Great Reasons to Volunteer
- Meet new people and build relationships
- Be an environmental steward
- Learn about the parks and what they protect
- Improve health
- Spend time amongst Montana’s natural and cultural beauty
- Enhance work and volunteer experience
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Overview and Volunteer Impact:
One of the most vital volunteer positions at Montana Parks & Outdoor Recreation is that of a Park Host. Being a Park Host is a fantastic way to visit and experience a new place, learn new skills, interact with the public, and to simply enjoy life outdoors. Park Hosts assist park staff in a variety of tasks including, but not limited to, sharing park information with other visitors, ensuring smooth campground operations, and completing light maintenance work as needed. Hosts impact everything from the guests’ experience, to the workload of park staff, to the park grounds and facilities. If you want to experience “the full gambit of Montana” as a former Park Host so wonderfully puts it, then this position is for you.
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Time Commitment:
Qualifications:
** Must provide own housing, equipment, and personal items**
Benefits:
Positions:
Select the specific park name for details. If you have any questions, select the contact name next to the park name and send a detailed message.
Region 1 (Northwest) – Kalispell Area
Region 2 (West Central) – Missoula Area
Region 3 (Central) – Bozeman Area
Region 4 (North Central) – Great Falls Area
Region 5 (South Central/Eastern) - Billings Area
Region 6 (North East) - Fort Peck Area
Region 7 (South East) - Miles City Area
Application:
A volunteer application is available below and must be completed to be considered for a volunteer campground host position. If you are interested in a specific site location, you may send the completed application directly to the listed park manager. If you are interested in multiple site locations, you are encouraged to send the completed application to StateParkVolunteers@mt.gov.
Overview and Volunteer Impact:
Group volunteer events are a fantastic way to help out and support your local state park. This is a great way for your group or organization to give back to the community, and it is in some of the most beautiful places in the state! As a group, the volunteers will help the park with various tasks such as weed pulls, special events, trail maintenance, native plant transplanting, cave cleaning, conducting bio-blitzes and more! If you are part of a group that wants to make a difference with FWP Montana Parks & Outdoor Recreation, then this is for you!
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Positions:
If you have a local state park where your group wants to volunteer, reach out to the park manager at that location. If your group has an interest in volunteering for a larger project/event, review the Special Event and Special Project tabs below. If you have any additional questions, contact StateParkVolunteers@mt.gov or 406-444-7317.
Overview and Volunteer Impact:
Montana FWP Parks & Outdoor Recreation is seeking enthusiastic, flexible, and highly motivated people to fill their Interpretative Guide positions. Interpretative Guides share information about Montana’s cultural and natural resources in an engaging, fun, and thought-provoking way. They assist parks in presenting information to the public in a more intimate and personal fashion. This position often involves presenting at or hosting evening campfire programs, weekend lecture series’, school field trips, and special events. Without Park resource Interpreters telling our stories, Montana State Parks would not be what individuals and families have come to know and love about our state parks. If you enjoy presenting information and ideas to the public in a creative, long-lasting and impressionable way, then this position is for you.
Key Responsibilities:
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Benefits:
Positions:
Contact your regional or local Park & Outdoor Recreation office for available positions at a visitor center near you. If you have any additional questions, contact StateParkVolunteers@mt.gov or 406-444-7317.
Overview and Volunteer Impact:
The Special Event volunteer position is very fast-paced and versatile. This volunteer helps Parks & Outdoor Recreation staff coordinate and run successful events that include annual marquee events like Bannack Days, Buzzard Days, Chief Plenty Coups Day of Honor, Flying Buffalo Kite Festivals, and Fall Festivals throughout the state. Tasks can range anywhere from assisting with setup and breakdown, to dressing in full historic outfits, opening entrance stations and giving presentations. Special Event volunteers help keep the park running to its full potential and allows the park to give the community the events they’ve come to know and love. If you are passionate about developing and assisting in fun and engaging events, then this position is for you.
Key Responsibilities:
Time Commitment:
Qualifications:
Benefits:
Positions:
Select the specific park name for details. If you have any questions, select the contact’s name next to the park name and send a detailed message. If you have any additional questions, contact StateParkVolunteers@mt.gov or 406-444-7317.
Region 1 (Northwest) – Kalispell Area
Flathead Lake State Park Volunteer Stewardship Program: Amy Grout
Region 2 (West Central) – Missoula Area
Region 3 (Central) – Bozeman Area
Region 4 (North Central) – Great Falls Area
Region 5 (South Central/Eastern) - Billings Area
Region 6 (North East) - Fort Peck Area
Region 7 (South East) - Miles City Area
Overview and Volunteer Impact:
Working closely with park staff, a Special Project Assistant helps the park to successfully accomplish a one-time special project. The type of work the project entails will vary depending on the skillset the volunteer has to provide the Parks & Outdoor Recreation division. In the past, volunteers have completed projects focused on photography, research, archiving, fundraising, and park maintenance/ operations. These volunteers have also helped with office work as needed. Parks & Outdoor Recreation is continually open to new special project ideas. The help and support a Special Project volunteer provides the park is extremely helpful as these volunteers aid in development and coordination of projects that otherwise would exceed a park’s capacity or skill set of the staff.
Key Responsibilities:
Time Commitment:
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Benefits:
Positions:
Contact your local park manager if you have a special and unique skill you want to share with State Parks & Outdoor Recreation. If you have any additional questions, contact StateParkVolunteers@mt.gov or 406-444-7317.
Overview and Volunteer Impact:
State Park Visitor Centers are positioned at cherished and beautiful sites across Montana. Visitor Center Attendants are an incredibly important part of each center’s successful operation. Attendants are often the first face visitors see and are therefore the first impression of the park itself. Attendants are knowledgeable, friendly, approachable, and set the tone for the guest’s experience. They are truly at the heart of Montana State Parks. Attendants gain valuable skills such as resource interpretation, are front and center with the public, and get to share their love of state parks every day. The impact Visitor Center Attendants have on the park and staff is significant. Having visitor center attendants on board allows staff members to keep the park operating efficiently. Simply stated, Parks would not be able to run without the hard work and dedication of our Visitor Center Attendants.
Key Responsibilities:
Time Committment:
Qualifications:
Benefits:
Positions:
Contact your regional or local Park & Outdoor Recreation office for available positions at a visitor center near you. If you have any additional questions, contact StateParkVolunteers@mt.gov or 406-444-7317.