Wanted: People who like to meet new people, spend time in Montana's natural beauty and its cultural significance and learn about Montana state parks and how to protect them.
If this sounds like a great way to spend your time, you might want to consider volunteering for Montana State Parks.
According to last year's volunteer service report, park volunteers collectively spent more than 33,000 hours at state parks and fishing access sites. Campground hosts claimed most of those hours, and the majority of those hours were in parks in northwest Montana. Ground maintenance crews and visitor center attendants provided the second and third highest volunteer hours.
"Year after year, dedicated volunteers quietly return to Montana's state parks, and their steady presence is what turns beautiful places into welcoming sites for residents and visitors alike," said Beth Shumate, assistant division administrator for FWP's Parks and Outdoor Recreation division.
According to Duane Schlabach, FWP's AmeriCorps/volunteer/interpretation services program manager, there is often a waiting list for campground hosts in the most popular sites, including Flathead State Park and Whitefish Lake State Park.
But while campground host positions are the most popular in northwest Montana, other regions are reporting that volunteerism has been trending downward while visitor numbers are trending upward. Volunteers are always needed for visitor center attendants, park naturalists and people interested in special events and projects, according to Schlabach.
"We're always looking for ways to encourage people to volunteer," he said.
In addition to the volunteer page on FWP's website, postings are also featured on job boards such as KamperJobs and WorKamper. Folks can also check in with their FWP regional office for opportunities.
To encourage volunteerism, Schlabach offers this quote from Margaret Meade: "Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has."