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VOLUNTEERING
Americans have loved the national parks since Yellowstone,
our first national park, was created in 1872. Today the National
Park Service is officially entrusted with preserving more than
375 national parks, monuments, recreation areas, and historic
sites in the United States. Thousands of individuals who want
to ensure that the best of America will be protected assist
the National Park Service by volunteering their time and talents.
These men and women who work in partnership with NPS employees
are called Volunteers-In-Parks, or VIP’s. They are Very Important
People. VIP’s help the NPS achieve its challenging mission:
To conserve the parks priceless natural and historical resources
and to provide for the enjoyment in a way that will leave them
unimpaired for future generations.
A variety of volunteer opportunities exist at Capitol Reef.
Please read the position descriptions that follow to find out
which volunteer opportunities may interest you. Remember that
not all positions are available at all times. Contact the VIP
coordinator for current openings, detailed duty descriptions,
housing availability, and required time commitment.
If you are interested in volunteering at Capitol Reef National
Park, contact our VIP coordinator for more information at (435)
425-3791 x101 or by e-mail at care_administration@nps.gov.
Position Descriptions
Volunteers provide visitor services and assist with visitor center
operations including:
- Provide visitor assistance at the visitor center, giving
accurate and up-to-date information. This information includes,
but is not limited to, road, trail and weather conditions;
backcountry information; flora, fauna, geology, prehistory
and history of the park and surrounding areas; accommodations
and services within the park and in nearby communities.
- Assist or carry out independently other duties and tasks
related to visitor services and facilities, such as making
copies or site bulletin handouts, answering information requests
and other mail, etc.
- Assist other divisions and the park’s non-profit cooperating
association (bookstore) in park related tasks and projects
as directed by the supervisor.
Expected duration of appointment/reimbursement:
Volunteers who commit to at least 32 hours per week for a minimum
of three months will, if park housing is available, receive housing
and utilities free. Reimbursement for out-of-pocket expenses for
each day worked may also be available.
Volunteers provide visitor services and have duties in campground
operations including:
- Greeting visitors, performing campground checks, advising
the visitor center of available campsites, providing basic
park info to visitors, assisting, campers to find and occupy
sites.
- Notifying park rangers of campground disputes, violations
of park regulations, emergency situations, or accidents.
- Various other duties including litter pick up, landscaping
duties, or collecting campground use statistics.
Expected duration of appointment/schedule:
In January of each year Capitol Reef invites four couples to serve
as hosts. Two couples will work from March to July. Two couples
will work from July to October.
Hosts are expected to work up to four days a week, eight hours
per day.
Hosts are provided a site in the Fruita campground that includes
water and electricity, no sewer hookups. Reimbursement for out-of-pocket
expenses for each day worked may also be available.
Volunteers provide services in the resource management division
including:
- Scientific research and monitoring activities directed toward
water resources, endangered plant communities, archeological
sites, and assistance with site mapping using GPS equipment.
- Assistance with the maintenance of the resources management
files.
- Entry of site monitoring data into park forms, files, and
computer databases.
Duration of appointment/reimbursement:
Volunteers who commit to at least 32 hours per week for a minimum
of three months will, if park housing is available, receive housing
and utilities free. Reimbursement for out-of-pocket expenses for
each day worked may also be available.
Volunteers will provide services in the maintenance division including:
- Carpentry: Makes minor repairs to non-structural components
of park buildings. Assists other maintenance staff with masonry
type work.
- Electrical: Works with other tradesman, assisting with electrical
repairs.
- Plumbing: Assists with plumbing repairs and replacements.
- Miscellaneous Duties: Works with tradesman to accomplish
painting and repairs of surfaces within park buildings, quarters,
structures, campground, and picnic areas. Assists with janitorial
duties, cleaning park comfort stations, administrative areas,
shops and storage facilities. Assists with moving of park
office and household furniture and appliances. Does grounds
work, such as mowing lawns, trimming brush or shrubs, raking
lawns, etc.
Duration of appointment/reimbursement:
Volunteers who commit to at least 32 hours per week for a minimum
of three months will, if park housing is available, receive housing
and utilities free. Reimbursement for out-of-pocket expenses for
each day worked may also be available.
Volunteers will provide services in the division of roads, trails,
and cultural landscapes including:
- Assists with the proper care of the Fruita Rural Historical
Landscape by using proper methods in pruning several varieties
of historical fruit trees and other agricultural plantings.
- In conjunction with supervisor, selects and applies fertilizer,
prepares soil mixtures, and participates in approved pest
control programs.
- Assists in other orchard duties including record keeping,
keeping the irrigation system cleaned out, operating lawn
mowers, and repairing fences.
Duration of appointment/reimbursement:
Volunteers who commit to at least 32 hours per week for a minimum
of three months will, if park housing is available, receive housing
and utilities free. Reimbursement for out-of-pocket expenses for
each day worked may also be available.
Volunteers will provide services in the division of administration
including:
- Assist with daily administration operations, including receptionist,
filing, and reports completion.
- Assist with the development of bi-weekly budget Status of
Funds reports, including training in the use of a variety
of computer software programs.
- Dependent upon the time of year, assist with the completion
of annual budget submissions, including the identification
of projects, cost estimates, and project presentation materials.
- May assist with the park’s personnel program, including
responding to employment requests, rating and ranking potential
applicants to a vacancy announcement, timekeeping and payroll,
and other personnel related items.
- May attend bi-weekly squad meetings with Administrative
Officer.
Duration of appointment/reimbursement:
Volunteers who commit to at least 32 hours per week for a minimum
of three months will, if park housing is available, receive housing
and utilities free. Reimbursement for out-of-pocket expenses for
each day worked may also be available.
Volunteer will provide services in the division of visitor protection
including:
- Becoming the “eyes and ears” for the park’s backcountry,
patrolling areas of the park’s backcountry by walking, hiking
and by vehicle. When the incumbent observes a violation or
problem, immediately contacts supervisor using the park radio
system. The incumbent is not to detain, approach, or otherwise
put themselves in any confrontation or danger. There is the
possibility of hiking 10 miles per day.
- Performs routine and minor maintenance on park backcountry
signage and trails. Reports any problems immediately to supervisor.
Duration of appointment/reimbursement:
Volunteers who commit to at least 32 hours per week for a minimum
of three months will, if park housing is available, receive housing
and utilities free. Reimbursement for out-of-pocket expenses for
each day worked may also be available. |
