This topic has been interesting. I can only add that, as a full timer, and after five years of serving as a uniformed, paid NPS Park Ranger at five differnt national parks, I have yet to meet a volunteer who objected to the 32 hour rule.
Volunteering in a national Park is way, way different than work camping. The volunteers I work with now here at Yellowstone, get to live here, in the first national park in the world, free, for three months!
Work? Our volunteers here at Canyon rove and meet and greet visitors, work the visitor center desk and help folks find there way around the park. They also get to work bear and bison "jams" (lots of folks who slow down or stop in the middle of the road to take pictures of wildlife). so0me even do parograms. One of our volunteers is also a full timer, spending three month at a park, takes a month off, and then goes to another park for three months,another month off, and so on.
I will be here until 10/1 when we will then meander south for six weeks and end up at Everglades NP for my fourth season there. Five months later, I will be heading back here to Yellowstone.
I you need the bucks, don't do it. but if you want a truly rewarding time, NPS volunteers have great experience.
Kayo and DW Dale
2004 Damon Challenger 348 Workhorse w/8.1 Vortec) DW of 45 years Fulltimers, serving as a Park Ranger (Interp) for the NPS at Yellowstone NP and Evergldes NP.
What a hoot!
What I do not understand is the way that those who are not willing to do much of anything without compensation, feel the need to attack those of us who happily volunteer? Don't you realize that much of what you enjoy in our state and national parks would not be there for you if it were not for those of us who volunteer? And is it really so hard to understand that some of us value some things far more than money?
I have learned in my life that one usually gets from life pretty much according to what he contributes. We are enjoying every minute of our time! And one day we will face our maker, knowing that the world is better because we spent time here! For some of us that is enough.
kirk wrote: What I do not understand is the way that those who are not willing to do much of anything without compensation, feel the need to attack those of us who happily volunteer?
I had to go back to read the posts again. Did not see where anyone was attacking anyone. Well actually, not until your above post 'those who are not willing to do much of anything without compensation'. Everyone has the freedom to choose.
Quote: I had to go back to read the posts again. Did not see where anyone was attacking anyone.
Moderator note: this thread has been cleaned up, and you don't see the discussion he was referring to....
DianneOK, moderator
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sandy01 wrote: Don't do it. You will be trained as a retail clerk and provide free labor to the book store. No interpretation training or duties are offered.
Are you referring to all NPS volunteer opportunities or just PFNP? Is this from personal experience or did you hear it from your brother's kid's girlfriend who had an uncle who worked with a guy who heard it from his neighbor? Don't be a drive-by poster, tell us what you know and how you learned it. Thanks.
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I had to go back to read the posts again. Did not see where anyone was attacking anyone. Well actually, not until your above post 'those who are not willing to do much of anything without compensation'. Everyone has the freedom to choose.
