Waterton volunteer season kick-off

Parks Canada

Waterton Lakes National Park encourages local residents and visitors to experience the park first hand through volunteer opportunities. Programs in Waterton provide a range of opportunities for visitors of all group sizes and ages to become directly involved with park protection. By volunteering, individuals can personally connect to Waterton by taking an active role to protect the ecological and cultural integrity of the park, while gaining an in-depth knowledge of the species found here and the issues facing them.

Parks Canada is proud to kick off the volunteer season in Waterton Lakes National Park with a get-together on Saturday, May 24. Volunteers are invited to start the day with a burst of colour at the annual spring flowering plant count beginning at the Firehall. Then, everyone is invited to gather for lunch at the Warden Office (bring your own lunch). After lunch, there'll be an overview of the volunteer season and orientations, plus work in the Native Plant Gardens and Adopt-a-Patch program.

For more information on volunteering in Waterton: www.parkscanada.gc.ca/waterton-volunteer, or contact Dianne Pachal, dianne.pachal@pc.gc.ca, 403-859-5107.

Here are some of this year’s volunteer opportunities:

• Limber Pine Monitoring - Tuesday, May 27 and Wednesday, May 28 / Tuesday, June 10 and Wednesday, June 11 
• Spring Bird Count - Saturday, May 31 and Sunday June 1 
• Canada Day - Special Event Volunteers -Tuesday, July 1st 
• Wildflower and Native Grasses Seed Collection - Half-days, mid-July through September, times to be announced 
• 21st Annual Knapweed Rodeo - Saturday, July 26, Blakiston Fan 
• Butterfly Count - Monday, July 28 
• Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park Science & History Day - Tuesday July 29, Cameron Falls Theatre 
• Whitebark Pine / Limber Pine Planting - One or two-day events, mid-September to mid-October, times to be announced 
• Ride the Red Rock - Special Event Volunteers - Saturday, September 27 
• Christmas Season Bird Count - One day, mid-December, time to be announced 

“As a volunteer you can share your ideas, knowledge, talent and skills with Parks Canada to support our national parks. There are lots of ways you can be a part of the action in Waterton Lakes National Park.” - Ifan Thomas, Field Unit Superintendent Waterton Lakes