Volunteer

Lewis and Clark Garden Corps

Thursdays May 15 through August 21, 2025, 1pm to 4pm

Do you enjoy spending time outdoors? Do you have gardening experience or an interest in learning more about gardening and local native plants? Come join Lewis and Clark National Historical Park's new Volunteer Garden Corps!

Garden Corps members will work closely with park staff to support and maintain the park’s native demonstration gardens and landscaped areas including the ethnobotanical garden, raingarden, pollinator patch, and other areas of high visitor use. These duties include regularly weeding undesirable species, pruning and trimming plant material, watering, chipping garden paths, collecting seed, and assisting with planting native plants. No prior experience is necessary to participate; our staff will provide training and guidance on all aspects of the position as well as personal protective equipment and necessary tools.

Some aspects of the position will utilize integrated pest management principles which include manual, mechanical and chemical removal of invasive plant species. This may include the use of unrestricted herbicides, and mechanical tools. This work may also include use of kayaks to access aquatic plants.

Sessions are planned for every Thursday from 1:00pm - 4:00pm PST starting May 15th. Volunteers DO NOT need to attend every session to participate in the Garden Corps!

Want to join the Garden Corps? Contact us by email or call 503-861-4424

Lewis and Clark National Historical Park's Volunteers in Parks

Fort Clatsop has an outstanding team of Volunteers in Parks (VIPs). These VIPs assist the park with a wide variety of tasks. These include greeting and orienting visitors, fee collection, custodial work, conducting foot and kayak tours, invasive plant control, answering visitors’ questions, sewing living history clothing, data entry, leading hikes, native plant garden work, answering phones, designing curriculum, library and inventory projects, archive/collections work, conducting living history and education programs, and special events (e.g. monthly 3^rd Sunday speaker series, spring and fall elk pellet surveys, summer Newfoundland dog event, and fun runs.)

Volunteers may be fingerprinted and undergo background checks.

Volunteers are encouraged to participate in park training. This includes the annual staff training in June as well as monthly staff safety meetings.

Reservations for a nearby campground can sometimes be arranged for VIPs with distant homes who are scheduled to work a minimum of three days per week for at least one month as Visitor Information or Custodial Associates.

Mission Statement

The mission of the Volunteers in Parks program of Lewis and Clark National Historical Park is to provide individuals opportunities to commemorate, preserve, and communicate the stories associated with the Corps of Discovery and its winter near the mouth of the Columbia River. Volunteers are important team members of the park staff and are encouraged to participate in all trainings, meetings, special events, etc. that are available to staff. This program will affirm their ownership and stewardship of this park and the entire National Park Service and will honor their specific contributions.

Earn your America the Beautiful Volunteer Pass

Interested In Applying?