Wanted: Volunteer to spend the winter in Yosemite National Park manning an interpretive position in the Valley Visitor Center.

Responsibilities: 40-hour week; provide the public with up-to-date, accurate park information in a calm, patient and polite manner; research, prepare and present interpretive walks for various audiences.

Benefits: No pay, maybe a vehicle, a dorm room in the historic Yosemite Valley Rangers Club, no background check.

The above job listing was posted on the volunteer.gov job site. It seeks a volunteer to fill the job beginning November 3 through April 10, 2026. What wasn't clear was whether the loss of rangers to the government shutdown prompted Yosemite National Park officials to seek volunteers to fill the position.

It drew derision from some who hang out on the Reddit page for park rangers.

"Recently retired chief ranger here. Volunteering is very noble, but you are working 40 hour weeks in a position that should be filled with an interpretation ranger," wrote one. "On a personal level, unless you have some independent income, I’m not sure how you survive. You have expenses such as food, vehicle costs and insurance, medical, etc."

Added another: "Essentially, this is covering for what would otherwise be paid positions. Or theoretical positions. I think the goal is eventually to eliminate visitor center ranger positions beyond the absolute bare minimum needed to supervise volunteers."

"But hey, you could live in Yosemite Valley!! And not get paid for the privilege of seeing those sunsets! And not get paid to deal with literally hundreds of thousands of park visitors," added another, sarcastically.

"It’s outrageous to expect 40hrs a week for a volunteer position," another chimed in. "Max should be 32 hours a week to cover housing. For a creditable internship with housing AND a stipend paid, yeah maybe for the experience. But this feels like an abuse of the volunteer program. It should never be used to replace a paid position’s work, which this sure sounds like."

But one on Reddit said the position could be a good stepping stone to a full-time position.

"I did this for Theodore Roosevelt National Park. I think it’s definitely worth it for the experience, but not for the pay," they wrote. "I was essentially one of the interp rangers on staff all summer doing programs and visitor center shifts. Housing was covered for us so that helped with saving some money. It was overall a great experience and I learned a lot about working for NPS in general.

"The pay is shit, but if you were looking for a job that pays well, you’re in the wrong place," they added.

While other parks also are seeking volunteers to spend months handling jobs that many might consider full-time jobs that provide paychecks, there always are dozens of volunteer positions offered across the National Park System that draw many applicants.

At Biscayne National Park in Florida, officials were seeking a volunteer to interact with RV visitors, though candidates should be jacks of all trades.

"We're seeking dedicated individuals with a passion for public engagement and marine conservation, eager to work in a dynamic environment covering a wide range of National Park Service topics," the job posting said. "The majority of your time will be spent with the Division of Interpretation, where you'll greet visitors at the front desk, lead engaging programs, and support Environmental Education initiatives. You may also assist other park divisions such as Maintenance, Resource Management, or Administration, depending on your skills and the park's needs."

Fort Raleigh National Historic Site in Virginia was looking for a volunteer to handle interpretive duties beginning in March and running through June, though that might be a common volunteer position many parks normally rely on. There are dozens of those volunteer opportunities that might involve landscape work, campground hosts, maintaining orchards, leading snowshoe hikes, even blacksmithing in living history events and maintaining the locomotives at Golden Spike National Historical Park in Utah.

The National Park Service isn't alone in seeking volunteers to fill full-time positions. The U.S. Forest Service recently advertised for a volunteer backcountry ranger in Utah. But you have to love solitude and be self-sufficient.

"The position is located on the Ashley National Forest with a duty station in Duchesne, UT. Individuals will typically work alone or with one other Wilderness Ranger backpacking for up to 8 consecutive days in the backcountry completing a variety of tasks while being completely self-reliant," the notice said. "This position may also include duties as a trailhead host, with duties including visitor orientation, answering questions, and explaining rules and regulations of recreation use of the High Uintas Wilderness. The Forest Service may be able to provide housing on days off, some camping equipment, training, uniform and reimbursement for subsistence."