Capitol Reef National Park, UT Photo by Brady Stoeltzing on Unsplash
Due to substantial reductions in full-time staff, the National Park Service can be expected to offer a greater number of volunteer positions in the coming year.
Due to substantial reductions in full-time staff, the National Park Service can be expected to offer a greater number of volunteer positions in the coming year. According to a National Parks Conservation Association analysis, the National Park Service has lost 24 % of its permanent staff since the beginning of this year. In addition, only about half of seasonal positions were filled. The bottom line is parks will be relying on volunteers more than ever with additional volunteer positions available.
Many volunteer positions are for short-term events like the two-day Reef Ride Bike Days in Capitol Reef National
Park or the National Public Lands Day service event at Fort Pulaski National Monument in Georgia. These positions typically attract individuals who live reasonably near the park. Other volunteer opportunities are for longer periods, sometimes up to a year. Bandelier National Monument in New Mexico has an 8-month opening for a volunteer campground host, while Natchez National Historical Park listed a full-year position for a Visitor Services Assistant. These positions often draw interest from retirees, many of whom live a significant distance from the parks. Prior to writing this article we came across a volunteer opening at Point Reyes lighthouse in Point Reyes National Seashore, located north of San Francisco. The posting noted the harsh winter weather of wind, rain and cold likely to be encountered by a volunteer. Some hardy individual must have been attracted by the job description and lodging because the posting disappeared within a couple of days.
Longer-term volunteer positions sometimes include complimentary lodging. Although this often consists of an RV pad with hookups, some positions come with cabin or dorm facilities. Volunteers must generally agree to work 32 hours per week to qualify for lodging.
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