Volunteer

Volunteers at Saguaro National Park perform many of the functions that allow visitors to enjoy the park as well as many behind-the-scenes functions that are essential to maintaining the long-term health of the park's resources.

Volunteer duties have included staffing the visitor centers, leading nature hikes, presenting environmental education programs to school and community groups, conducting "Junior Ranger" programs and day camps, assisting biologists with research projects, pulling non-native weeds, day-to-day maintenance functions, trail building and maintenance, and patrolling trails on foot and horseback.

Saguaro National Park does not have RV or trailer site campgrounds. Volunteer hours can not be exchanged as payment for overnight backcountry passes.

 

Volunteers help in many capacities including assisting the public with park and nature information.

NPS Photo

 

If Interested In Volunteering Opportunities:

If you see a job that matches your interests, skills, and availability, please contact the listed supervisor directly. They may ask you to submit an application, which can be found below. Current openings are listed below in more detail and with additional forms.

 

Please review the following volunteer opportunities and reach out to the appropriate contact listed in the table at the bottom of this page. For more volunteer opportunities, including those outside Saguaro National Park, visit www.volunteer.gov

 

Currently Available Volunteer Positions

 

Resource Management Volunteers

Buffelgrass Pulls
Sgauro National Park periodically hosts Buffelgrass pulls in and around the park. We are not currently looking for volunteers at this time, but feel free to check back in throughout the year for new event listings.

For those with the time and dedication, the Arizona Sonoran Desert Musuem hosts regularly scheduled events. You can find and sign up for these events at Save Our Saguaros - Beat Back Buffelgrass

Environmental Education Volunteers

Volunteers are needed to assist with environmental education programs primarily at the Tucson Mountain (West) District of Saguaro National Park. Volunteers work with local school groups leading field trips at the park and presenting programs in the classroom. Typical time commitment is 4 - 5 hours per week, October - April. Formal training is provided in the fall each year and job shadowing takes place during the first few weeks as a new volunteer.
e-mail us

 

Volunteer Opportunities at Saguaro National Park

*Please note that all positions may not be available at all times; contact the appropriate supervisor for further volunteer position inquires.

Division	Volunteer Positions	Duties	Contact
Trails	1) Group Events	There are no current or upcoming openings in this division. 1) Brush the trail corridor and adhere to the park's trail standards* *Requires ability to hike, use of and care or hand tools, and ability to work safely and in a group	Jeff Gnann e-mail us
Maintenance	1) Trash Collection 2) Maintenance	1) Help clean up litter on the highly-traveled roads along the park borders during pick-up events 2) Aid in day-to-day maintenance duties around the park	John Teeter e-mail us Paul Dudus e-mail us
Environmental Education	1) Curriculum-based Program 2) Experiential-based Program 3) Other School-based Programs	1) Prepare and facilitate K-12 environmental ed. activities for park field trips and at schools 2) Plan and lead hikes (day/night), family picnics, 3-day Wilderness Camps, Jr. Ranger Camps, camping trips (in/out of the park), and backpacking trips 3) Lead STEM/Science night activities, participate in Love of Reading Week events, judge science fairs, and other enrichment programs	Melanie Rawlins e-mail us
Interpretation	1) Visitor Center 2) Guide Walks & Talks	There are no current or upcoming openings at the Rincon Mountain District (East), openings still available at Tucson Mountain District (West). 1) Greet and provide information to visitors at the visitor center. 2) Provide interactive learning opportunities while guiding walks or giving short talks.	Spencer Burke (West District) e-mail us Perri Spreiser (East District) e-mail us
Resource Management	1) Vegetation Volunteers	There are no current or upcoming openings in this division. 1) Independent Volunteer work: Help keep the park's trail network free of various invasive plants or adopt parts of the park to protect from invasive plants; Location: Rincon Mountain District (East) and Tucson Mountain District (West). Help us every first Thursday of the month by removing invasive grasses from the west park district.	1) Frankie Foley e-mail us e-mail us 2) Gary Holback e-mail us
Outreach	1) Outreach	i. Raise awareness of Saguaro National Park within the local community through non-curriculum-based school programs, table at community events and through various partnerships by bringing the park to the public ii. Help with "In-Park" events and programs	Cam Juarez e-mail us
Fees/Admin	1) Fee Booth	Unfortunately, this volunteer position is not currently available. 1) Sell park entrance fee/passes and receipts, give visitors needed information and answer basic park questions from visitors, verify and process shift reports for deposit, and provide relief for booth staff as needed in both districts	Katherine Goewey e-mail us
Law Enforcement	1) Hiking Patrol 2) Bike Patrol	There are no current or upcoming openings in this division. 1) Be a courteous and friendly point of contact for visitors while promoting safe and respectful use of park resources 2) Provide assistance to Protection Rangers in response to visitors needs (i.e. giving out park information, providing basic first aid, advising visitors of regulations, etc.)	Sinclair Rehberg e-mail us

­