Park and Sanctuary Guide

Join the Channel Islands Naturalist Corps and help people make personal connections to the Channel Islands National Park and National Marine Sanctuary. Naturalist Corps members volunteer on wildlife cruises, lead day hikes, staff community events, and occasionally stay overnight on park islands to provide emergency assistance. Activities take place in Ventura and Santa Barbara Counties.

As volunteers, they engage people in informal conversations, short activities, or formal interpretive programs. They provide orientation and information about the park, sanctuary, and partner organizations. They also collect and record data on visitor contacts and wildlife observations. When volunteering on park islands, Naturalist Corps members help keep public facilities neat and stocked with interpretive materials. Overnight volunteers orient campers and conduct basic maintenance, including cleaning and stocking vault toilets. In emergencies, volunteers serve as a point of contact for visitors, relaying critical information by radio and providing assistance.

Naturalist Corps members receive intensive training. A new cohort of 35 members is admitted every 2–3 years. Each cohort meets eight times over two months to learn about natural and cultural resources, best practices for engaging the public, and program logistics. New cohort members then shadow experienced volunteers for the specific types of activities they would like to lead. Once new cohort members are ready, they are evaluated and approved to sign up for individual shifts.

Fully trained Naturalist Corps volunteers are expected to sign up for shifts that total 120 hours/year for at least two years. Shifts depend on boat schedules: 4–10 hours for wildlife cruises and day hikes, 2–8 hours for community events, and 2–5 days for overnight trips.

Qualifications include:

• Ability to learn facts about the park and sanctuary —with coaching—skill in choosing what information to share and how to share it effectively with park and sanctuary visitors;  
• Skill in using existing printed material, exhibits, and audiovisual presentations to provide orientation, information, and interpretation;  
• Ability to follow written standard operating procedures;  
• Skill in deciding which procedure to follow or whether supplemental assistance from staff is needed;  
• Ability to conform to standards of professional behavior including dress, punctuality, and interpersonal relationships.  
• Experience communicating effectively with a variety of personnel; 
• Ability to work cooperatively in cross-functional teams; and 
• Ability to be calm and courteous during occasional hectic and emergency situations.

When you click "apply now" we will email you instructions for applying to join a cohort that begins training in early January 2027. The application period is October 16 to November 30, 2026. Applications will be reviewed and final selections made by mid-December 2026.