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.

Aquatic Invasive Species Prevention Ambassadors

Registration closed for 2024

Passionate about helping visitors keep park waters pristine? Are you able to contribute 16 hours of volunteer time (primarily on weekends). Then please consider joining the team and applying for the aquatic invasive species (AIS) Ambassador program.

AIS prevention ambassadors collect data, chat with visitors about AIS and help our staff members prevent AIS from entering and spreading in park waters.

Training is approximately three hours and will cover AIS information and Parks Canada’s Quality Visitor Experience training.

   Connect with us for future opportunities

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: Two weekends prior to May long weekend through September (Labour Day) long weekend: May 16 to September 1, 2025

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 at the Belly River campground for volunteering.

Good to know: Campground hosts must have their own self-contained camping unit and commit to stay at least two weeks. Experienced hosts or applicants who are available for longer periods 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

Native plant garden

May through September

The native plant demonstration garden located in the Waterton community is a great introduction to native plants for visitors, the local community, and volunteers alike. This space is maintained by volunteers throughout the summer. Lend a hand with pruning, pulling weeds, labelling plants, spreading mulch, and other gardening duties.

Good to know: Previous gardening experience and knowledge of plants is helpful.

  Register for the Native Plant Garden

Trail stewards

May to September

Love hiking? We need dedicated boots on the ground to hike park trails and report back their conditions. This information helps the hardworking Parks Canada trail crew focus their work and informs visitors on current trail conditions.

Good to know: Orientation and training sessions are required.

  Register to become a trail steward

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

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