Ongoing volunteer opportunities

Volunteer with us when you have time, at your own pace. Parks Canada staff gives you training and will lend a helping hand when necessary. This is an amazing way to give back to the park!

Some of these programs are also available by request for families or groups.

For more information or to register as a volunteer for any project, phone 403-859-5167 or email wlnp-volunteer@pc.gc.ca, indicating the name of the project.

For registered volunteers, park entry is free on the days of your volunteer activities. You are responsible for your own travel, meals, and accommodations while volunteering at Waterton Lakes National Park.

Check out our scheduled volunteer events for more ways to get involved.

Adopt-a-patch

May through October

Help us manage invasive plants along your adopted trail on the Prince of Wales hill. Support the Parks Canada restoration crew by weeding out invasive plant species. Your efforts keep ecosystems healthy and wildflowers blooming. Support the many species that depend on wildflowers, including the endangered half-moon hairstreak butterfly.

   Register for adopt-a-patch

Busy beaver clean-up crew

May through September

Help keep the park clean and wildlife safe by picking up litter at trailheads, along roadsides and in the townsite. Volunteer on your own schedule or sign your family and friends up for a fun group activity!

  Register for the busy beaver cleanup crew

Campground hosts

 

Belly River Campground: May long weekend through September (Labour Day) long weekend

Are you friendly, outgoing and like helping others? Love camping? Have two (or more) weeks to spare? Consider volunteering as a campground host at Belly River Campground.

Campground hosts greet visitors and give them important information about Parks Canada and Waterton Lakes National Park. You help visitors know the ins and outs of the park to have the best experience possible and coordinate with Parks Canada staff for support as necessary.

Campground hosts are provided with a campsite.

Good to know: Campground hosts must have their own self-contained camping unit and commit to stay at least two weeks, including weekends. Belly River Campground campsites can accommodate camping units under 9 metres (32 feet) in length. There are no electric, water or sewer hookups in the campground. Experienced hosts may be given first choice of dates.

  Register to be a campground host

Group volunteer projects

May to September

Bring your office pals, extended family or youth group. Join Parks Canada staff for a scheduled half-day activity. Get involved in shoreline cleanups, planting of native grasses and flower species or controlling invasive weeds, or something specially designed for your group.

This experience makes for a great educational (and fun) day in the park for groups of all ages.

  Contact us to arrange a time and activity that suits your group

Tree transplanting

May and June

Get a group together and plant trees! Lodgepole pines have regrown following the 2017 Kenow wildfire. Some trees are encroaching on trails and need to be moved. Help us dig up, transport, and replant the pines throughout the park. Prepare for a half-day outside. Some hiking and physical labour is involved.

Good to know: This project is available by request during weekdays and is great for school groups.

  Register to transplant trees

Visitor Centre interpretive grounds

May through September

Help care for the native plants around the Visitor Centre! Keep the area clean by picking up litter, and care for the plants as needed. You can help with pruning, pulling weeds, and other tasks during the summer.

Good to know: It’s great if you have some gardening experience or know about plants, but it’s not required.

  Register to help care for native plants

iNaturalist

Anytime, using smartphone app

 

Become a self-guided citizen scientist for Waterton Lakes National Park!

Using the free mobile app, report any species (big or small) you see and their location. Don't forget to snap a picture! Discover what others are finding or use iNaturalist to ID a species. The data collected helps scientists better understand and protect environments – not only in Waterton Lakes National Park, but worldwide!

Discover more projects throughout Canada at iNaturalist.ca.

Good to know: Once downloaded, this app does not need cellular data or a Wi-Fi connection.

Visit the iNaturalist page for Waterton Lakes National Park