Volunteer with Us

You Can Make Our Great Places Better.

A circular log with a National Park Service arrowhead logo and the word Join Volunteers-In-Parks (VIP) to support the National Park Service in its mission to preserve and protect our national parks. You can volunteer for a day or year-round; on your own or with friends and family; close to home or at a dream destination. Volunteer opportunities are available nationwide including in U.S. Territories.

What Can Volunteers Do?

The possibilities are as diverse as our national park’s themselves. Here are some example volunteer activities:

  • Lead or support education and public-facing programs
  • Maintain or rebuild trails or historic buildings
  • Conduct research or monitor wildlife to preserve our natural resources
  • Help families make memories happen as a campground host
  • Teach others about the park and swear in new Junior Rangers in the visitor center
  • Support libraries, archives, and museums in parks to preserve our cultural resources
  • Produce art while staying in a park as an Artist-In-Residence
  • Educate train travelers on the natural and cultural heritage of a region through the Trails & Rails program

Find a list of available opportunities at Volunteer.gov, search for a volunteer event, or contact a national park near you. 

Three teenage volunteers sit in a circle using hand tools to remove graffiti at Glen Canyon National
9/11 Day of Service

Participate in 9/11 Day of Service by volunteering at national parks throughout the country.

A kneeling girl works in a flower bed.
National Public Lands Day

National Public Lands Day is the largest single-day volunteer event for public lands. Volunteer at a national park site on September 23.

Five people pose for a photo in front of a pile of trash they collected on a beach.
Volunteer.gov

View current volunteer opportunities across the National Park Service at Volunteer.gov.

A group of young volunteers in uniform pose for a photo in front of a NPS arrowhead on a building.
Become a Volunteer

Learn more about how to become a National Park Service volunteer.

A group of people in park ranger and volunteer uniforms walking in a parade.
Volunteer News & Stories

View the latest volunteer news and stories from across the National Park Service.

Two people in uniform point to Volunteer patches on their sleeves.
Resources for Volunteers

Learn about the Volunteer Pass, volunteer awards, and Reference Manual 7.

Last updated: June 7, 2023

Tools

  • Site Index