Volunteer Opportunities

Volunteers assist at all levels at Homestead National Monument of America. There are volunteers that assist with administration. Some are project leaders for nationally recognized research. Students, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts and 4-H groups often help with projects. Volunteers of all ages help at special events and demonstrate various skills and tasks of successful pioneers.

If you would like to volunteer at Homestead, contact Park Ranger Susan Cook at (402)223-3514 or complete this application and mail it to Homestead National Monument of America, 8523 West State Hwy 4, Beatrice, NE 68310.

Current/new volunteers: Complete this volunteer agreement and bring it with you when you arrive at your scheduled volunteer event. Those under 18 years old need to have the parental approval completed in the second section.

For more information about volunteer opportunities with Federal agencies, click here.

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Enjoy birding and interested in volunteering at Homestead? Click here for how you can help us!_____________________________________________________________________

Join the Rangers in collecting native plant seeds in the tallgrass prairie. The seeds collected will be used for the restoration of monument land.

Volunteer collects sample from Cub Creek for the ongoing Water Quality Project and assists Ranger with testing in laboratory.

Volunteers demonstrate some of the common activities of pioneers for students at Pioneer Days. Shown clockwise from left churning butter with a hand cranked butter churn, hand quilting with only a needle and thread, and shelling corn with a hand cranked sheller.

Beatrice Middle School Receives Take Pride America Award

Bernadette Korslund Named Volunteer of the Year at Homestead National Monument of America

Homestead National Monument of America recognized its volunteers on Sunday, September 25, 2011. Over 550 volunteers provided 17,000 plus hours of service in the last year. Five people provided over 500 hours; 22 provided over 100 hours; 32 provided over 50 hours; and 54 provided over 20 hours. Each year one person is recognized as the Volunteer of the Year based on the most impact to the park as a whole. The 2011 Volunteer of the Year was Bernadette Korslund.

Bernadette Korslund has created a lasting impact on Homestead National Monument of America through her involvement in many programs areas. She is present at most park events. She is the park's official volunteer photographer documenting activities at the park for future generations. She is a guide for school groups during Pioneer Days and Heartland Storytelling Festival. She uses her enthusiasm to encourage young ladies to explore fields in science while leading Beatrice Middle School 8^th graders in chemical analysis during the park's water quality monitoring project. She is also an active participate in deer surveys, native seed collection, and road side clean ups. She can be found at the Homestead Volunteer Office at the City Auditorium scanning and indexing photographs.

"Volunteers are a vital part of the operation at Homestead National Monument of America. The programs we offer and the projects completed are dependent on assistance from our volunteers." stated monument Superintendent Mark Engler.

In 2012, Homestead National Monument of America will commemorate the 150^th Anniversary of the signing of the Homestead Act by President Abraham Lincoln. Many volunteers will be needed for the planned events. If interested in volunteering, please attend the monthly volunteer meetings on the first Tuesday of the month at 10 a.m. at the Education Center. If you cannot attend the meetings, please contact Volunteer Manager Susan Cook at 402-223-3514 or susan_cook@nps.gov.