Become a Volunteer Lookout
Chews Ridge is staffed by trained volunteers who take on a simple but powerful role: scan the horizon, spot smoke early, and report it fast. If you love the Los Padres, want to do something tangible for your community, and don’t mind quiet hours with big views, we’d love to have you. We provide training, tools, and support—you bring your attention, reliability, and care. Apply to volunteer and help keep the Central Coast safer, one shift at a time.
Steps to Becoming a Volunteer Lookout
Complete an
Application
Submit a volunteer interest form to tell us a little about you, your availability, and why you’re interested. We’ll follow up with next steps and help you understand what staffing a lookout is really like.
Learn the Basics
Complete our online training to build a solid foundation—lookout responsibilities, radio protocols, smoke reporting basics, situational awareness, and safety. You’ll finish feeling confident about the role before you ever climb the tower.
Get Tower Ready
Join us for onsite training at the lookout to learn the space, practice the tools, and walk through real-world scenarios. You’ll get hands-on coaching, see how a shift flows, and understand exactly how to spot and report smoke from this specific vantage point.
Take Your First Watch
Once you’re signed off, you’ll begin staffing scheduled shifts—starting with extra support as needed and building independence over time. You’ll be part of a crew that has your back, and you’ll play a direct role in protecting the Central Coast through early detection.
Sound good?
Let's go.
Fill out the application below to introduce yourself and share your availability. It only takes a few minutes, and it helps us match you with the right training path and next steps. Once you submit your application, a volunteer coordinator will follow up with details on onboarding, training, and how to get scheduled for your first onsite session.