Volunteer

Volunteers at Saguaro National Park perform many of the functions that allow visitors to enjoy the park as well as many behind-the-scenes functions that are essential to maintaining the long-term health of the park's resources.

Volunteer duties have included staffing the visitor centers, leading nature hikes, presenting environmental education programs to school and community groups, conducting "Junior Ranger" programs and day camps, assisting biologists with research projects, pulling non-native weeds, day-to-day maintenance functions, trail building and maintenance, and patrolling trails on foot and horseback.

Saguaro National Park does not have RV or trailer site campgrounds. Volunteer hours can not be exchanged as payment for overnight backcountry passes.

 

Volunteers help in many capacities including assisting the public with park and nature information.

NPS Photo

 

If Interested In Volunteering Opportunities:

If you see a job that matches your interests, skills, and availability, please contact the listed supervisor directly. They may ask you to submit an application, which can be found below. Current openings are listed below in more detail and with additional forms.

 

Please review the following volunteer opportunities and reach out to the appropriate contact listed in the table at the bottom of this page. For more volunteer opportunities, including those outside Saguaro National Park, visit www.volunteer.gov

 

Currently Available Volunteer Positions

 

Resource Management Volunteers

Vegetation Volunteers:
We are seeking short-term and long-term volunteers, both individual volunteers and groups, who are eager to dedicate time to improving the park.
The volunteers for our first Thursday events work as part of a team to remove buffelgrass from the base of Panther Peak in the park’s western district. Volunteering for these events involves hiking up to two miles and working for at least 4 hours in the desert sun digging up invasive plants. We also welcome volunteers to work independently through our Vegetation Volunteer program. Vegetation Volunteers hike the trails, scouting and removing invasives such as buffelgrass, fountain grass, and stinknet. These individuals work on their own schedule and are trained by Resource Management in plant identification and park safety protocols.
For more information, please contact the team at e-mail us

Boot Brush Maintenance:
Saguaro National Park is looking for a handy person or two to help us maintain our trailhead boot brushes. We installed these brushes at trailheads in both the East and West districts of the park to encourage people to remove invasive plant seeds (and help clean their boots!). The brushes need to be periodically checked and replaced. If you have basic carpentry skills, own a battery-powered drill (or means to power a regular drill), enjoy the outdoors, and want to help the park, please apply! We are looking for someone to commit to 1-2 mornings per month for a long-term commitment. Due to the drive time between the two sides of the park we are seeking separate volunteers for each district. Please contact Gary Holback at e-mail us if interested.

Environmental Education Volunteers

Volunteers are needed to assist with environmental education programs primarily at the Tucson Mountain (West) District of Saguaro National Park. Volunteers work with local school groups leading field trips at the park and presenting programs in the classroom. Typical time commitment is 4 - 5 hours per week, October - April. Formal training is provided in the fall each year and job shadowing takes place during the first few weeks as a new volunteer.

Contact [e-mail]

Visitor Center Volunteers

Are you excited about our amazing Sonoran Desert? Do you like talking to people? Become a volunteer at Saguaro National Park. The both districts of the park is looking for some folks to help at the visitor center. Work in a beautiful area and meet interesting visitors. Gain the satisfaction of helping others to enjoy and understand this amazing area and what they can see and do at the park. For those interested in more opportunities to share your enthusiasm about the natural history of the area, you can give short talks, garden walks, and theater presentations as well.

Time Commitment: 4.5 hours per week. Year-round residents preferred. The Rincon Mountain District, east, onboards volunteers on a rotating basis; please reach out any time for your name to be added to the "interested" list!

Knowledge and Skills Desired: Ability to acquire basic knowledge of desert natural and cultural history. Training provided. Ability to work as part of a diversified team. A desire to learn. The volunteer will be required to wear a volunteer uniform.

If interested contact:
Spencer Burke
[e-mail] (Tucson Mountain District, west)

Perri Spreiser
[e-mail] (Rincon Mountain District, east)

 

Volunteer Opportunities at Saguaro National Park

*Please note that all positions may not be available at all times; contact the appropriate supervisor for further volunteer position inquires.

Division	Volunteer Positions	Duties	Contact
Trails	1) Group Events	1) Brush the trail corridor and adhere to the park's trail standards* *Requires ability to hike, use of and care or hand tools, and ability to work safely and in a group	Ben Darnell
Maintenance	1) Trash Collection 2) Maintenance	1) Help clean up litter on the highly-traveled roads along the park borders during pick-up events 2) Aid in day-to-day maintenance duties around the park	John Teeter Paul Dudus
Environmental Education	1) Curriculum-based Program 2) Experiential-based Program 3) Other School-based Programs	1) Prepare and facilitate K-12 environmental ed. activities for park field trips and at schools 2) Plan and lead hikes (day/night), family picnics, 3-day Wilderness Camps, Jr. Ranger Camps, camping trips (in/out of the park), and backpacking trips 3) Lead STEM/Science night activities, participate in Love of Reading Week events, judge science fairs, and other enrichment programs	Melanie Rawlins
Interpretation	1) Visitor Center 2) Guide Walks & Talks	1) Greet and provide information to visitors at the visitor center. 2) Provide interactive learning opportunities while guiding walks or giving short talks.	Spencer Burke (West District) Perri Spreiser (East District)
Resource Management	1) Vegetation Volunteers 2) Boot Brush Maintenance	1.a) Independent Volunteer work: Help keep the park's trail network free of various invasive plants or adopt parts of the park to protect from invasive plants; Location: Rincon Mountain District (East) and Tucson Mountain District (West). Help us every first Thursday of the month by removing invasive grasses from the west park district. 1.b) Group Volunteer Work: Help Saguaro National Park staff manage invasive vegetation across the park by signing up for group buffelgrass pulls every first Thursday of the month. 2) Saguaro National Park is looking for volunteers to help maintain boot brushes in both the East and West districts of the park. Due to drive time between the two sides of the park we are seeking separate volunteers for each district.	1.a) Frankie Foley via e-mail us 1.b) Saguaro Invasive Team via e-mail us 2) Gary Holback via e-mail us
Outreach	1) Outreach	i. Raise awareness of Saguaro National Park within the local community through non-curriculum-based school programs, table at community events and through various partnerships by bringing the park to the public ii. Help with "In-Park" events and programs	Cam Juarez
Fees/Admin	1) Fee Booth	Unfortunately, this volunteer position is not currently available. 1) Sell park entrance fee/passes and receipts, give visitors needed information and answer basic park questions from visitors, verify and process shift reports for deposit, and provide relief for booth staff as needed in both districts	Dave Williams
Law Enforcement	1) Hiking Patrol 2) Bike Patrol	1) Be a courteous and friendly point of contact for visitors while promoting safe and respectful use of park resources 2) Provide assistance to Protection Rangers in response to visitors needs (i.e. giving out park information, providing basic first aid, advising visitors of regulations, etc.)	Steve Bolyard

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