Volunteer
Hands-on opportunities on the National Mall
Each year the National Mall hosts over 33 million visits and 3,000 permitted events, making it the most visited National Park in the country. With this level of use, volunteers on the National Mall play a vital role in helping the National Park Service maintain and preserve America's Front Yard.
As an official non-profit partner of the National Park Service, the Trust for the National Mall organizes a variety of ever-evolving volunteer opportunities alongside the Park Service as park of our commitment to building a sense of stewardship for this iconic park.
In 2015 alone, 5,580 volunteers participated in service projects for a total of 17,983 hours, saving the Park Service an estimated $697,201 in labor costs.
The National Mall is free for all visitors who wish to enjoy its breathtaking monuments, memorials, and landscape. It belongs to all of us, and it is our responsibility to ensure that the built and living history of our nation lives on for future generations. See how you can help below.
Days of Service
Each Day of Service volunteer event lasts three hours, where corporate or non-profit volunteer groups assist Park Service 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 and can be catered to suit the needs and requests of group.
Volunteers have consisted of corporate teams, school classes, local professional athletes and everyone in between. Days of Service are a part of the Trust's commitment to building a sense of stewardship for this iconic park.
Volunteers in Parks (VIP) Program
The VIP Program on the National Mall provides an avenue for volunteers to assist the National Park Service full time staff on a continuous basis. The program is varied in its scope, ranging from staffing visitor information kiosks and conducting tours to 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
Throughout the year, the National Park Service and the Trust for the National Mall 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
Over the past several years, the National Park Service and the Trust have partnered to host a variety of diverse events on the National Mall such as the Facescape Art Installation, Landmark Music Festival, and National Park Service Centennial Celebration.
For more information on volunteer opportunities, please contact John Whilden.