Yosemite Association Visitor Information Program
Answers to Frequently Asked Questions
Thank you for your interest in volunteering in Yosemite! The Visitor Information Program is a benefit of membership in Yosemite Association and so popular that we usually have more applicants than we can use. In order to clarify both the Association’s and your expectations, please read the answers to these frequently asked questions.
1. What are the dates for the 2010 Visitor Information Program season?
2. How do I apply?
3. When do I apply?
4. What constitutes a "complete" application?
5. Once I submit my application, what should I expect?
6. Who are appropriate candidates for the program?
7. How will I know the application period is open?
8. Can I work for more than one month in a year?
9. Are there waiting lists?
10. What are the differences between the volunteer locations in the Park?
11. What is the weather like in the different locations in the Park?
12. What is the Association’s goal when assigning new volunteers to the program?
13. Do I have to be a U.S. citizen to participate?
14. Will I receive any compensation for volunteering in the Park?
15. What kind of training will I receive?
16. What kind of work will I do?
17. What is the work routine?
18. Will I determine my own work schedule?
19. What is the lodging arrangement?
20. What transportation is available in the Park?
21. What is the arrangement for meals?
22. What do I do about camping gear if I am traveling by airline?
23. Will I have access to showers?
24. Will I be able to do laundry?
25. Will I wear a uniform?
26. Will I be able to use a cell phone?
27. How will my family and friends be able to contact me?
28. Will I have wireless internet access?
29. Will I be able to charge batteries and my cell phone?
30. Will I be able to cash a check or withdraw money from my bank account?
31. What do volunteers do on their time off?
32. What do volunteers do in the evenings?
33. Can I arrive early or extend my stay in the park?
34. Can my children participate with me?
35. Can I have visitors stay with me?
36. Can I bring my pet or have my pet visit me?
37. How can I reach the Yosemite Association?
1. What are the dates for the 2010 Visitor Information Program season?
Yosemite Valley:
May 4/28 to 5/31
June 5/31 to 6/29
July 6/29 to 7/28
August 7/28 to 8/31
September 8/31 to 9/30
Wawona
May 4/29 to 6/1
June 6/1 to 6/30
July 6/30 to 7/29
August 7/29 to 9/1
September 9/1 to 9/30
Tuolumne Meadows
June/July 6/15 to 7/21
July/August 7/21 to 8/25
August/September 8/25 to 9/22
2. How do I apply? The Visitor Information Program is for current members of the Association. Applicants may join or renew an expired membership on-line or by phoning 209 379-2317 prior to applying. An application may be downloaded from the volunteer page on the website, or members may request that an application be mailed or faxed to them from the Association’s office by calling 209 379-2646. Completed applications may be submitted by mail, FedEx, UPS, or fax. Please do NOT email completed applications. All applications must include the work week fee, and email is NOT a secure method for transmitting credit card information.
3. When do I apply? There is no deadline. The 2010 application is posted on the volunteer page on the website in January. Once a completed application is received, it is processed according to the date it is received.
4. What constitutes a "complete" application? A complete application contains responses to all requested information.
5. Once I submit my application, what should I expect? The Association will acknowledge receipt of your application with an email or phone call. If your application indicates that you would be a good candidate for the program and positions are filled, you will be notified that you have been placed on a waiting list. If the Association does not assign you to a position, you will be notified by email or phone.
If the Association does have a position available and your application indicates that you would be appropriate for the position, you will be notified by email or phone and an appointment will be set up for a phone interview. If after the interview you appear to be a great candidate, the Association will initiate a background check. Upon passing the background check, you will be notified of your assignment to a volunteer location by email or phone. About 6 weeks prior to arrival, additional information will be provided by email. If you do not have an email account, the information will be sent by mail when possible. This information will include training materials, a park entry pass, all necessary forms, a map to the campground and camping information.
6. Who are appropriate candidates for the program? The Association is looking for applicants who enjoy working with people and serving the public. Excellent communication skills are needed as well as a solid knowledge of and experience with Yosemite. Volunteers who put the needs of others above the needs of themselves, enjoy camping, are able to walk/hike some distances, and are committed to the mission of the Association are considered appropriate candidates.
7. How will I know the application period is open? The application period for the 2010 season is open until September 2010.
8. Can I work for more than one month in a year? New applicants are assigned for one month.
9. Are there waiting lists? Yes, waiting lists for all locations are established. Your placement on a waiting list will be determined by the date in which your application is received.
10. What are the differences between the volunteer locations in the Park?
Yosemite Valley: Sixteen to twenty volunteers work in this location. In May and early June, and after Labor Day, the Park is not as crowded as mid-June through August. Some volunteer stations are very busy. Volunteers work split shifts; they work in one location in the morning and another location nearby in the afternoon. Besides supplying information at fixed stations, volunteers also roam along the village mall helping visitors get oriented and use the right buses to get to their destinations. Lower Pines campground is full of people. Volunteers share campsites in the group area, which can be crowded. There is a grocery store in the valley.
