Submitted by the Washington State Parks

The Washington State Parks Volunteer Program has exciting opportunities in 2020 for people who want to give back to state parks. The program is looking for volunteers to provide their time and talent in a variety of ways.

“Washington State Parks is fortunate to have a great team of dedicated and enthusiastic volunteers,” said Cindy Jorgensen, manager of the agency’s volunteer program. “We are always looking for people of all ages who love their parks, enjoy the outdoors and want to give back.”

Volunteer opportunities come in many forms, depending on a person’s skill level, time commitment and interest. Some examples include: camp hosting; maintaining trails, campgrounds and park landscaping; assisting with interpretive programs; restoring habitat; minor repair work; performing office duties; and organizing and assisting with events.

The program is looking for individual volunteers and groups such as schools, service organizations and corporations ready to give time to the parks, and receive the benefits of volunteering.

In addition to making a difference for Washington’s state parks, volunteers report they get a lot from their experience, including meeting new people, learning new skills and enjoying being in the outdoors. Hours spent volunteering on qualifying projects can also earn volunteers a complimentary Discover Pass.

State Park camp hosts and marine hosts must provide their own recreational vehicle or boat. Camp and marine hosts receive free camping or moorage with hookups in exchange for performing hosting duties. A list of camp host openings is available online.

Volunteers come to state parks in many ways. Some contact a park directly with ideas for projects they’d like to work on. Others join a state park friends group and find out about projects as a member. Many schools have service projects, and often students volunteer in parks to complete their volunteer community-service hours for graduation. Volunteer projects are often posted on the State Parks event calendar.

In early 2020, staff from the Volunteer Program will be at the Inland Northwest RV Show Jan. 23–26, at the Spokane Fairgrounds and the Seattle RV Show Feb. 6-9, at Century Link Field Event Center. Those interested in volunteer opportunities can learn more at these events.

For more information about volunteering at Washington state parks, visit our Volunteer Program webpage or contact the Volunteer Program Office, 360-902-8583 or parks.volunteer@parks.wa.gov.