Volunteer

Volunteer in Parks logo featuring the National Park Service arrowhead logo and a ring around it with "Volunteer" displayed.

NPS

Volunteers, their talent, and their time are welcome at Wind Cave National Park for short or long periods of time. Please call or e-mail the park's Volunteer Coordinator at (605) 745-1132 for more information.

What Do Volunteers Do?

Volunteers help the National Park Service fulfill its challenging mission: to preserve and to protect the parks' priceless natural and cultural resources and to provide for the enjoyment of park visitors in a way that will leave the park resources unimpaired for future generations. The National Park Service provides current information about the VIP program on the National Park Service website.
At Wind Cave National Park this can be:

  • working at an information desk, answering park visitor questions and sharing information
  • preparing and presenting a variety of interpretive cave tours and other programs
  • inputting data about the cave and other resources into a computer database
  • surveying, mapping, and inventorying undeveloped sections of the cave
  • serving as a campground host
  • writing or designing interpretive publications or brochures
  • assisting with resource management programs
  • removing algae, litter, or lint along public tour routes
  • working on cave restoration projects
  • maintaining or restoring hiking trails
  • typing, filing, or doing clerical tasks

As this brief list demonstrates, there are many jobs that require a wide variety of skills and talents. Once selected, volunteers are given training to acquaint them with the specific tasks they will be asked to perform and to acquaint them with the park.

Last updated: September 6, 2023

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Contact Info

Mailing Address:

26611 US Highway 385
Hot Springs, SD 57747

Phone:

605 745-4600

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