Cathryn Richards likes to say she came to the Arizona State Parks and Trails department “inadvertently,” following 20 years leading volunteers with law enforcement in Colorado and again with the Department of Economic Security in Phoenix, serving the disadvantaged and those living on the streets.

Those experiences made Cathryn the perfect person to take on the role of the Parks’  Volunteer Program Manager. Her mission is to equip and support thousands of  volunteers, from those who spend a couple of hours a week working in a park store or leading interpretive hikes to campground hosts who live onsite.

There are more than 30 parks throughout the state, from the high-country Ponderosa forests, to lush riversides and colorful deserts spotted with saguaros. Some of the roles may be different than you expect. Volunteers take part in reenactments, bringing history to life for park visitors. Those handy with tools help with general maintenance and small construction projects.

There are always administrative roles and entry station support to help visitors’ first park experience be positive. Other volunteers help conduct research, create displays and work with scout and youth groups.

Cathryn has a gift for coordinating all those positions, and ensuring the experience is positive for volunteers and a tremendous support to the parks.

The state parks, with the help of those volunteers, work as a team to connect people with the outdoors and history of Arizona, to build a lifetime of memories.

Click here to learn more about the Arizona State Parks and Trails volunteer program: https://azstateparks.com/park-volunteers

Original air date: August 7, 2025.

Cathryn Richards likes to say she came to the Arizona State Parks and Trails department &ldquo;inadvertently,&rdquo; following 20 years leading volunteers with law enforcement in Colorado and again with the Department of Economic Security in Phoenix, serving the disadvantaged and those living on the streets.
Those experiences made Cathryn the perfect person to take on the role of the Parks&rsquo; &nbsp;Volunteer Program Manager. Her mission is to equip and support thousands of &nbsp;volunteers, from those who spend a couple of hours a week working in a park store or leading interpretive hikes to campground hosts who live onsite.
There are more than 30 parks throughout the state, from the high-country Ponderosa forests, to lush riversides and colorful deserts spotted with saguaros. Some of the roles may be different than you expect. Volunteers take part in reenactments, bringing history to life for park visitors. Those handy with tools help with general maintenance and small construction projects.
There are always administrative roles and entry station support to help visitors&rsquo; first park experience be positive. Other volunteers help conduct research, create displays and work with scout and youth groups.
Cathryn has a gift for coordinating all those positions, and ensuring the experience is positive for volunteers and a tremendous support to the parks.
The state parks, with the help of those volunteers, work as a team to connect people with the outdoors and history of Arizona, to build a lifetime of memories.
Click here to learn more about the Arizona State Parks and Trails volunteer program: <a href="https://azstateparks.com/park-volunteers">https://azstateparks.com/park-volunteers</a> 
Original air date: August 7, 2025.

The Rescuers radio show provides an opportunity to spotlight people who are working behind the scenes to make this world a better place. These people serve as inspiration and idea starters to encourage others to find creative ways to impact their community, their city, and the world.

Host Art Brooks has spent his career in broadcasting, both as on-air talent and in representing the industry as president and CEO of the Arizona Broadcasters Association for nearly 30 years. He was the driving force behind an Emmy-winning series of documentaries on drug abuse that combined a phone bank of 100 seasoned counselors and history-making "roadblock," as every TV station in Arizona and many radio stations broadcast the groundbreaking show on the same day at the same time. He also was instrumental in starting AZ AMBER Alert (one of two states in the nation where broadcasters initiated the program), helped form the Native American Broadcast Institute at Northern Arizona University and consulted with broadcasters in Bulgaria to help build commercial radio as the country was coming out of communism.

Rescuers airs 5:30-6 p.m. AZ time Thursdays on KPXQ-AM Faith Talk 1360, beginning May 7, 2020. Based in Phoenix, it is available internationally online. We invite you to submit names of heroes you think would be good subjects for the show - just message us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/rescuersradioshow/

The Rescuers radio show provides an opportunity to spotlight people who are working behind the scenes to make this world a better place. These people serve as inspiration and idea starters to encourage others to find creative ways to impact their community, their city, and the world. Host Art Brooks has spent his career in broadcasting, both as on-air talent and in representing the industry as president and CEO of the Arizona Broadcasters Association for nearly 30 years. He was the driving force behind an Emmy-winning series of documentaries on drug abuse that combined a phone bank of 100 seasoned counselors and history-making "roadblock," as every TV station in Arizona and many radio stations broadcast the groundbreaking show on the same day at the same time. He also was instrumental in starting AZ AMBER Alert (one of two states in the nation where broadcasters initiated the program), helped form the Native American Broadcast Institute at Northern Arizona University and consulted with broadcasters in Bulgaria to help build commercial radio as the country was coming out of communism. Rescuers airs 5:30-6 p.m. AZ time Thursdays on KPXQ-AM Faith Talk 1360, beginning May 7, 2020. Based in Phoenix, it is available internationally online. We invite you to submit names of heroes you think would be good subjects for the show - just message us on Facebook at <a href="https://www.facebook.com/rescuersradioshow/">https://www.facebook.com/rescuersradioshow/</a>

Rescuers radio show

An inspiring program highlighting everyday heroes who change and save lives, making the world around us a better place.

An inspiring program highlighting everyday heroes who change and save lives, making the world around us a better place.