963, this club sponsors three Key Clubs at local high schools, and recently raised money to install a new playground at Dixon Lake.
Rotary Club of Escondido After Five
portal.clubrunner.ca/10127
This evening-meeting Rotary is designed for working professionals; the club has volunteered at a Dixon Lake clean-up, and has adopted families in crisis.
Salvation Army – Escondido Corps
760-745-8616
escondido.salvationarmy.org
The Escondido Corps operates a food bank, offers senior lunches and visits to shut-ins, a homeless shelter, addiction recovery, and affordable senior housing. Volunteers assist in nearly all operations.
Veterans of Foreign Wars, John R. Simpson Post 1513
www.vfwpost1513.org
Open to any honorably discharged veteran who served in an overseas area of foreign conflict. This post works to ensure local veterans and their families are cared for.
Youth Enrichment
Boys & Girls Club of Greater San Diego – Baker Branch
760-746-0515
www.sdyouth.org/baker
Volunteers are used to assist with general operations, as well as coaching recreational sports teams.
Boys & Girls Club of Greater San Diego – Prebys Branch
760-746-3315
www.sdyouth.org/escondido
Volunteers are used to assist with general operations, as well as coaching recreational sports teams.
Boy Scouts of America
619-298-6121
www.sdicbsa.org
Volunteers help plan and staff day camps, resident camps, camporees and other large, multi-unit events; assist with fund-raising; serve on Eagle boards of review; and serve as Merit Badge counselors and STEM mentors.
Escondido American Little League
760-741-6082
www.escoamericanlittleleague.com
This league offers baseball for youths ages 4-16 within its participation boundaries.
Escondido Girls Softball League
760-489-1222
egsl.org
This league offers recreational and competitive softball for girls from 5 to 14.
Escondido National Little League
760-494-0013
www.esconationallittleleague.com
This league offers baseball for youths ages 4-16 within its participation boundaries.
Escondido Pop Warner Football and Cheer
www.epwwolfpack.com
This league offers flag and tackle football and cheer programs.
Escondido Soccer Club
www.escondidosoccerclub.org/
This league offers recreational and competitive soccer for ages 5-14.
Escondido Youth Baseball
www.escondidoyouthbaseball.com
This league offers baseball to area youth ages 5-14.
Girl Scouts of the USA
619-298-8391
www.sdgirlscouts.org
Volunteers help staff day camps, assist with adult training workshops, sit on the Gold Award Committee, assist in the local Scout office, and mentor girls through the advancement program.
North County Youth Rugby League
www.northcountyrugby.com
This league offers recreational and competitive rugby for ages 7-14.
A Step Beyond
760-705-1203
a-step-beyond.org
A Step Beyond prepares the most under-served students to be college and career ready, through dance education, academic tutoring, and college and career readiness classes.