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Overview and Volunteer Impact:
One of the most vital volunteer positions at Montana State Parks 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.
Key Responsibilities:
Greet and assist guests
Serve as a liaison between guests and park staff
Provide park information (including rules) to guests
Collect fee envelopes and oversee check-in/ check-out of campground
Light maintenance work
Other duties depend on park needs such as: campground operations, visitor center assistance, monitoring trails, opening and closing parks, etc.
Time Commitment:
May 1- September 30
24 hours a week for single hosts, 32 hours a week for couples
Qualifications:
** Must provide own housing, equipment, and personal items**
Extensive camping experience
Effective communication skills
Successful completion of the FWP Background Check
Strong desire to share knowledge and experiences with people of all ages and backgrounds
Friendly, outgoing personality
First Aid/CPR certifications are recommended
Benefits:
Live on pristine park property surrounded by rivers, creeks, and lakes, or among mountains, prairies, and steppe
Be a steward for beautiful natural and cultural park resources
Gain an exclusive look into park operations and resources
Be an influential part of a visitor’s stay
Work with an intimate, close-knit team
Some sites eligible for 100/month stipend
Positions:
Region 1 (Northwest) – Kalispell Area
Region 2 (West Central) – Missoula Area
Chief Looking Glass Fishing Access Site; 2026 Season; Jess Martin
Region 3 (Central) – Bozeman Area
Region 4 (North Central) – Great Falls Area
Region 5 (South Central/Eastern) - Billings Area
Cooney State Park; 2026 Season; Dennis Merkel
Pictograph Cave State Park; Mid-July thru mid-Sept., 2026 – Richard Tooke
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 email 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!
Key Responsibilities:
Coordinate with park staff to determine the interests of the group as well as needs of the park
Complete assigned tasks to park staff specifications
Emphasize safety first in project completion
Time Commitment:
Will vary greatly depending on the amount of people and task
Will most likely be anywhere from a half day to a full day commitment
Qualifications:
Must have a group leader represent the group or organization
Willingness to be flexible and accept the agreed upon assignment
Benefits:
Spending time in beautiful outdoor settings
Positively impacting Montana Parks & Outdoor Recreation
Feeling accomplished about the work being done
Learning new skills in trail maintenance, noxious weeds identification, or park operations
Working with an intimate, close-knit team
Qualifying for park specific bonuses such as work for camping stay, cave tours, after hour meals, etc.
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:
Assist park staff in development, preparation, and presentation of natural and cultural history interpretative programs to all age ranges
Lead interpretative tours and school field trips
Prepare and present natural and cultural history interpretative programs
Develop and care for live and static exhibits
May also be involved in designing informational displays, writing informative articles, researching area history, and performing routine maintenance on trails and interpretative facilities
Time Commitment:
Any 4-week period OR regularly scheduled hours May through September
Anywhere from 5 to 20 hours depending on the task and time of year
Qualifications:
Experience leading children 3-12 years old
Excellent communication skills
Considerable experience/ and or interest in history, American Indian culture, or natural sciences
Strong desire to share knowledge and experiences with people of all ages and backgrounds
First Aid/CPR certifications are recommended
Benefits:
Represent key cultural and natural resources
Gain an exclusive look into park operations and resources
Be an influential part of a visitor’s experience
Work with an intimate, close-knit team
Eligible for College/ internship credit
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:
Assist with planning, set up and/or breakdown of events
Communicate with the public on event details
Lead and coordinate other volunteers
Possible historic and natural resource interpretation
Light park maintenance work as needed
Time Commitment:
Varies depending on individual’s availability and scope of each event
Time for preparation and breakdown of actual event will need to be taken into consideration
Qualifications:
Willingness to be flexible and self-motivated
Willingness to accept any assignment delegated
Must pass Montana FWP Background Check
Must work well with limited supervision and quickly changing schedule
Strong desire to share knowledge and experiences with people of all ages and backgrounds
First Aid/CPR certifications are recommended
Benefits:
Learn how a large event is prepared, coordinated and run among picturesque landscapes
Gain an exclusive look into park operations and resources
Work with an intimate, close-knit team
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:
Work closely with park staff to develop and perform a special project
Communicate with the public on project details
Possibly lead and coordinate other volunteers
Time Commitment:
Qualifications:
Willingness to be flexible and extremely self-motivated
Must work well with limited supervision and quickly changing schedule
CPR and First Aid certifications are a plus
Other qualifications dependent on individual park staff and project
Benefits:
Travel and see the beautiful sights of Montana State Parks including scenic rivers, towering mountains, and impressive caverns.
Gain an exclusive look into park operations and resources
Work with an intimate, close-knit team
Eligible for College/ internship credit
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:
Greet and assist guests
Engage and communicate with the public regarding park information
Share the love of State Parks with the public
Time Committment:
Any 4-week period OR regularly scheduled hours May through September
Anywhere from 5 to 20 hours depending on task and time of year
Qualifications:
Excellent communication skills
Firendly and outgoing personality
Strong desire to share knowledge and experiences with people of all ages and backgrounds
First Aid/CPR certifications are recommended
Benefits:
Be an influential part of a visitor's stay
Work with a close-knit team
Gain an exclusive look into Parks & Outdoor Recreation operations and resources
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.
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
