New Opportunities for Volunteers at Glacier National Park

New Opportunities for Volunteers at Glacier National Park
Date: May 26, 2010
Contact: Amy Vanderbilt, 406 888-5838
Contact: Wade Muehlhof, 406 888-7895

WEST GLACIER, MONT. – Glacier National Park is recruiting volunteers for the 2010 summer season. Volunteers In Parks (VIP) represent the National Park Service (NPS), work in unique settings, preserve the country’s natural and cultural legacy, and help visitors discover the resources, meanings and values found in national parks. VIPs of all ages and abilities work side by side with Glacier National Park personnel and make a significant contribution to the work of the park. During the 2009 summer season, 683 volunteers logged 48,743 hours at Glacier pulling weeds, painting buildings, hosting campgrounds, interpreting, clearing trails, and much more.

As part of the NPS effort to prevent Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) from entering Glacier National Park waters, park managers are looking for volunteers to assist in issuing permits and performing boat inspections at two locations in Apgar Village. This program will be vitally important in preventing these destructive organisms from entering park waters and providing an efficient permitting process for motorized boaters.

These volunteers will supplement park staff from July 1 through Labor Day on weekends and possibly weekdays as needed. Park managers request a commitment of one six-hour day per week. Training and uniforms will be provided. Anyone interested in volunteering with this program should contact Brian McKeon at (406) 888-7857 or e-mail us.

Glacier National Park is also recruiting for volunteers for the free Going-to-the-Sun Road (Sun Road) transit system. These summer volunteers will assist transit system users at the Apgar Transit Center (ATC) and Logan Pass. The ATC is located near the village of Apgar. Logan Pass is located along the Sun Road 30 miles beyond the west entrance.

Transit system volunteers provide information and assist visitors in the use of the free shuttles. Volunteers generally work one six-hour shift per week during the transit system’s operating season July 1st through Labor Day. In order to provide volunteers with the necessary background and skills to assist visitors at the ATC and Logan Pass, two mandatory training sessions will be held. One is for three hours on Wednesday evening, June 16 and the second is for eight hours on Saturday, June 26.

Anyone interested in volunteering with the transit system should contact Glenn Johnson before June 15 at (406) 888-5964 or e-mail us.

Anyone interested in other volunteer opportunities can find additional information on Glacier National Park’s Volunteer Program at: http://www.nps.gov/glac/supportyourpark/volunteer.htm.