Skip to main content
Go to search page

STATE PARKS MENU

Alt image text here

Montana State Parks offer volunteer opportunities for individuals of all ages, families with children, as well as service groups and clubs. Volunteer with Montana State Parks

How to Apply:
 
1.  Download and complete the application above.
 
2.  If you are interested in a volunteer position at a particular state park, return your application to the Park Manager listed as the contact for that park.
 
3.  You may also submit your application to:
Fish, Wildlife and Parks
Attn:  Parks Division
P.O. Box 200701
Helena, MT 59620
or email us at Stateparkvolunteers@mt.gov.
We will work to match your application with the state park(s) that have volunteer opportunities.

Although there is no deadline for submitting an application, it is highly recommended you do so by December 1 for the following summer season.  Most positions are filled by mid-February.  Occasionally, due to unforeseen circumstances, last-minute position vacancies occur.

Volunteer positions may include benefits such as training and orientation, Workers' Compensation insurance, reimbursement for travel and meals (up to $100 per month, or to the extent funds are available), volunteer uniform, college credit, or other special provisions unique to the site. Park Host benefits may also include one complimentary annual state park entrance pass, and a free campsite.

Group Volunteer

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 in Montana state parks, 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 state parks
  • 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.

Park Host

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, ensure smooth campground operations, and 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 1st- September 30th
  • 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
  • CPR and First Aid certifications are huge pluses

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

For Available Positions Please Contact Darby Bramble at:

darby.bramble@mt.gov or 406-444-7317

Park Resource Interpreter

Overview and Volunteer Impact:

Montana State Parks 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
  • CPR and First Aid certifications are huge pluses

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 are available at the below locations.  Click on the specific park name for park details.  For questions, please click on the contact name and send a detailed email message.  Staff will respond as soon as they can.

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

 

Special Event Assistant

Overview and Volunteer Impact:

The Special Event volunteer position is very fast-paced and versatile. This volunteer helps park staff coordinate and run successful events at their parks. Annual marquee events include 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
  • CPR and First Aid certifications are huge pluses

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 are available at the below locations.  Click on the specific park name for park details.  For questions, please click on the contact name and send a detailed email message.  Staff will respond as soon as they can.

Region 1 (Northwest) - Kalispell Area

Region 3 (Central) - Bozeman Area

Region 4 (North Central) - Great Falls Area

Region 5 (South Central/Easter) - Billings Area

Region 6/7 (Eastern) - Glendive Area

 

Special Projects Assistant

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 very vastly depending on the skillset the volunteer has to provide state parks. 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. State Parks 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. If you have a special and unique skill you want to share with Montana State Parks, then this is the position for you.

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:

  • Varies depending on individual’s availability and scope of each project.

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 are available at the below locations.  Click on the specific park name for park details.  For questions, please click on the contact name and send a detailed email message.  Staff will respond as soon as they can.

Region 1 (Northwest) - Kalispell Area

Region 3 (Central) - Bozeman Area

Region 4 (North Central) - Great Falls Area

Region 5 (South Central) - Billings Area

 

Visitor Center Attendant

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.


Current Openings


Region 1 (Northwest) - Kalispell Area

Lone Pine State Park


Region 2 (West Central) - Missoula Area

Traveler's Rest State Park



Region 3 (Central) - Bozeman Area

Anaconda Smoke Stack


Bannack


Lewis and Clark Caverns

 

 

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