To Jasper National Park’s Volunteers: thank you for the gift of you!
“Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. It’s not.” ~Dr. Seuss
While every day is the right day to appreciate our volunteers, Jasper National Park staff will seize National Volunteer Week (April 6–12) to express, in print, our official “thank you.”
Each and every volunteer makes a difference. Collectively, the numbers pack a punch: last year in Jasper National Park more than 300 volunteers offered more than 2,500 hours of their time—and those are the just the ones we know about!
Here are just some of the ways our volunteers made our park, and our community, a whole lot better over the past year:
Park Stewards conducted fish habitat surveys, campfire interpretive programs, cleared out the overgrown brush at Pocahontas Cemetery, and volunteered at special events including Parks Day celebrations.
Caribou Ambassadors volunteered as trail hosts delivering caribou conservation information at critical caribou habitat access nodes including the Maligne Valley and Mount Edith Cavell. They were also welcomed by the team at the Jasper Tramway to connect with visitors and answer questions around this important species at risk.
Several school groups donned gloves and picked up garbage around Athabasca Falls and in the Maligne Canyon area.
International students helped out at the Learn to Camp program.
Trained volunteers supported research and data collection for a deer study, and helped with snow observation.
Loni Klettl from the Jasper Trails Alliance shared her expertise with several Parks Canada volunteers during a training session.
Where would we be without our Friends?
Truly, it takes a village. In Jasper we have many vibrant groups offering volunteers great opportunities to give back. Our community partners offering outstanding volunteer programs include the formidable Friends of Jasper National Park, the Jasper Trail Alliance, the Jasper-Yellowhead Museum and Archives, Hosteling International and the Alpine Club of Canada. We look forward to another great year of supporting each other’s programs and ensuring our volunteers have enriching experiences.
Interested in volunteering with Jasper National Park this summer?
Join us as a:
- Park Steward: Enjoy short-term, flexible volunteer opportunities. There’s no minimum commitment, just say “yes” to the projects you are available for and help out once or as many times as you can throughout the summer. Park Stewards help with trail condition reporting, litter pickups, research and much more. A training session is planned for June.
- Caribou Ambassador: Trail ambassadors or trailhead hosts share information about caribou conservation. This task requires good communication skills and the ability to work independently. Trail ambassadors need a reasonable level of fitness, experience in hiking in alpine terrain, and may be required to have basic wilderness first aid certification. Required from June through September, scheduling is flexible but we are looking for a commitment of at least four shifts. A training session is planned for Wednesday, June 11, from 5–8 p.m.
- Group Volunteer: specialized sessions (such as weed pulls, special event help, trails maintenance or litter pickups) can be arranged for school groups, youth groups, service clubs, etc.
For more information, e-mail us at [email protected].
Happy Volunteering, and thanks from Parks Canada!
Parks Canada
Special to the Fitzhugh
