Get Involved

A TPERP volunteer teaches a young girl and her parents about the tidepools’ rocks and fossils at the interactive Education Table. The wooden station stands out against the bright green native brush.
A park volunteer teaches geology at the Education Table for Cabrillo's Tidepool Protection, Education, and Restoration Program. Cabrillo National Monument, California.

NPS photo.

Opportunities for All

The National Park Service offers short-term employment opportunities for earth scientists and students through the Scientists in Parks program. Many people choose to help protect and preserve parks by participating in the Volunteers-In-Parks program.

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Protect Our Geoheritage

Geologic and soil resourecs play an important role in ecosystem health. Some of these resources are rare or fragile and need your help. Learn to protect our geoheritage for science, education, and future generations, and share what you've learned with others.

Like other natural and cultural objects, collecting rocks or fossils for recreational, commercial, or educational use is prohibited in all units of the National Park System.
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  • I Didn't Know That!: Rock Cairns

    a stacked rock cairn in the mountains

    Have you ever come across strange stacks of rocks while hiking in national parks? Maybe you wondered what they are and if they mean anything. Learn about what these rock stacks mean and what you should do if you see one on your next park visit!

  • I Didn't Know That!: Keeping Rivers Wild

    a calm river

    Building rock dams or digging new river channels may seem like harmless fun, but they can affect the flow and quality of the water, even well upstream. Find out how you can help keep rivers wild.

  • I Didn't Know That!: Biological Soil Crusts

    • Locations: Arches National Park, Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area, Canyonlands National Park, Capitol Reef National Park, Casa Grande Ruins National Monument,
    biological soil crust

    You’ve heard people say to stay on the trail, but what does it matter in the desert? It’s just dirt... right? Wrong—it's alive! Discover what biological soil crusts are and why they're so important in dry environments.

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Leave No Trace

Geologic sites are vulnerable to damage from inappropriate activities. Be sure to practice Leave No Trace principles whenever you are in the outdoors. The seven Principles of Leave No Trace provide a universal framework of minimum impact practices for anyone visiting the outdoors. These principles can be applied anywhere and are important in the protection of geologic and soil resources in national parks. Using the principles can empower you to minimize your impacts every time you are outdoors. Of particular importance for soils and fragile geologic sites is to:

  • Travel and camp on durable surfaces, and

  • Leave what you find.

Learn More

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  • Series: I Didn't Know That! Leave No Trace

    • Type: Series
    a person stands next to a tent on a cliffside overlooking the ocean

    You've probably heard the term "Leave No Trace" before, but do you really know what it means? In this I Didn't Know That! mini-series, the National Park Service teams up with the Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics to explore Leave No Trace and the 7 guiding Principles that help keep our outdoor spaces enjoyable for generations to come.

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Last updated: February 24, 2025

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