- The National Parks Service offers volunteer opportunities in parks and federal lands all across the United States.
- Anyone can volunteer in a park close to them at any time of the year.
- Volunteers also get some benefits, such as the opportunity to earn a free ticket.
Get outside! The weather has finally warmed up in many parts of the country. Explore one of these 63 national parks In the U.S. This year, you can pair your recreation time with giving back—and work toward getting free entry to the parks In the future.
Anyone can sign up to volunteer for the National Parks Service’s calendar of volunteer events in 2025. This includes annual service days, like National Trails Day on the first Saturday in June, 9/11 Day of Remembrance and Service on Sept. 11, and the National Public Lands Day on the fourth Saturday in September.
You can learn everything you need about volunteering in a national park if this is your first time.
Volunteering in National Parks
You can visit the park service website You can access the website volunteer calendarYou can search the calendar by state or date. Scrolling down will also show you all of the opportunities that are coming up, but they won’t be sorted according to location. You can find volunteer opportunities almost every day by scrolling down the listings. There are weekly volunteer opportunities at Golden Gate National Recreation Area every Wednesday and Friday between 8am and 12pm until December 31.
How to get started volunteering in a national parks
The calendar entries will contain information about the requirements for volunteering. For some recurring events like the Indiana Dunes National Park Trash Trekker program, you only need to show up at the visitor center and check-in. No prior sign-up is required. Some events require that you make a reservation over the phone or online. In many parks, you can choose from a variety of events. Some require registration in advance and others are available on the day. You should always read the details of an event before attending to ensure you are prepared.
Why should you volunteer in a national park
There are a few selfish reasons why you should consider volunteering in national parks.
It can help you get the first? It is a great way to get started free entry into national parks. You can use your time to volunteer for a Volunteer PassThe requirement is 250 volunteer hours in federally managed lands. The pass is valid for 12 months and allows free access to all national parks, recreation areas, and historic sites.
The second reason is? A lot of these volunteer opportunities will allow you to have access to information and parts of the parks you might not get to see otherwise—and what’s a more unique travel experience than seeing part of the parks most people don’t get to?
