Mammoth Cave National Park Superintendent Sarah Craighead is asking area residents to consider volunteering at the park. At present, part-time help is needed in the supply warehouse.

The volunteer would work 12 hours per week, mainly on Fridays, to issue supplies to staff, check in deliveries, check employees in and out of park housing, and deliver supplies and packages within the park using a park vehicle. The Park is looking for a person with experience in customer service, record-keeping, and basic written and oral communications skills. The ability to lift light-to-moderate loads is desirable but not mandatory. The numbers of hours/week could be extended if the person is available.

“Volunteers contribute more than 20,000 hours to Mammoth Cave National Park every year,” said Craighead. “Volunteering is good for the person and good for the Park. A volunteer gains valuable work experience, and the work they perform is vital to Park operations.”

Eddie Wells, the Park’s volunteer coordinator, manages Mammoth Cave’s volunteer work force.

The Cave Research Foundation and the National Speleological Society bring large groups to the park to work underground, surveying, mapping and doing conservation work in the park caves. In March, 15 students from the University of Virginia spent their spring vacation in the park fighting invasive plants as part of an alternative spring break program. This is a program where college students perform community service projects in national parks, forests, and wildlife refuges during their school’s spring break period.

“This is a great opportunity for a retiree, semi-retiree, or someone wanting to fill spare time and learn some basic supply skills,” said Wells. “Volunteer experience counts the same as paid experience when filling out job applications.”

If you are interested in learning more, please contact Eddie Wells at (270) 758-2143, or by email at eddie_wells@nps.gov.