Volunteer with BC Parks

BC Parks is proud to work with a diverse team of volunteers across the province. Our volunteers help with a wide range of stewardship initiatives, from trail maintenance to interpretation. They play an essential role in the work we do.

Want to be a part of the BC Parks community, learn more about our work, and meet like-minded people? There are many exciting ways to bring your knowledge and skills to BC Parks. This page outlines opportunities in four programs:

Volunteer partners
Backcountry hosts
Ecological reserve wardens
Park hosts

For information on our volunteer awards program, visit the volunteer awards page. For questions about volunteering with BC Parks, contact bcparks.volunteers@gov.bc.ca

Volunteer partners

We encourage community involvement in our work, and we partner with local volunteer organizations throughout B.C. You can get involved by forming a partner organization in your community or volunteering with an existing BC Parks partner.

Form a partner organization

To be eligible for the Volunteer Partner Program, your organization must be:

A legally incorporated entity (typically under B.C.’s Societies Act)
Interested in and capable of helping with our recreation or stewardship work
Fully prepared to supervise the activities of volunteers

Volunteer with a partner organization

Interested in learning more about volunteering with a partner organization? Email us at bcparks.volunteers@gov.bc.ca. Or find a volunteer partner in your community below.

West Coast:

South Coast:

Kootenay-Okanagan:

Thompson-Cariboo:

The North:

Backcountry hosts

The Backcountry Host Program offers volunteers a one-of-a-kind, immersive volunteering experience in British Columbia's backcountry. Backcountry hosts volunteer to stay in a remote backcountry cabin or yurt, at a popular hiking location. They typically stay for one-to-four weeks at a time during the summer.

Every backcountry host plays an important role in enhancing the visitor experience. Backcountry hosts greet park visitors and provide them with location-specific information. Other backcountry host responsibilities vary depending on the location.

Backcountry host opportunities are only available at the locations listed below. If you are interested in one of these positions, please review the relevant information sheet and complete the application form. Each application form includes the contact email address you should submit your application to.

Ecological reserve wardens

Ecological reserve wardens are the eyes and ears of BC Parks in the province’s ecological reserves. (For more information on ecological reserves across the province, visit the Friends of Ecological Reserves website.)

ER wardens support BC Parks staff with a great variety of tasks, including invasive plant control, inventory of flora and fauna, and trespass monitoring. These dedicated volunteers serve a vital role in the long-term protection of B.C.’s ecological reserves.

How to become an ER warden

To learn more about the work ER wardens do, download the ecological reserve warden handbook . This PDF document describes the roles, duties, and responsibilities of volunteer wardens in helping manage B.C.’s ecological reserves.

Next, visit the Friends of Ecological Reserves website to familiarize yourself with B.C.’s ecological reserves. Then, if you are ready to get involved, complete the ER warden application form and email it to BCParks.Volunteers@gov.bc.ca.

Park hosts

The Park Host Program is an important hospitality service available to visitors in some campgrounds, marine parks, and backcountry areas. Park hosts enhance visitor services, greet visitors, and provide information about things to do in the park and surrounding area.

Campground hosts

Park operators are currently seeking hosts at campgrounds in parks across the province. Although specific duties may vary, hosts are expected to perform the following basic duties:

To greet and assist visitors by providing them with information about the park and surrounding area.
Understand and educate park visitors on campground rules and regulations (park host is not responsible for enforcing the rules).
Assist Park Operator in selling firewood.
Communicate with Park Operator staff daily regarding any issues that need immediate attention.
Maintain a clean host site.

All roles and responsibilities as well as insurance requirements are the obligations of the specific park operator. Campground hosts report directly to park operators and are not technically considered BC Parks’ volunteers.

For more information on opportunities and how to apply, contact the park operator directly from the list below.