MISSOULA, Mont. — Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks is encouraging people who enjoy meeting new people and spending time outdoors to consider volunteering at state parks and fishing access sites across Montana.
FWP says park volunteers logged more than 33,000 hours last year, according to the agency’s annual volunteer service report. Campground hosts accounted for most of those hours, with the majority spent in parks across northwest Montana. Ground maintenance crews and visitor center attendants ranked second and third for 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, in a press release.
FWP officials say campground host positions are especially popular. Duane Schlabach, FWP’s AmeriCorps, volunteer and interpretation services program manager, says some high-traffic parks, including Flathead State Park and Whitefish Lake State Park, often have waiting lists for those roles.
However, Schlabach says other regions are seeing volunteer numbers decline while visitor use continues to increase. FWP says volunteers are still needed for visitor center attendants, park naturalists, and people interested in helping with special events and projects.
“We’re always looking for ways to encourage people to volunteer,” Schlabach said in a press release.
Volunteer opportunities are listed on FWP’s website, as well as on job boards such as KamperJobs and WorKamper. Interested individuals can also contact their local FWP regional office.
To encourage volunteerism, Schlabach shared a 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.”
