Individual Volunteering and Internships

Summer 2020 Updates

Due to health guidelines, volunteer opportunities are currently modified. Any volunteer opportunities that remain for the 2020 season will be limited to people within the commuting area, who already have housing. For more information, please email or call the Yosemite Volunteer Program Office at 209/379-1850.

 

Learn and Explore

Individual volunteer and volunteer internship positions generally last at least 30 days for those who stay in the park, or at least three months for those who commute. These positions may include camp hosts, visitor information assistants, wildlife researchers, wilderness patrols, volunteer crew leaders, etc. Volunteers who will stay in the park (in park housing or campgrounds) must work a minimum of 32 hours per week. Park housing is very limited, as are campsites that are available for individual volunteers. Not all volunteers live in the park. Volunteers from within commuting distance may volunteer intermittently. "Virtual volunteer" opportunities also exist, allowing volunteers to support Yosemite from their own homes.

Individual positions can be very competitive. All volunteer positions are advertised on https://www.volunteer.gov/gov, although many internships are available through other organizations. You may also fill out a general position application online or by downloading the volunteer application and mailing or faxing it to us (volunteer application [52 kb PDF]). We keep general applications on file in case a position that fits your interests comes open (applications are kept until September 30 of each year; you must reapply for future years).

Volunteer

• Volunteer Overview
• Individual Volunteering and Internships
• Group Volunteering
• Drop-in Volunteering and Special Events
• International Volunteering
• Volunteering with Partners

 

Current Volunteer Opportunities

 

If you do not see a position that interests you or you have trouble filling applications online, you may submit an application that describes your interests. Please download the Application for Natural Resources Agencies [200 kb DOCX]. Please be specific about your interest and housing needs so we can match you with positions that may open. Mail applications to: Yosemite Volunteer Office, PO Box 700, El Portal, CA 95318.

Tips for Applying

Yosemite receives hundreds of individual volunteer applications each year for a limited number of positions. Help us place you and make your application stand out at the same time by following these tips.

• Housing: Tell us specifically what type of housing you are looking for--do you have an RV that needs hookups, are you okay without hookups, or are you okay tent camping? Do you need lodging? Do you have friends you can live with in the area? Do you live locally?

• Timing: tell us when you're available, but also when your preferred work dates are. Remember, minimum number of hours to live in housing is 32 hours per person. Tell us how long you want to volunteer--one day, one week, one month, etc.

• If you are a couple or family, include that information in your application; some housing is for individuals only, while other positions can accommodate a family.

• Tell us what type of work you're interested in. Flexibility is great, but we have so many different types of work, that if you don't tell us what you want to do, we don't know where to start.

• Tell us about experience you have related to the work you want to do--we get excited about applicants with special relevant skills.