Volunteer

A park VIP helps with a revegetation project in a disturbed area of an alpine meadow.

NPS PHOTO

 

Volunteering in Glacier

Glacier National Park depends on dedicated volunteers to perform duties and complete projects that we simply could not do without them. On average, we have 922 volunteers annually donate 61,425 hours. From overseeing campgrounds to caring for native plants to patrolling over 700 miles of trails, our volunteers help protect our valuable resources and help visitors learn about, and safely enjoy, the many aspects of Glacier National Park.

How To Find A Position

Some of the positions we hire volunteers for are listed below. You can also email us at [e-mail] for a full list of current volunteer opportunities.

• Astronomy Volunteers
• Campground Hosts
• Artists-In-Residence
• Internships
• Volunteer Campground Assistant
• Citizen Scientists

Some additional volunteer opportunities are posted online at https://www.volunteer.gov/.

Volunteer Service Groups

If you are interested in bringing a service group to Glacier National Park, please email [e-mail]. We will then send you a Service Group Application to get the process started. Please contact us well in advance of your intended trip to Glacier, as we cannot accommodate last minute requests. We start scheduling service groups in mid-February, and our schedule is usually full by the end of May.

Not all projects are appropriate for groups over 15 individuals. It may be possible to divide a larger group to facilitate the completion of more than one project, but this is dependent on having enough appropriate project work and staff to accommodate more than one group. Be aware that transportation and parking can be an issue during the busy summer months, particularly with multiple vehicles. Special projects may be available for groups with specific advanced skills, such as carpentry. Some general volunteer opportunities that may be available for service groups are:

• Weed Control: Identifying and pulling invasive weed species from trails, roadways, visitor centers and other locations within the park; most involve short hikes, although longer hikes may be possible.
• Citizen Science Surveys: Assist with data collection within the park; current focus on Common Loons or High Country (Mountain Goats and Pika); participate in BioBlitz Days (WeedBlitz, Fungus Blitz).
• Campgrounds: Projects focus around campgrounds and picnic areas within the park.
• General Maintenance: Various projects as needed.
• Painting: Structures, park benches, picnic tables and special projects (e.g. bird boxes).
• Native Plant Nursery: Assist with the propagation and revegetation of native plants in disturbed areas within the park.

 

Volunteer Opportunities for Students and Young People

• Glacier Youth Corp
  Glacier Youth Corps is a partnership of the Glacier National Park Conservancy, Montana Conservation Corps, the National Park Foundation, and the National Park Service. The program provides a hands-on conservation opportunity with duties such as fencing, trail maintenance, habitat restoration and revegetation, while living and learning in Glacier. The program consists of two, four-week sessions. (You are encouraged to apply for one four-week session.) Corps members will spend the majority of their time camping in the field and will earn a monetary service award.
• Student Conservation Association (Nationwide Opportunities)
  The Student Conservation Association has a Resource Assistant Program that places students in land management agencies, including the National Park Service. There are opportunities for high school and college level crew members.
• Youth Conservation Programs (Nationwide Opportunities)
  Although Glacier National Park does not work with Youth Conservation Corps, there are numerous opportunities for young people ages 15 and up to gain work experience in other parks through the Youth Conservation Corps. Crew members are paid to work hard and have fun in national parks! Learn about other youth programs across the country.

 

International Volunteers

Glacier National Park encourages people from countries around the world to apply to volunteer. However, the park has extremely limited housing, which limits our ability to consider volunteers who do not already have housing in the local area. In addition, there are some special requirements for an international (non-U.S. citizen) volunteer. Please read the information at the National Park Service's NPS International Volunteers page, should you wish to volunteer at Glacier National Park or another site in the National Park System.