Volunteer Categories

SERVICE POSITION CATEGORIES

Campground Host Volunteers’ primary responsibility is to assist park visitors. This includes greeting visitors, helping them get settled, answering questions, receiving comments, communicating park rules and regulations and possibly collecting fees. Campground Hosts are also expected to be observant for activities within the park that require immediate attention by staff and/or outside emergency support. Hosts provide their own lodging (tent, camper, trailer, motorhome) and are provided a free campsite, most often with utility hook ups. The Park Manager or his/her designee will approve specific duty hours and assignments. The Park Manager or his/her designee will approve any change in duty schedules.

B. Visitor Services

Visitor Services volunteers will assist parks in a variety of clerical and administrative functions. These could include typing, filing, gift shop support (inventory control and customer assistance), entry station support (fee collection, disseminating information to visitors), answering the phone, research, and other administrative duties as designated by the Park Manager or his/her designee.

C. Maintenance Services

Maintenance Services volunteers will assist parks with general maintenance and small construction projects. Examples include trail work, painting, plumbing, weeding, planting, or other projects as designated by the Park Manager or his/her designee. Volunteers will not be required to perform any extensive maintenance or repairs, especially to equipment and vehicles.

D. Interpretive Services

Interpretive Services volunteers support an array of educational and recreational programming. These could include development and presentation of environmental programs (interpretive hikes, school presentations, etc.) historic programs (guided tours of historic houses, brown bag lunch presentations, etc.) and recreational programs (campfire talks, special demonstrations, etc.).

E. Museum and Historic Preservation Services

Volunteers in this category assist with collection research and management, curation, exhibit development and installation and other appropriate projects as designated by the Park Manager, his/her designee and/or the Arizona State Park Curator.

F. Special Projects

Special project volunteers account for individuals or groups that assist the parks in accomplishing a specific one-time project or a short-term ongoing project. These projects may include, but are not limited to: Creating interpretive displays, research, gardening, clean-up projects and trail work. Scout groups, service learning and non-paid internships typically fall into this category.

G. Site Stewards

Site Steward volunteers are involved in the monitoring of archaeological and cultural resource sites. Specific training and orientation is required. The Site Steward Program is administered by the State Historic Preservation Office, the Archaeology Advisory Commission, and various federal, state, county and municipal land agencies. All questions concerning the Site Steward Program, training, application, recognition, etc., should be directed to the Resource Protection Specialist at the State Historic Preservation Office, (602 542-7143).

H. Volunteer Friends Groups

Several Parks now have supporting “Friends” groups. These volunteers assist parks with fundraising, marketing and special projects. Please contact the Services and Programs Coordinator (602-542-7152) for further information regarding membership.

Campground Host

Purpose of Host:

To provide service to Arizona State Parks visitors and encourage compliance of park rules and regulations.

Location:

See a listing of volunteer locations.

Pertinent Information and Qualifications:

Host must provide own camping equipment. Some parks do not have full hookups, so self-contained equipment is advisable. Camping experience is desirable. CB radio is optional.
Host will be provided space for no more than one RV, one car/truck and two bicycles (motorized is fine).
Host must volunteer for a minimum of four (4) weeks. Host must be at least 21 years of age.
Excess Liability & Medical Insurance will be provided to a host during his/her service with Arizona State Parks.

Duties and Responsibilities:

Be a representative of Arizona State Parks. Be knowledgeable of park rules and regulations and the reasoning behind them and set a good example to park visitors by complying with such rules and regulations.
Be informed about the park setting and local points of interest.
Greet visitors, help them get settled, answer questions, receive comments, and pass out publications.
Be observant for activities within the campground that require immediate attention by Park staff and contact help when emergencies occur. (Host will take no law enforcement measures. Any violations will be reported to the Park Personnel responsible for the campground.)
Replenish restroom supplies when park staff are not present.
Promote care of park by keeping a clean campsite and performing minor maintenance such as picking up litter, etc. (Host is not required to perform major maintenance repairs.)

Working Conditions:

Host is expected to be on duty during the weekend and holidays. Individual hours will be worked out with the Park Manager.
Requires being on duty outdoors during all kinds of weather.
There is no salary compensation: the Campground Host Program is a volunteer service program. A campsite is provided free by Arizona State Parks.

All Service areas:

Purpose

To provide support to park staff and extend services to visitors in a variety of areas.

Location:

See a listing of volunteer locations.

Pertinent Information and Qualifications:

Volunteers are asked to commit to at least one year of service, approximately 100 hours annually.
Excess Liability & Medical Insurance will be provided.
Volunteers must attend required training.

Duties and Responsibilities:

Different requirements apply for each category. More information is available by contacting the Volunteer Coordinator at (602) 542-7152.

Working Conditions:

Individual working hours will be coordinated with the Park Manager.
There is no salary compensation: the Interpretive Host Program is a volunteer service program.

Site Steward Program

Purpose of Site Steward:

To monitor the condition of selected archaeological sites and areas in Arizona.

Background:

Arizona has a rich heritage reflected in the numerous prehistoric and historic archaeological resources that make our state a unique place in which to live and a fascinating attraction for visitors. However, the remains of our cultural heritage are continually threatened by artificat hunters and vandals who illegally destroy or take for their own personal profit these irreplaceable resources that belong to all Americans.
Recognizing the value of our own dwindling cultural resources and wishing to take a positive approach to this increasing problem, in 1986 the Arizona Archaeology Advisory Commission began to explore the feasibility of a volunteer "archaeological site steward" program to assist in evaluating and alleviating this problem.

Who administers the program?

It is administered through the Archaeology Advisory Commission and the State Historic Preservation Officer (SHPO) in coordination with state and federal land managing agencies. Volunteer stewards throughout Arizona are managed by Regional Coordinators whose activities are monitored by the State Program Coordinator.

If you would like more information on becoming a Site Steward, you can view information from the State Historic Preservation Office or contact the State Program Coordinator at (602)542-7143.