Try Voluntourism to See America Affordably
Many national and state parks offer free campsites or on-site housing to attract volunteers
Volunteering in a state or national park involves more than just cleaning campsites and bathrooms. While my partner and I have performed those jobs, we have also enjoyed some amazing volunteer experiences that had nothing to do with cleaning.
Our first volunteer job was as lighthouse hosts at Cape Blanco on the wild Oregon coast. My partner greeted visitors in the oil room and introduced them to life in the 1860s, while I stood at the top of the spiral stairs in the lantern room, waiting to share spectacular view of the coastline and the story of how the keepers kept the Fresnel lens clean.
"We spent our working shift walking along a gorgeous stretch of pristine beach,"
When we were docents with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, we spent our working shift walking along a gorgeous stretch of pristine beach, talking with people about how they can help protect the snowy plover, a threatened shorebird.
We've sold duck stamps and national park passes at a National Wildlife Refuge in New Jersey, worked in the gift shop at a campground visitor center and shared stories about moats and cannons at Fort Pulaski National Monument in Savannah, Georgia.
Pricey Places Made Affordable
At Kartchner Caverns State Park in southern Arizona, I drove a 20-person tram while my partner escorted visitors on tours of the living caves, which are caves that are actively adding stalagmites and stalactites. And we have sworn in several dozen Junior Rangers.
A favorite job was giving interpretive tours at The Ford House, a historic home-turned-museum in the gorgeous coastal town of Mendocino, California. We shared stories of the native Pomo Indians, the history of redwood logging and the preservation of the coastline.
The area was remote, stunning — and expensive. But volunteering made it affordable for us to spend six months there because, like most of the volunteering gigs we chose, we were given a spacious campsite for our 32-foot motorhome in exchange for our labor.
Many volunteering opportunities offer free campsites in exchange for working hours. Some even provide on-site housing. And local volunteers are always appreciated.
An added bonus of volunteering is getting to know the people you work with, both the staff and fellow volunteers. Jayne and Paul Healy spent six years as full time RVers, volunteering half of the year, and work-camping for pay the other six months. "We enjoyed seeing different areas, learning about those areas, sharing that with guests, and meeting other hosts," Jayne said. "We lived most of our lives in the same two places, but it's the RV people we stay in contact with."
Hobbies Come In Handy
With so many options, how do you decide where to volunteer? Maybe you have a hobby you would love to pursue, like birdwatching, astronomy or kayaking. Maybe you enjoy clerical work or maintenance projects. Maybe you would like to learn more about the Civil War, ranching or manatees. Perhaps there's a part of the country that you've always wanted to explore but didn't have the time to stay.
"We enjoyed seeing different areas, learning about those areas, sharing that with guests, and meeting other hosts."
The website volunteer.gov lists volunteer opportunities with National Parks and Monuments, National Wildlife Refuges and Forests, U.S. Fish and Wildlife, as well as U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and Bureau of Land Management locations. You can search by agency, location, type of work, lodging availability, dates, keyword and even the level of physical activity.
There are also listings for one day and weekend events, such as eclipse watching parties, habitat and trail restorations and battle reenactments, where volunteers are needed for a variety of positions.
In addition to national volunteer listings, each state has its own state park website with a link to volunteer opportunities. Some state parks engage supporting nonprofit groups to fill volunteer positions. Many city and county parks and campgrounds also rely on volunteers for hosting and other jobs.
National parks tend to require 32 volunteer hours per person per week in exchange for a campsite, while state, county and city parks ask for 20 to 25 hours. Many opportunities are seasonal and require a three- to six-month commitment, but there are also short-term assignments and last-minute openings.
Some volunteer jobs are in remote locations, some are near small towns, and others are close to cities with all of the conveniences. Each opening offers different amenities, such as cellphone reception, Wi‑Fi, on-site laundry, culture passes and discounts, so be sure to ask. Most volunteer opportunities are open to both single people and couples. Many allow pets, but not all.
The Application Process
When you find a volunteer opportunity you're interested in, you'll need to follow the application instructions. You might also want to follow up with the contact person and include a one- to two-page resume highlighting your work and volunteer history, even hobbies that make you a good candidate for the position.
Volunteering is less about your actual experience and more about your people skills and willingness to learn and work with others. You should also include a list of two or three references who know you from previous volunteer or paid work and your current contact information.
Whatever sparks your desire to volunteer, you're guaranteed to learn something, have a great time and meet wonderful people.
