Aztec Ruins Seeking Volunteers

Have you ever wanted to work in a National Park or Monument? Interested in meeting people from around the world?

Background: Aztec Ruins National Monument preserves a large and fascinating complex of monumental Chaco-ancestral Pueblo buildings, roads, artifacts, and other pre-Columbian features dating mostly to the twelfth and thirteenth centuries. Many opportunities exist for volunteers to learn from professional archaeologists and from teachers descended from ancestral Pueblo peoples about the site. This unique place is located in Aztec, New Mexico about fifteen minutes east of Farmington, New Mexico, and about forty minutes south of Durango, Colorado. Compensation may be available to cover out-of-pocket expenses. Unfortunately, housing is not available. Non-U.S. citizens must obtain a J-1 Visa to be considered.

Description of Duties: Volunteer interns can benefit the park and gain experience for themselves in a wide variety of ways depending on their background and interests. Volunteers in Parks (VIPs) on the Visitor Services team help visitors from around the world at the Aztec Ruins Visitor Center by providing the public with general orientation and educational information about this World Heritage resource while also collecting visitor-use fees and assisting in the Western National Parks Association bookstore. VIPs can receive special training to research and present educational twenty-minute interpretive talks and walks of interest for the public in the site. VIPs also may work on important park projects such as desktop publishing jobs and writing text for articles, brochures and exhibits. Other tasks or projects might include managing the site library, photography and organization of a publicity photo file, translating of the park trail guide, or more – we are always open to good ideas.

Interested in helping out? Applications available at the park visitor center, or click below to download an application (Adobe acrobat required).

Volunteer Application (PDF)

Send your completed application to:
George Herring,
Park Ranger-Volunteer Coordinator,
Aztec Ruins National Monument
#84 County Road 2900 Aztec, NM 87410 e-mail us
505/334-6174x27