New River Gorge National Park and Preserve is currently looking for volunteers for the spring, summer and fall of 2024. We are recruiting for the following positions at this time: Park ambassador at Grandview and Canyon Rim. RV Trailer pads are provided for both of these positions. Check the links below for more information about these positions: For more information please contact the Park Volunteer Coordinator: Adrienne Jenkins; 304-465-2634; e-mail us.
Current Volunteer OpportunitiesFor current volunteer opportunities at New River Gorge National Park and Preserve, please visit www.volunteer.govSupporting your favorite park can be as simple as picking up a single piece of trash during your stay, or as intense as a three-month-long commitment in the field or the visitor centers. Everyone has the potential and opportunity to contribute in some way to the protection of our national treasures.
At New River Gorge National Park and Preserve, Bluestone National Scenic River, and Gauley River National Recreation Area, we welcome volunteers for a wide variety of projects and positions. We deeply appreciate the time and effort that volunteers give to help protect and preserve this wonderful place. Volunteer opportunities include working in park visitor centers, maintenance work, office and organizational work, and campsite and trail rehabilitation. Groups and organizations that would like to come for short periods to work on specific projects are also welcome.
Each year, volunteers contribute more than 15,000 hours to the three parks. Visitors, residents, families, school groups, scouts, clubs, and businesses-people just like you-help care for the trails, campgrounds, historic areas, museum collections, visitor centers, forests, and beaches of the Gauley, Bluestone and New Rivers. Almost 1,000 people annually make the time to give something back to these beautiful and important places.
Volunteer Position DescriptionsFor detailed descriptions of all of our volunteer positions, click on the link to our Volunteer Position Descriptions.
The following questions will introduce you to our Volunteers In Parks program. Discover why our volunteers are truly VIPs.
What types of work can volunteers do? We have a wide variety of opportunities including, but certainly not limited to, the categories listed below. For details about current openings, visit the links above.
Interpretation
Visitor and Resource Protection
Maintenance
Resource Management
Are internships available? Yes! Many volunteers work for the three southern West Virginia national park areas through internships and programs such as: Americorps VISTA How long do volunteers work? This depends on the specific projects, the requirements of the supervisor, and your schedule. Many of our volunteers, particularly groups, sign-up for one to three day events. However, generally, supervisors are interested in working with volunteers who can make a longer commitment, whether it be once a week for a year or one to three months of continuous work. Most volunteers work with us for two to four months and many return year after year.
Where do volunteers live? While the park would like to be able to provide housing for any volunteer who needs it, our housing is very limited. For volunteers with their own travel trailers or RVs, we can sometimes provide a trailer pad with utility connections. We also have a few rooms available on a first-come/first-served basis in our Dun Glen dorm. In order to qualify for park housing or a trailer pad, volunteers are required to work four days a week for at least 2 months. Local rentals can be difficult to find during the summer season and will, most likely, be very expensive.
What qualifications do volunteers need? Requirements vary, depending on what role you would like to play in the park. Let us know your volunteer work interests, and the appropriate supervisor can tell you what qualifications we seek for that position. All applications will receive consideration without regard to race, creed, national origin, sex, age, color, political affiliation, or physical handicap.
How do I apply? Please contact the Volunteer Coordinator for a Volunteer Application Form. Applications are reviewed and distributed to supervisors twice each year-usually March and September. Supervisors, not the volunteer coordinator, will contact qualified applicants directly, considering their needs and upcoming projects.
What does the park provide? When required by the job, the park supplies uniform shirts, hats, and jackets. It is not New River Gorge's policy to offer any stipends for volunteers, except for those in programs such as SCA or Americorps.
Are there any short-term opportunities? There are a variety of work-day events throughout the year. Generally, these are large cleanups of area beaches, campgrounds, etc. Tools and work gloves are provided. For more information, call the Volunteer Coordinator; 304-465-2634.
What about groups? Volunteer groups can tackle numerous jobs. Some will take only a few hours, while some are ongoing projects good for a full day or more. Most frequently groups assist New River's effort to clean river beaches, restore trails, and remove non-native vegetation. We have regularly scheduled work days and times that fit the needs of most groups. We can work together to schedule other times and projects. Citizen Scientist Volunteer Opportunity: Grandview Bat Condo Survey.May through October 2024 - Volunteers Needed
For more information regarding New River Gorge National Park and Preserve, Bluestone National Scenic River, and Gauley River National Recreation Area volunteer programs, please contact the Park Volunteer Coordinator: Adrienne Jenkins; 304-465-2634; adrienne_jenkins@nps.gov.
Current Volunteer Opportunities |
Last updated: June 26, 2024