Wawona: At the most, six volunteers a month work in this area. This location is quieter than Yosemite Valley. Volunteers work in one location each day. Some volunteers live outside of Wawona and drive in to volunteer for the day. Even though camping among visitors in the Wawona campground, it can be lonely if you are by yourself. Evening activities are more limited than in Yosemite Valley. The campground, Visitor Center, and Sequoia Grove are not within walking distance from each other. The drive to Yosemite Valley is 36 miles and takes 1¼ hours each way. There is a morning shuttle to Yosemite Valley that returns to Wawona in the late afternoon. There are two small grocery stores in the area. There are larger grocery stores in Oakhurst, which is located 15 miles (35 minutes) away.
Tuolumne Meadows: At the most, eight volunteers a month work in Tuolumne Meadows. Many visitors come to hike. Your experience with the area’s trails is important. Hiking over a mile round trip from the campground to Parsons Lodge on the other side of Tuolumne Meadows is required. Volunteers camp in and manage the D-Loop of the Tuolumne Meadows campground. The terrain of this campground is more “woodsy” than the Yosemite Valley and Wawona campgrounds. Volunteers have their own campsites. It is quieter than Yosemite Valley. There is a small grocery store. A shuttle runs once a day to Yosemite Valley and back for a fee.
11. What is the weather like in the different locations in the Park?
Yosemite Valley: In May days can be warm and sunny one day, and cold, wet, and stormy the next. Temperatures usually are in the 70s. June temperatures are in the 80s. July and August are in the 90s and occasionally they reach 100°. In September the temperature returns to the 80s.
Wawona: In May temperatures are in the 60s. In June and September they are in the low 70s. In July and August they are in the high 70s.
Tuolumne Meadows: Temperatures in mid-summer are usually in the 70s in the daytime and in the 30s at night. Though skies are usually clear, thunderstorms can be a daily occurrence in summer afternoons. Usually forming at higher elevations, thunderstorms form suddenly and can provide intense but brief downpours, lightning, thunder, hail, and gusty winds. Typically, by nightfall skies are clear once again.
12. What is the Association's goal in assigning new volunteers to the program? The Association strives to place all qualified applicants into one of the months and locations of their choice. For this reason it is important to list preferences from most preferred to least. Flexibility and a timely application increase the chance of being admitted into the program.
13. Do I have to be a U.S. citizen to participate? Yes. Our volunteers directly support the National Park Service which requires U.S. citizenship or permanent residency (possession of a green card).
14. Will I receive any compensation for volunteering in the Park? Participants in the program receive free park entrance passes, campsites, showers, uniform shirts, and nametags. They receive a transportation stipend of $10/day worked, payable after the month of service. They receive discounts at Yosemite Association sales stations and some Delaware North Company (DNC) concessions. They may also participate in one educational Outdoor Adventure tuition-free within a year after volunteer service
15. What kind of training will I receive? Prior to arrival volunteers receive training information on-line. They go through mandatory training and orientation by the Yosemite Association and the National Park Service when they arrive as well as throughout the month of service as needed. They are also provided with a training manual. Mentors are available for new volunteers prior to and upon arrival to make the transition into the program as stress-free as possible.
16. What kind of work will I do?
In Yosemite Valley: Whenever possible, membership in Yosemite Association is promoted. Volunteers provide visitors with information and assistance at the Yurt in the day use parking area, and at the information booth, Visitor Center, and key bus stops in the village. They do the same at the Happy Isles Nature Center and information booth in that area. They work as docents for the Museum Gallery and assistants to the art teachers in the Art and Education Building. They also assist with cultural events and theater advertising.
In Wawona: Volunteers provide information and assistance at the Visitor Center and Hill Studio. In the Mariposa Grove they act as docents in the museum and assist visitors in the grove. Membership in the Association is promoted.
In Tuolumne Meadows: They provide information at the Visitor Center, act as docents at Parsons Lodge and assist with cultural events such as storytelling and the poetry festival. They also greet and orient participants in the Outdoor Adventure Program, manage the D-Loop of the campground including assisting with bear patrol, and provide information to visitors at Olmstead Point.
17. What is the work routine? Volunteers typically work from 10:00AM to 4:00PM with breaks and time for lunch. They work a 30 hour week. In Yosemite Valley volunteers work split shifts, working in one location in the morning and another location nearby in the afternoon. Wawona and Tuolumne Meadows do not have split shifts. Shifts in all locations involve sitting, standing, and walking around both in and out of doors.
18. Will I determine my own work schedule? The work schedule is created by the volunteer program management. Volunteers may exchange days off with each other by following a protocol.
