Residential Visitor Service Representative 2026-27

This opportunity is open to applicants through Saturday, 11/21. Qualified applicants can expect to be contacted for interviews the week of 11/29.

Joshua Tree National Park's interpretation team is recruiting Residential Visitor Service Representatives to help at our busy visitor centers during our spring season, through May.

This volunteer position will most often work at Joshua Tree Visitor Center in the town of Joshua Tree, CA and Black Rock Nature Center in the town of Yucca Valley. Volunteers will work alongside park staff, partner staff, and other volunteers to serve the thousands of visitors that visit the park each day, ensuring that their visits are safe and enjoyable. Training and supervision will be provided by park staff. 

Responsibilities include:

• Provide friendly assistance and accurate information to visitors at the park visitor center in Joshua Tree and Yucca Valley and, occasionally, in Twentynine Palms
• Support NPS and partner staff in general site operations
• Provide map orientation, hiking information, park literature, safety information, and information on natural and cultural resources
• Operate gift shop cash register for sales (not federal money)
• Stock publications and clean exhibits
• Collect visitation data like visitor contacts
• Answer phone calls from the public
• Occasionally provide visitor information outside, weather permitting
• Follow standard procedures for opening visitor centers, closing visitor centers, and providing visitor information
• Some volunteers may also serve as docents, providing interpretive programs at the visitor centers or in the park
• This is a uniformed position - must wear NPS volunteer uniform

Schedule:

• Volunteers must commit to at least 1 month of service December through May
• Workdays will generally be Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday
• Shift will generally be 8:30 am - 5 pm, but start and end times may be flexible
• Volunteers are expected to serve on holidays that fall on their scheduled shifts
• Volunteers must serve at least 32 hours per week

Lodging:

• Volunteers will live on-site at a trailer pad at Black Rock Campground (BRCG), walking distance from the Nature Center and 9 miles from Joshua Tree Visitor Center
• Volunteer site has 30-amp hookups, water hookups, and can accommodate a max camper length of 29 feet
• BRCG is surrounded by Joshua trees and 5 miles from downtown Yucca Valley
• BRCG has an information center and bookstore, potable water, flush toilets, and a dump station

Requirements to apply:

• Must be at least 18 years old
• Couples are welcome to apply, but must apply separately
• Must enjoy working with and talking to people
• Must have at least 6 months experience in customer service
• Must have reliable personal transportation
• Must provide camper for use at park-provided trailer pad
• Must provide own propane
• Must use dump station located at campground - pumping will not be provided

Be part of an unforgettable park experiences for our visitors! 🌞