Volunteer

With limited funding and staff capacity, Bay Area national parks struggle to maintain and protect the numerous sites under their care, while also providing for visitor safety and offering enriching educational and interpretive opportunities. Volunteers play a vital role by offering additional helping hands and new ideas, while learning new skills, gaining knowledge about park resources, and contributing to the preservation of these special places. Please see the links below to learn how you can help!

 General NPS Volunteer Opportunities

The Student Conservation Association provides college and high school-aged students with hands-on conservation service opportunities in a broad range of fields

The Volunteers in Parks website lets you search for volunteer opportunities by park or state

Youth Volunteer Programs include interships and jobs for people under 18 years of age

Eugene O’Neill National Historic Site

General volunteer opportunities in interpretation/education and maintenance

Golden Gate National Recreation Area

The Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy and Golden Gate National Recreation Area have numerous individual, group, drop-in and special events volunteering opportunites all across the park.

The Golden Gate Raptor Observatory recruits volunteers to be Hawkwatchers, banders, and radiotelemetrists

Marine Mammal Center volunteers help rescue and rehabilitate sick and injured marine mammals and educate the public about the conservation of marine mammals and their ocean environment

Point Bonita YMCA volunteer positions include outdoor education and marketing and communications roles

Presidio Trust volunteers assist with docent duties, archaeology, gardening, plant nurseries, restoration, and trails

Weed Watchers patrol the roads and trails of the national parks in San Mateo, San Francisco, and Marin counties, finding and mapping weeds as they first invade

Pinnacles National Park

General volunteer opportunities include habitat restoration projects, condor monitoring, nature center assistant, artist residencies, and more

Point Reyes National Seashore

General volunteer opportunities include coho salmon and harbor seal monitoring, field work, and docent and visitor services positions

Point Reyes National Seashore Association volunteers contribute to sales, visitor services, field seminars, facility maintenance, administrative and membership support, and special events

PRBO Conservation Science offers indoor and outdoor volunteer opportunities