National Park Service sites all across the country benefit from the varied contributions of volunteers. These people help in every conceivable area, from visitor services to maintenance. They are known as VIPs – or Volunteers in Parks.

Richmond National Battlefield Park actively seeks people who are willing to devote a portion of their time to the betterment of the park. Most of our volunteers work in the Visitor Center at the Tredegar Iron Works or the Chimborazo Medical Museum, where they play an active role in staffing the Information Desk. They greet visitors, orient them to the park and their opportunities, answer questions, give occasional talks, and generally bear responsibility for shaping the experience of the visitor.

There are other opportunities as well. Some volunteers suggest research projects that are interesting to them and beneficial to the park. The park’s museum curator looks for help from volunteers with interest or experience in the preservation of objects. For those interested in spending time outdoors, Natural Resource Management seeks out people interested in ecology, biology and vegetation management and Maintenance has numerous projects ranging from painting to trail work.

Volunteer living history groups play a major role in the park’s interpretive program. Groups interested in participating in any of the park’s special living history events should contact the Volunteer Coordinator about specific requirements. Any individual wishing to volunteer their time in that field needs to be associated with one of the Living History units assisting the park. If anyone is interested in contacting any of these groups, the Volunteer Coordinator can provide the necessary details such as telephone numbers or addresses.

Volunteers are widely appreciated in the National Park Service, and any person wishing to fill any of the above positions is urged to email the park volunteer coordinator or call 804 226-1981 x. 28.