2026 (PSAR) Preventative Search and Rescue Volunteer

Preventative Search and Rescue (PSAR) volunteers serve on the frontline, assisting visitors and staff, offering safety information and advice to the public, and helping visitors recreate safely while visiting the park. PSAR volunteers will be given radios and stationed at popular locations and trailheads, such as at waterfalls, river access points, or Mount Tammany. At these locations, PSAR volunteers can be expected to set up a tent and/or a table and educate visitors on how to safely recreate in the park. Items like maps, brochures, or other printed materials may be distributed by the volunteer. Topics may include information about the weather, best times to hike, ensuring visitors understand the difficulty level of a hike, ensuring visitors are wearing proper footwear/clothing, proper eating/drinking habits for hiking, heat illness and its symptoms, resource protection and interpretation, Leave No Trace messaging, and/or performing life jacket fittings at river access points. 

PSAR volunteers should expect to be on their feet, walking around outside, on uneven terrain, and exposed to the elements for most, if not all, of their day. Additionally, PSAR volunteers should be prepared to model good health safety protocols for the public. PSAR volunteers are expected to speak with visitors in a respectful and unbiased manner and by politely facilitating brief interactions. Volunteers may handle difficult questions or complaints or may encounter medical emergencies. In the case of emergencies, PSAR volunteers should immediately alert Law Enforcement. Volunteers will record the number of visitor contacts.

PSAR volunteers will operate from Memorial Day weekend through the fall. Volunteers will be asked to work in shifts on weekends. Shifts may be divided into two periods: a morning shift to catch visitors before they begin hikes/river excursions, and an afternoon shift.

PSAR volunteers are asked to donate at least 8 hours per month. Hours of work will be recorded and provided to the park monthly. All work will be done per NPS rules and regulations and with park staff approval. Volunteers will be identified by wearing park issued uniform items. 

Volunteer is not required to provide and use personal equipment as part of their official duties. If a volunteer opts to use their personal equipment in lieu of available government provided equipment and that property is lost, damaged, or destroyed during service, the NPS is not liable for the cost of that property, and the volunteer may not be reimbursed for the loss.