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Position Winter Volunteer Opportunities Mount Rainier National Park Partner Opportunity Site Link Opportunity Partner State Natural Resources Links Washington Home Page Washington Tourism Site Washington State Parks Volunteers Address 55210 238th Ave E Ashford, WA 98304 Contact Kevin Bacher kevin_bacher@nps.gov 360-569-2211 Dates 11/1/2009--4/30/2010 Activities • Botany • Conservation Education • Research Library • Tour Guide/Interpretation • Visitor Information • Back Country/Wilderness Record Date 11/20/2009 Suitable For Adults Difficulty Level Average

Opportunity Description: 

What can I do to volunteer for Mount Rainier National Park during the winter?
Many of our park operations shut down or scale back during the winter months. Most of the park is buried by snow, which rules out trail building, biological surveys, revegetation, meadow roving, and most backcountry patrol. Our campgrounds and most of our visitor centers are closed. A few programs remain active through the winter, but need little volunteer assistance. We work with a few volunteers in the greenhouse, and some of our summer meadow rovers return to help with public snowshoe walks. Our museum curator sometimes has projects that volunteers can help with, scanning, sorting, and cataloging historic documents, photos, and artifacts. The education program is most active during the autumn and spring school year, and is always interested in hearing from small numbers of people with an interest and background in working with curriculum-based education. For information about any of these programs, see our separate position listings or contact the Volunteer Program Manager.

One of the most active volunteer programs during the winter is Nordic Patrol. Through a partnership with the Washington Ski Touring Club, volunteers skilled in skiing and snowshoeing patrol the snowy wilderness above Sunrise, marking routes, roping off dangerous areas, and assisting visitors. Information about the program can be found at www.wstc.org.

For most of the winter, one of the best ways to support Mount Rainier National Park is to participate in the work of our partners in the community. The Washington Parks and Forests Coalition is a great place to start. The National Parks Conservation Association is active year-round with citizen-based advocacy efforts on behalf of all of our national parks. The Mountaineers likewise support public lands throughout the state, and sponsor many volunteer and recreational projects throughout the year. The Washington Trails Association sponsors volunteer projects at lower elevations during the winter, gradually moving back up into the high country as the snow melts in the spring. The Student Conservation Association (SCA) provides lots of opportunities for service, especially for young people. Ask how you can help with the fundraising efforts of Washington’s National Park Fund. Many other local groups also support public lands and offer many ways to get involved. Visit Volunteer.gov/gov to look for local options.

Most new volunteer opportunities will be advertised during the spring. Watch our volunteer blog and our website for the announcement of long-term positions such as campground hosts, curatorial librarians, and mountaineering rangers. A variety of summer internships will be posted on the website of the Student Conservation Association. Short-term and recurring projects, especially trail repair, will start recruiting volunteers in late April or early May, though the calendar won’t start filling up until late June when trails and meadows start melting out at high elevations. Look for a calendar of such projects to appear at the top of our volunteer blog in late Spring.

For more ideas, contact Volunteer Program Manager Kevin Bacher at 360-569-2211 ext. 3385, or kevin_bacher@nps.gov.

  Please Complete Your Application at: Winter Volunteer Opportunities Application