Yellowstone National Park

Yellowstone National Park staff manage the resources of the world’s first national park. Yellowstone NP is 2.2 million acres falling in MT, ID, and WY.

Yellowstone Citizen Science Initiative
2020 Yellowstone Phenology Project
Call for Volunteers

Phenology is the study of cyclic and seasonal natural phenomena, especially in relation to climate and plant and animal life. Help park staff research environmental changes in Yellowstone. The Yellowstone Citizen Science Initiative will engage youth and adults from all backgrounds to collect essential data that will help park scientists and management officials better understand how the Yellowstone ecosystem is responding to changing environmental conditions.

We are recruiting 25 volunteers able to commit to any combination of weekday or weekend time totaling a minimum of six days of work from April – October, 2020 to assist with field work. All training and equipment will be provided by the National Park Service. Lab and photography volunteer hours are flexible and negotiable, but no housing is provided.
Yellowstone Forever will provide free housing Friday evening-Sunday morning at the Overlook Field Campus, 1st-come-1st served to volunteers accepted to the Phenology Project program.

Field Team Member:
Join the Yellowstone climate monitoring team using pitfall traps to collect predacious Carabid beetles. Project work includes hiking off trail up to five miles per day, working in teams, collecting insect samples, making plant phenology observations, and recording data. All field work occurs in the park. All training and equipment provided.

Field Team Leader:
We are seeking volunteers with 1st aid, CPR, previous field research experience, and leadership skills. Join the Yellowstone climate monitoring team using pitfall traps to collect predacious Carabid beetles. Project work includes hiking off trail up to five miles per day, working in teams, collecting insect samples, making plant phenology observations, and recording data. All field work occurs in the park. All training and equipment provided.

Lab Team Member:
Project work includes learning order and family level insect taxonomy, sorting insect specimens using stereo microscopes, mounting and labeling specimens to museum standards, and data entry. Lab work can occur in the park or at volunteer’s home. All training and equipment provided.

Macro Photography Assistant:
Volunteers create insect macro-photographs –

to document and illustrate the amazing beauty and diversity of Phenology Project specimens.
Photography work occurs in Mammoth Hot Springs headquarters. We are also seeking volunteers with Photoshop or other graphic design program skills to edit specimen photographs. Graphic design work can occur in the park or remotely.