NPS International Volunteers in Parks Program

Every year, more than one hundred individuals from all over the world volunteer in America's National Parks. The International Volunteers-in-Parks Program (IVIP) benefits both the individual volunteer and the National Park Service (NPS): the volunteer receives training in park management, wildlife research, environmental education, etc., and the National Park Service gains a fresh perspective on park management in addition to assistance with carrying out the Service's mission.

If you are a college or university student from another country, work for another country's park agency, or have a background in environmental or cultural related fields, and might be interested in volunteering for the U.S. National Park Service - we want to hear from you!

NPS welcomes all who apply to the IVIP program; however, we may only select those who meet visa and immigration requirements. Additionally, national parks’capacity to train and house international volunteers, limits the number of IVIP programs. Thus, NPS selects candidates who have the educational and professional backgrounds to benefit from the training and who have the best the potential to share it with colleagues and scholars when they return to their home countries.

From wetlands research in Everglades National Park, to GIS studies in Sequoia/Kings Canyon, to Peregrine Falcon studies within Dinosaur National Monument, NPS International Volunteers participate in wide range of learning experiences. Volunteers not only get the chance to get their hands dirty, they live and work in America's national treasures!

The International Volunteers in Parks Program is not only about learning new skills and making new friends, it's about sharing your passion to help us protect the natural and cultural resources of US National Parks.

Stories from the field - Read what former NPS International Volunteers had to say about their experiences...

IVIP Eefje Smit, Netherlands - Yellowstone National Park

"The road is quiet at this hour in the morning, all the tourists are asleep or gone. It’s just us and the bison, covered in a thin layer of frost, alongside the road. Suddenly, the road is invisible and we are surrounded by clouds and fog. A stench of rotten eggs fills the air in the car. It's an ordinary morning at work in Yellowstone National Park." To read more about Eefje's experiences, click here.

IVIP Peggy Donnelly, Canada - Glacier National Park

"As a Canadian archaeologist, the NPS Exchange Visitor Program allowed me to work on the American side of the Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park. Prehistoric peoples did not recognize an international boundary; therefore the clues that they left behind span both sides of the border." To read the rest of Peggy's report, click here.

IVIP who volunteered in Zion National Park

IVIP David Schobesberger, Austria - Zion National Park

"The work in the beautiful Zion National Park was really convenient. The park and its scenery were absolutely great. The local NPS employees were very friendly and helpful and they equipped me with everything I needed." To read more, click here.

IVIP Verena Klenske, Germany - Hawaii Volcanoes National Park

"It was awesome to follow the Hawaiian Goose through the whole year...I trapped predators to save the goslings before they were eaten by mongooses, feral cats or pigs." To read her whole report, click here.

A Korean park official who volunteered for the NPS

IVIP Kim Tae Woo, Korea - Petrified Forest & Mount Rushmore National Parks

Korean Park Ranger Kim Tae Woo participated in two consecutive IVIP programs with the US National Park Service. With a background in planning and architecture, he assisted Petrified Forest and Mount Rushmore National Parks with several on-going projects. Ranger Tae Woo put together a nice video slide presentation on his program.

To hear Kim Tae Woo's Video Slide Show, set to music, click here. Your default media player should open automatically.

(Note: This is a very large file and may take quite some time to download.)

IVIP Naomi Kibe, Japan - Everglades National Park

"I worked as a volunteer for various types of projects, such as a shark survey, manatee survey, fish survey, weeding exotic plants to protect native ones, Christmas bird counts, visitor survey, and so on. I also worked on Fire Management and also Environmental Education in Everglades National Park, a vast wetland in South Florida."
Naomi's achievements in the Everglades can be found here.

To create your own special story as an NPS International Volunteer in the Parks, contact Linda Bennett at 202-354-1806 or Linda_Bennett@nps.gov . The secondary contact is David Krewson at (202) 354-1807 or David_Krewson@nps.gov.

If you are interested in applying for a position, look over how the Application Process works. For additional information, you may also want to review the Questions and Answers section.