Outdoor Summer Jobs - Volunteer Jobs in a National Park Can't Be Beat

Volunteering for the National Park Service is a great way to build your resume and can be a step towards getting a park job. It's also a fun way to learn new skills and meet people.

Volunteers-in-the-Parks (VIPs) range from high school students to retired adults, and come from many backgrounds. Parks offer a wide variety of volunteer opportunities. These range from interpreting the park's resources to the public to working behind the scenes installing exhibits, cataloging specimens, or managing the park's library.

Why Volunteers Are Important - With tight budgets, parks often turn to volunteers for specialized skills such as carpentry, sewing, and library cataloging. The help of dedicated volunteers helps many parks complete special projects quickly and affordably.

Volunteers also share the vital work of interpreting the park's resources to the public. Many visitors will remember their encounter with an enthusiastic volunteer after they leave the park. Volunteers who care deeply about national parks also become important advocates for preserving the rich cultural and natural resources of the United States.

Benefits of Volunteering in a National Park - Volunteering in a national park offers many benefits. One of the biggest draws for many volunteers at nature parks is the chance to work in a beautiful outdoor setting. Volunteers at historical parks are often passionate about sharing their love of history with visitors.

Parks need many different skills from volunteers, giving everyone a chance to use their unique talents. Volunteering is also a great way to meet interesting people of all ages, both park staff and volunteers and members of the public.

Other volunteers enjoy the chance to work behind the scenes, seeing parts of the park typical visitors don't. They find it satisfying to contribute to the smooth operation of the park and help special projects get done.

What Kind of Park? - There are almost 400 units in the National Park Service, including parks, monuments, preserves, memorials, and other important sites. Parks generally fall into two categories, natural resource and cultural resource, although most parks protect both.

Some parks protect primarily natural resources, such as important fossil sites, beautiful scenery, features like geysers and glaciers, or endangered animals and ecosystems. Others protect primarily cultural resources, such as Ancestral Puebloan ruins, birthplaces of U.S. presidents, historic battlefields, and other sites of historic interest.

If the parks near you don't seem to fit your interest, don't worry-fossil parks typically have archaeological sites, archaeological and historical sites offer nature viewing opportunities, and so on. In fact, the park may be glad to have a volunteer interested in one of the less-publicized aspects of the park.

What to Expect Volunteering in a National Park - Volunteering at a national park is an exciting job because you will always be learning new things. Most volunteers can't expect a typical routine. Some volunteers are expected to work a regular schedule, while others are more flexible.

Some of the tasks you might perform as a volunteer include

-Interpreting park resources for visitors

-Helping young visitors with Junior Ranger Program activities

-Assisting at special events

-Maintaining trails

-Answering visitor questions at the front desk

-Staffing the park bookstore

-Cataloging specimens and artifacts

-Leading nature walks

If you have a special skill or interest, the park can probably find a use for it.

How to Find a Volunteer Position in a National Park - While national parks sometimes advertise specific volunteer positions, most parks are still interested in general inquiries. Each park's website has a link to "Support Your Park," where information about volunteering is usually posted. Otherwise, you can call the park to inquire about volunteer opportunities.

Friends-of-the-Park Groups - If fundraising and event organizing are more your speed but you still want to help your favorite national park, try a Friends-of-the-Park group. Friends groups raise money, hold events, and help parks complete special projects. These groups often seek board members, fundraisers, newsletter writers and editors, graphic designers, and other talented and energetic individuals.

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