19. What is the lodging arrangement? Participants in this program experience the challenge of camping in group campsites amidst changing weather. RV spaces are limited in Yosemite Valley. They are available in Wawona and not available in the D-Loop of Tuolumne Meadows campground. There are no hookups in any of the campgrounds. Most volunteers camp in tents. Everyone provides their own camping gear and food and does their own cooking. Food and scented items are stored in shared bear boxes. Campground restrooms have cold water only. Previous camping experience is strongly recommended and no pets are allowed. Visits by friends or family are reserved with volunteer program management prior to the month of service due to the number of volunteers sharing campsite spaces. Volunteering is not a means for securing a campground space for friends and family to vacation. Please carefully consider these aspects of the program before applying.
20. What transportation is available in the Park? In Yosemite Valley volunteers walk, ride a bike, or take the free shuttle. In Wawona they drive a car and/or take the shuttle. In Tuolumne Meadows they walk and use the shuttle. Shuttles also connect Yosemite Valley, Wawona, and Tuolumne Meadows.
21. What is the arrangement for meals? Volunteers provide their own food which is stored in shared bear boxes. Ice chests need to fit in bear boxes. Volunteers purchase ice regularly to keep ice chests cold. Volunteers organize occasional potlucks. Delaware North Parks and Resorts provides discounts at the grocery store in Yosemite Valley and at some of the eateries. Alcoholic beverages are allowed for volunteers 21 years of age or older. Responsible, polite behavior is expected of those who consume alcohol.
22. What do I do about camping gear if I am traveling by airline? Volunteers may ship their camping gear to the Association’s El Portal Office. Arrangements will be made to bring the gear to the campsite. If this needs to occur for volunteering in Wawona or Tuolumne Meadows, be sure volunteer program management has plenty of time to facilitate delivery from the El Portal office to the campground.
23. Will I have access to showers? There are no showers in any of Yosemite's campgrounds, but there are showers nearby for volunteers to use free of charge.
24. Will I be able to do laundry? There are coin operated laundry facilities located in Yosemite Valley, Wawona, and Tuolumne Meadows.
25. Will I wear a uniform? Volunteers are issued uniform shirts and a nametag free of charge. The shirts are worn with volunteers’ own long pants.
26. Will I be able to use a cell phone? Digital cell service is available in and near Yosemite Village to AT&T and Verizon customers (you may get a weak signal elsewhere in Yosemite Valley, as well). Verizon customers with analog-capable phones may receive service near Wawona, Crane Flat, and Tuolumne Meadows.
27. How will my family and friends be able to contact me? You will be given emergency contact phone numbers. Mail can be sent to Yosemite Valley at General Delivery, Yosemite Valley, CA 95389. It can be sent to General Delivery, Wawona, CA, 95389, and General Delivery, Tuolumne Meadows, CA, 95389. FedEx and UPS do not deliver to General Delivery. These packages would be delivered to the Association Office in El Portal.
28. Will I have wireless internet access? Wireless access is available to the Association’s volunteers at various locations in Yosemite Valley. Limited Internet access is also available at the small county libraries in Yosemite Valley and Wawona. There is no internet access in Tuolumne Meadows.
29. Will I be able to charge batteries and my cell phone? There are locations in Yosemite Valley, Wawona, and Tuolumne Meadows where you can charge batteries and cell phones.
30. Will I be able to cash a check or withdraw money from my bank account? In Yosemite Valley there is a Bank of America branch and an ATM. There are also ATMs in Wawona and Tuolumne Meadows.
31. What do volunteers do on their time off? Volunteers use time off to do a variety of things like hike, swim, relax, horseback ride, play golf, go to the library, do laundry, visit other locations in the Park, shop in nearby towns, and go home. Many volunteers who have the same days off do activities together.
32. What do volunteers do in the evenings? Most of the time volunteers spend time with each other around a campfire or at a picnic table in their campground playing cards or games.
In Yosemite Valley: There are free evening programs in the campground amphitheaters. Yosemite Valley’s theater also has performances which volunteers can attend for free. There is a recreation center with exercise classes and equipment that volunteers can use for free. The Curry Village lounge is a place to read and play games.
In Wawona: There are ranger programs in the Wawona campground amphitheater and at Glacier Point. There are also walks with a ranger that leave from the Wawona Hotel.
In Tuolumne Meadows: There are ranger campfires, music walks, star programs, and occasional cultural events at Parsons Lodge.
33. Can I arrive early or extend my stay in the park? Yes, but you must make your own camping or lodging arrangements.
34. Can my children participate with me? The Visitor Information Program is not suitable for children to accompany volunteers.
35. Can I have visitors stay with me? Visits by friends or family are reserved with volunteer program management prior to the month of service due to the number of volunteers sharing campsite spaces. Please carefully consider these aspects of the program before applying.
36. Can I bring my pet or have my pet visit me? Pets are not allowed.
37. How can I reach the Yosemite Association?
By mail: P.O. Box 230, El Portal, CA 95318
By FedEx or UPS: 5020 El Portal Road, El Portal, CA 95318
By phone: 209 379-2646
By fax: 209 379-2486
By email: info@yosemite.org
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