Last updated: April 20, 2023
Article
My Park Story: Dr. Bill Pollard
What early experiences did you have in visiting national park areas prior to volunteering with the Trails & Rails program?
My early experience with national parks was largely through family vacations in the West. Whenever we were close to a national park on our travels, we always managed to spend some time there, but our visits were usually measured in hours due to time constraints. The Great Sand Dunes, Grand Canyon, Yosemite and Black Canyon of the Gunnison are four that are memorable, but there was usually at least one park on each "road trip" vacation. Due to the rush of trying to squeeze in too many miles in too little time, these visits provided only a brief sampling of the park. As an adult, I've been able to revisit a few of the parks, most notably the Grand Canyon, and have discovered that for those who have the luxury of a few days to visit, that is the best way to truly experience the beauty of the park and learn from various interpretive guides about the park and the surrounding region.
How do you see your volunteer opportunity with the Trails & Rails program, making a difference in connecting new audiences to the National Park Service?
The Trails & Rails program itself is a unique opportunity to expose new audiences to the attractions of national parks, from the geographic, historic or human side of the park. One of my main interests prior to volunteering with Trails & Rails had been a longtime advocacy for rail passenger service. I was aware that national parks and the railroads had a somewhat symbiotic relationship as national parks were being designated a century ago. To the extent that current Amtrak service is near various parks, there is an opportunity to make passengers aware of national park attractions. With some rail passenger background, I feel that my volunteer opportunity within the Trails & Rails program can help merge the needs of Trails & Rails volunteer guides with the operating logistics of Amtrak trains. There are always challenges from both the National Park Service side and the Amtrak side, and by working with others to address these challenges, I hope to see the Trails & Rails program expand to even more routes -- a win/win situation for both National Park Service and Amtrak.
Why should people volunteer with the National Park Service and the Trails & Rails program?
People have a variety of motives for volunteering. In my case, I viewed Trails & Rails as a unique program, offering opportunities for passenger satisfaction on Amtrak trains (greater enjoyment of train trips), thus increasing repeat ridership. The more I observed Trails & Rails from the outside, the greater my interest became in actually participating. My first opportunity was as a volunteer guide at the Grand Canyon train station and aboard a special train at the South Rim. That experience confirmed that my general interest in the environment, the National Parks and railroad history would be well served by volunteering with Trails & Rails.
People volunteer for causes in which they feel passionate and with organizations whose goals coincide with the individual's own interests. For people interested in the environment, conservation, history, or a variety of other subjects that are touched by various national parks, volunteering can be a productive experience. Although volunteers are expected to adhere to organizational guidelines, many positions also allow or require more individual input into presentations or other volunteer work, thus giving volunteers some flexibility in how they structure activity, and that in itself is attractive to some. The opportunity to share knowledge with others can also be quite rewarding.
Learn more about the Trails & Rails program.
Interested in becoming a volunteer?
Visit Volunteer with Us to discover volunteer opportunities at national park sites near you.
