Yellowstone Association
Help Preserve Yellowstone
The Yellowstone Association (YA), founded in 1933, is a nonprofit educational organization. In partnership with the National Park Service, YA connects people to Yellowstone National Park and our natural world through education.
YA operates the Yellowstone Association Institute, a field school which is currently providing high quality, in-depth educational courses to approximately 5,000 visitors each year. In addition, YA has a growing member/donor program with over 32,000 members who support the YA Mission and share in the desire to protect Yellowstone for future generations. Members receive a quarterly newsletter and a discount on Association products and educational programs.
In addition, to generate funds to support park educational programs and projects, YA sells an extensive selection of educational materials to visitors in Yellowstone National Park’s visitor centers and through the Association’s website (www.YellowstoneAssociation.org ). Current sales of educational materials total approximately $3 million annually.
Help preserve Yellowstone as a volunteer or as paid staff!
As a volunteer, you can be sure your efforts are making a difference for Yellowstone National Park. And, you’ll be working and living in one of the most beautiful places on earth.
WE ARE CURRENTLY ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS FOR VOLUNTEER POSITIONS !
While we may review applications immediately, we would like to have applications for our summer positions submitted prior to March 15, 2012.
Click on a position below to see a description and find a link to our application:
- PROGRAM ASSISTANT - Lamar Buffalo Ranch Field Campus
- CARETAKER - Yellowstone Overlook Field Campus, Gardiner MT
- INFORMATION ASSISTANT - Gardiner. Montana HQ Park Store
As an employee, you’ll join other talented and dedicated individuals who work together to protect and preserve Yellowstone National Park through education.
Jobs in the Spotlight
Our Jobs
We have a core staff of approximately 40 full time employees working at the YA Headquarters in Gardiner, Montana. We have recently opened a new store in the Bozeman-Yellowstone International Airport at Gallatin Field, and have 4 full-time staff members located there.
In addition, we also have approximately 60 seasonal staff members working in Summer (May through October) and Winter (December through March). The Park is in transition between seasons, with the roads and operations generally closed to the public.
We have a team of dedicated Retail Sales Associates working in our Park Store operations. These staff members are instrumental in guest service, providing not only information about our Educational products, but also about the Park and about the YA Mission and Membership options. Retail Sales Associates generally live in their own RV in spaces arranged in Employee Housing Areas in the Park. We typically begin hiring for these positions in November.
Yellowstone Institute Instructors are generally based out of the North Entrance Education Center (NEEC) in Gardiner, Montana. Our instructors have helped us gain a reputation as one of the premier field schools in the country. Instructors teach a variety of Field Seminars and conduct private tours and classes in the Park. Instructors generally live in YA seasonal employee housing in Gardiner, Montana. Some instructors spend extensive amount of time in the "interior" of the park, and therefore may be housed on location as needed.
There are several opportunites to join the YA in our Mission to connect people to Yellowstone and our natural world through education. Volunteers may work a long season as a Program Assistant at the Lamar Buffalo Ranch location (in the north east corner of the Park) or at the NEEC, or may serve at the Yellowstone Overlook Field Campus in Gardiner, Montana. Volunteers also assist Park and area visitors with Information about Gardiner, Montana, Yellowstone, wildlife, photography and more. Volunteers most often live in modest, shared housing provided by YA.
Our Ideal Candidate...
The Yellowstone Association welcomes applicants who are interested in, and committed to, preserving Yellowstone for future generations and to inspire others to become stewards of this great land.
Other Perks
Live in a spectacular setting while helping to give back to America’s first National Park.
- Free Course : One free Institute field seminar, when space and scheduling requirements allow.
- Discounts : Staff will receive a 30% discount in all Yellowstone Association bookstores. In addition, discounts are offered at many local vendors, including the Yellowstone Raft Company, National Museum of Wildlife Art, and some activities offered by Xanterra, the park concessionaire. Live in a spectacular setting while helping to give back to America’s first National Park
Getting Here and Getting Around
The YA Headquarters are located at the North Entrance to Yellowstone National Park, at Gardiner, Montana. Gardiner is a small town, with a lively history of serving park visitors. Gardiner is approximately one hour south of Livingston, Montana and Interstate 90. Gardiner is approximately 90 minutes from Bozeman, Montana and approximately 3 hours from Billings, Butte and/or Helena, Montana.
Once inside Yellowstone, Park Stores are located a major visitor guest services - Mammoth, Canyon, Fishing Bridige, West Thumb, Grant Village, Old Faithful, Madison and Norris. Travel in the Park is at a much slower pace to to winding roads, high elevations, single lanes, wildlife and trafic congestion. There is limited public transportation in and around Yellowstone.
For Fun
Yellowstone and this area of the Rocky Mountains provide endless opportunity for travel, hiking, photography, geyser gazing, wildlife watching and more. You could be here for an entire summer and never run out of amazing experiences!
Season: Summer, Fall, Winter, Spring, and Year Round
Housing: Subsidized Housing
Staff Size: 100
Age Requirement: 18 Minimum
Locations: North Entrance of Yellowstone Park, Montana, Lamar Valley Buffalo Ranch, Wyoming, Canyon Village Visitor Center, Wyoming, Old Faithful Visitor Center, Wyoming, Albright Visitor Center - Mammoth Hot Springs, Wyoming, Norris Geyser Basin, Wyoming, Fishing Bridge Visitor Center, Wyoming, West Thumb Geyser Basin, Wyoming, Grant Village Visitor Center, Wyoming, Madison Junction Visitor Center, Wyoming, and Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport, Montana
