Volunteer
Job Description
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DATES: 4/25/2021 – 9/15/2021
North Cascades seeks energetic and friendly volunteers to serve as campground hosts for the 2021 summer season! Hosts will answer visitor questions about the area, assist with the campground reservation system in one or more campgrounds, and provide excellent customer service for visitors in our busiest season (May-Sept). RV sites w/ full hookups available for a minimum commitment of 32 volunteer hours per occupant each week.
Note about the 2021 summer season recruitment: applicants will be considered starting in early January through February (or until vacancies are filled). Applications received in November and December will be processed in the order they were received, but due to staff being out on furlough, applicants will not receive responses within the 10-day window.
The beautiful North Cascades National Park Service Complex consists of three park units: North Cascades National Park, Ross Lake National Recreation Area, and Lake Chelan National Recreation Area. Volunteers will work in Ross Lake National Recreation Area in one or more campgrounds along the North Cascades Scenic Highway. We are seeking energetic and friendly volunteers to serve as campground hosts for Newhalem Creek, Goodell Creek, and Colonial Creek Campgrounds for the 2020 summer season. Campground hosts work 32 hours per week over four days (including holidays and weekends when needed) with 3 consecutive days off each week. Volunteers are required to wear the National Park Service volunteer uniform at all times while on duty (shirts and hats provided). Host positions will begin in late April/early May with training and last through mid-September 2021 when the campgrounds close for the season. Preference will be given to applicants who are willing to commit to the full summer season.
- Update reservation placards for reserved campsites in one or more assigned campgrounds
- Update first-come, first-served registration tags in one or more assigned campgrounds
- Inform and educate campers on frequently asked questions about North Cascades National Park Service Complex, as well as park and camping regulations.
- Perform rounds in the campground twice a day (typically morning and late afternoon) by foot or by vehicle (electric vehicles in two of our largest campgrounds) to update reservation placards and site tags, check for fee and regulation compliance, and answer questions. Completing rounds by foot will require volunteers to walk 5-7 miles per day. A park vehicle will also be available for performing duties.
- Inform fee staff and/or maintenance of sanitation problems and maintenance issues.
- Report illegal or unsafe activities to Law Enforcement and/or fee staff using a park issued radio.
- Communicate with park staff via park radios.
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities required:
- Favorable federal background investigation for access to federal facilities
- Ability to work independently with minimal supervision, as well as in collaboration with a team of other hosts and campground staff to get the job done
- Ability to communicate orally
- Ability to deal with stressful situations
- Ability to tolerate a variety of weather and working conditions while working outdoors
- Must possess a valid state driver’s license
Optional/ Helpful:
- Ability to perform basic campground maintenance tasks or troubleshoot issues with restrooms, lighting, etc.
- Experience working with radio systems
- First aid/CPR training
- Backpacking/Camping
- Conservation Education
- Drivers License
- General Assistance
- Visitor Information
- Working with People
Campground descriptions:
Colonial Creek Campground
Colonial Creek campground is located off of Washington State Route 20 at milepost 130. Both the north and south campgrounds are situated in old growth forest on the shores of Diablo Lake. By summer 2021 all 140+ sites in both the north and south loops of the campground will be reservable via recreation.gov. There is a host site available in the north loop with hookups for electric (50 amp and 20 amp outlets—adaptor needed for 30 amp power), water and sewer. There is no cell reception, landline telephone, or internet access available at Colonial Creek.
Newhalem Creek Campground
Newhalem Creek Campground is located south of Washington State Route 20 at milepost 120, between the North Cascades Visitor Center and town of Newhalem. Located on the banks of the Skagit River, the campground has 111 individual sites and 2 group sites. The host site is located in Loop A at site 27 and includes the amenities of electric (50 amp, 20 amp outlets—adaptors needed for 30 amp power), water and sewer hookups. Cell phone reception is available through some cell providers.
Goodell Creek Campground
The main Goodell Creek Campground is located south of Washington State Route 20, while the group sites called Upper and Lower Goodell camps across SR 20 to the north. The main campground is situated in lush old growth forest on the banks of the Skagit River and contains 19 sites which will be listed on recreation.gov by next summer. There is no campground host site within this smaller campground and it is served by the hosts and campground staff assigned to Newhalem Creek Campground.
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There is small private campground for employees and volunteers in Newhalem, WA featuring a newly-constructed laundry and shower facility for volunteer use. Volunteers may opt to be residential (on-site) hosts in one of the two established campground host sites, or may prefer to park in this smaller campground and serve as alternate hosts which rotate through the various campgrounds to cover the days off of residential hosts. The small community of Newhalem, WA is located approximately 13 miles east of Marblemount, WA. Reliable cell coverage is available through Verizon, and coverage through other cell phone companies is variable.
There is a may be a general store in Newhalem with limited food options. The closest grocery store is located 35 miles away in Concrete, WA . The closest fuel and restaurants are located 15 miles away in Marblemount. Additional amenities are located in Sedro-Woolley and Burlington, approximately 60 miles from Newhalem.