Become a Volunteer
Hands-on opportunities on the National Mall
Each year the National Mall hosts over 36 million visitors and 3,000 permitted events, making it the most visited national park in the country. With this level of use, our volunteers play a vital role in helping the National Park Service maintain the grounds of the National Mall. As an official nonprofit partner of the National Park Service, the Trust for the National Mall organizes a variety of ever-evolving volunteer opportunities with NPS as part of our commitment to building a sense of stewardship for this iconic park. In 2015 alone, 5,580 volunteers participated in service projects on the National Mall for a total of 17,983 hours, saving NPS an estimated $697,201 in labor costs. See how you can continue to help below:
Become a Volunteer
As part of the commitment, we are piloting a volunteer program at specific sites on the National Mall. This is an excellent opportunity for those fascinated by history, who love meeting new people, who enjoy spending time outdoors and who, on occasion, want to get their hands dirty.
Days of Service
Each Day of Service volunteer event lasts three hours, where corporate and nonprofit volunteer groups assist NPS staff weed, paint, plant, and pick up trash throughout the National Mall. Event tasks and locations are assigned two weeks prior to the event, and are based on the needs of the Park Service staff, time of year, and size of group. Events can accommodate groups of 12 to 200. Volunteers have consisted of corporate teams, school classes, and local professional athletes.
Volunteers in Parks (VIP) Program
The VIP Program on the National Mall provides an avenue for volunteers to assist the National Park Service on a continual basis. The program is varied in its scope and includes staffing visitor information kiosks, conducting public tours, and assisting with general park maintenance. The National Park Service welcomes anyone who wants to volunteer by completing a Volunteer Application, followed by an interview with the Park Service Volunteer Programs Staff. The Trust for the National Mall supports the National Mall VIP Program by providing training and educational resources to volunteers.
Special Events
The National Park Service and the Trust for the National Mall partner to host a variety of unique events for public engagement and education. These events vary seasonally and yearly, but always require the collective efforts of volunteers. Diverse events that have occurred on the National Mall include, the Facescape Art Installation, Landmark Music Festival, and National Park Service Centennial Celebration. For more information on volunteer opportunities, please contact us at information@nationalmall.org.
