Volunteer with Us

The Frederick W. Vanderbilt Garden Association maintains the beauty of the historic, Italianate gardens.

NPS/ C.S. Anderson III

Each year, around 200 volunteers generously give their time and talents to help the National Historic Sites of Hyde Park fulfill the NPS mission.

Their work is critical in helping us share and preserve the legacy of Frederick and Louise Vanderbilt.

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On this page, you will find volunteer options for gardening, interpretive services, and students at the park. At the bottom of this page, listings from Volunteer.gov will appear when there are active positions available at the Vanderbilt Mansion NHS. Volunteer.gov is the primary recruitment and management website for federal agencies.

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You may fill out the digital form on Volunteer.gov or for additional information, contact our Volunteer Coordinator who onboards and assists new and current volunteers in the service. Contact them for more info through this e-mail form: Volunteer Coordinator.

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Hyde Park, NY contains three National Historic Sites. All three sites can use the assitive care of committed volunteers, so each site offers unique opportunities for volunteerism. Follow the links below to learn about NPS volunteerism at our other two sites:

• Home of Franklin D. Roosevelt NHS - Volunteer with Us

• Eleanor Roosevelt NHS - Volunteer with Us

 

NPS/ C.S. Anderson III

 

Gardening - Volunteer Opportunities

Alongside NPS and partner horticulturalists, garden volunteers perform a full range of gardening tasks including planting, weeding, and general landscape maintenance. Their work is vital to preserving and beautifying the landscapes at our park. No prior experience is required, and training is provided by park or partner staff during gardening sessions. 

Volunteer gardening generally takes place from April to November at predetermined times and locations. Click on the garden space panel below to learn about the unique details and schedules. 

Vanderbilt Mansion Formal Gardens

Schedule:

Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday (from April to November)
8:30 a.m. to 12 p.m.

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Garden Details:

The Formal Gardens of the Frederick W. Vanderbilt Estate, are a spectacular example of Gilded Age gardening in the United States at the turn of the 20^th Century. Italianate in style, the tiered garden includes annual display beds, perennial borders and a large, multi-level rose garden. The Vanderbilt Mansion gardens are maintained by national park partner, the Frederick W. Vanderbilt Garden Association. Other volunteer opportunities may also available from planning and organization to leading garden tours. For more information concerning the gardens and their affiliated association, please visit the following website: vanderbiltgarden.org/.

 

Interpretation / Visitor Services - Volunteer Opportunities

Volunteers within the interpretation and visitor service divisions work alongside NPS Park Rangers, Fee Technicians, and Guides to provide the visiting public with engaging experiences. These volunteers may tell the heritage stories of the park or orient visitors using current park guidelines. 

In this category the position often available at the Vanderbilt Mansion NHS is "Volunteer Tour Guide". Click the panel below to learn a little more about this volunteer role.

Volunteer Tour Guide

Volunteer tour guides bring the stories of the Vanderbilt family to life as they lead tours of the Hyde Park Vanderbilt Mansion for groups of 2-30 people. They must follow the same rules for safety and preservation as NPS employees and are required to undergo interpretive training prior to giving tours.

Trails & Rails Volunteer

To learn more about, the Trails & Rails program and which lines may be currently related to our sites, please use the following link: go.nps.gov/VIP_RailsRoutes.

To view current openings throughout the country within the Trails & Rails volunteer program, please use the following link: go.nps.gov/VIP_RailsOpenings.

 

Student - Volunteer Opportunities

The National Historic Sites of Hyde Park, NY are always searching for great ways to engage with youth and young adults. Any new options for students will appear below, and you may click the options to learn more.

Student Internships

Internships are seasonally opffered to college students or graduating seniors in high school. Credit for curriculum requirements at universities and colleges can be fulfilled by assisting in our Roosevelt-Vanderbilt NHS interpretation and education divisions. Be sure to check with your college advisor or instructor to understand your academic needs that we can match with our offerings. You may request a specific national historic site of interest. However, since the administration for the Roosevelt-Vanderbilt NHS is united, you may be tasked with assisting at more than one site. If you are an inquiring high school student, understand that there may be age limitations that restrict you from becoming an NPS intern.

Interns will most likely be expected to conduct tours for public visitors, implement educational programs for grade school visitors, and potentially craft new programs for future implementation. If this prospect sounds appealing to you, please contact the lead of our Education Division at "ROVA_Education @ nps.gov" or with the follwoing form: e-mail us

Youth Scout Organizations

In the past, our parks have worked with scout organizations on isolated, unique projects. Currently, there are no opportunities available under this category, but check back periodically for potential updates.

 

NPS/ C.S. Anderson III

 

Open Volunteer.gov Positions