FY26 Carpenter (Living History Interpreter)

Volunteers serving in this position help support public programming at the Carpenter Shop in the reconstructed Hudson’s Bay Company (HBC) fort. These volunteers tell the story of the shop, the HBC’s personnel, and the important role these individuals played in the expansion of Euro-American industry in the Pacific Northwest, as well as in related industries such as coopage and wheelwrighting. All volunteers are expected to become familiar with relevant historical information and to develop effective and educational presentations for the visiting public. Telling the story of the Carpenter Shop to the visitor is the number one priority for our volunteers. Carpentry skills are secondary to this primary purpose and are used to enhance the story being told.

The primary goal of a carpentry volunteer’s work is to help visitors understand the people and function of the fort's shop, its connection to the Hudson's Bay Company's Fort Vancouver, and the role the shop played within the greater Columbia Department of the Hudson’s Bay Company. A secondary role of the Shop is to provide period-correct woodwork for the fort on an as-needed basis. Work is performed under the direction and supervision of NPS staff.

Fort Vancouver NHS is only open Tuesday through Saturday. Volunteers serving in this position must be available for at least 3 hours per week.