Community Forums

OnWisc · 03-25-2017, 11:48 AM

Has anyone volunteered for the NPS? Are there any parks that have been great to work in? Any to stay away from?

Rambeau · 03-25-2017, 12:59 PM

Why limit yourselves to the NPS? There a lot more opportunities to VOLUNTEER with other agencies. Most NPS positions are with private concessionaires and hosts are paid positions. We have VOLUNTEERED with both Corp of Engineers and USFS as well as state parks. They usually appreciate you.

roadmap · 03-26-2017, 01:29 PM

We host with Georgia State Parks and love every minute.We come home once in a while , but doesn't take long to get the host fever again

hdossett · 03-26-2017, 02:20 PM

I worked for the NPS at the Grand Canyon North Rim in '01 and '05, and volunteered at the Salton Sea in '04. Seasonal jobs all. Work for the government had it up and downs. I would not work of the concessionaires (just me).

Biggest deal was the background check since I would be handling money at the entrance and campgrounds. Received my background clearance about a month after my hitch was over. It was only a six months job.

Pay was decent, $11+, that was back in '05. Don't recall the lot rent, but it was cheap enough, and pre tax because of the remoteness and having to live there.

I would do it again!

H

bdickson · 03-26-2017, 02:25 PM

All of the Federal agencies and a lot of states advertise volunteer opportunities at www.volunteer.gov. We have been RV Volunteers with US Fish & Wildlife Service for the past 5 years and really like it. I've heard comments that the NPS is like a major corporation but FWS is like a family business.

JFXG · 03-27-2017, 12:04 AM

X2 on www.volunteer.gov. We've never been much into camp hosting, I do maintenance and DW does admin work. We've volunteered at WA State Parks, NWRs (USF&W) in MT, NC, and SC, and Corps of Engineers in MA.
Found several positions on volunteer.gov. I never email first, always call directly. Even if not listed, if there's an area we want to go to I find a facility and call them.

jbrv · 03-31-2017, 05:23 AM

Just finished a season volunteering for the park service.

We loved pretty much every minute of it.

We will not be coming back next year because we want to spend some time out west.

Position for next winter is posted already.

https://www.volunteer.gov/results.cfm?ID=7191