Volunteer At The Parks
Volunteer At The Parks
We at the Berks County Parks & Recreation Department would like to invite you to share your interests and special talents in any of the following areas. If you are interested in volunteering with the Parks Department, please open & print the Volunteer Application form, fill it out and mail it to: Berks County Parks & Recreation Dept., 2201 Tulpehocken Road, Wyomissing, PA 19610
All Volunteers are required complete background clearances: Childline, PA State Police and FBI Fingerprints. These clearances may be completed at our office, or by submitting current copies.
Have questions about a park or how you can volunteer? Contact Doug Grove, Chief Ranger.
Special Events
Volunteers at Parks-related events serve in various roles, which can include:
- Preparation of materials
- Set-up/break down of event spaces
- On site help during events
- Helping with children's activities
- Directing traffic flow and parking cars
- Providing point of contact information about the parks and specifics on the event
Parks And Trails
Trail Ambassadors
Trail Ambassadors are the 'boots on the ground' point of contact on our trails and in our park spaces. Ambassadors provide a physical presence on the trails as they walk the trails, answer questions about points of interest, give directions and help keep the trails clean. They can report safetyissues to park rangers and park staff and inform park visitors about park hours, ordinances and rules.
Park Stewards
Stewards take on jobs and roles with less interaction with the public. This can include things like gardening/landscaping projects and shoreline/trail/park cleanup and more.
Heritage Center
Tour Guide
As a tour guide, you will escort visitors through the facility they are touring, the Gruber Wagon Works or the C. Howard Hiester Canal Center. You will explain the history, machinery and manufacturing processes, etc. It is your responsibility as a guide to maintain visitor interest, explain safety rules, supervise visitor conduct, and complete the tour within a specified time period.
Another aspect of being a tour guide is the sale of tickets, the operation of the audio-visual equipment (DVD) and the duties of the Ticket Information Person.
Visitor Services
Visitor services volunteers are based at the Heritage Center's Country Store. Volunteers in this role sell tickets for ours of the Gruber Wagon Works and Hiester Canal Center, provide information related to the Parks Department's programs and resources for all parks users. Visitor services volunteers also process shop transactions at the museum store and may also assist with administrative functions at the Heritage Center.
Country Store/Snack Bar
The volunteer clerk will learn how to operate the cash register and be familiar with the items for sale in the Snack Bar and Country Store. You will also need to be prepared to greet visitors, hand-out brochures and answer general questions pertaining the Berks County Heritage Center and the Berks County Parks & Recreation Dept.