America’s Oldest National Park is also one of its Most Popular
For a few weeks each spring and fall, you have the opportunity to to actually live in Yellowstone as a member of Helping Hands..
Alexandria, VA – You’re familiar with Yellowstone. America’s oldest national park is also one of its most popular, and beloved by visitors year round. But perhaps you didn’t know that for a few weeks each spring and fall, you have the opportunity to not just visit Yellowstone, but to actually live in it. But you better act fast if you want a chance to call Old Faithful your back yard for a while.
MORE: Check out Thrillist’s ultimate guide to Yellowstone National Park
Yellowstone National Park Lodges offers a seasonal program called Helping Hands. Here’s how it works. You put in 20 hours per week (between four and eight hours per day, though you can always do more if you feel like it) at various sites managed by the company, which include nine lodging facilities, five campgrounds, and 31 restaurants spread around the park. You’ll be assigned to either Old Faithful, Canyon, Lake, Or Mammoth.
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The season is short — just a month or so — but intense. Each day, you’ll be on deck to help with whatever’s needed by the lodging or food/beverage teams to help prepare for opening the summer season (if you’re there in the spring) or close it down (fall). That could mean helping the kitchen crew set up and restock the food-service areas, or helping the housekeeping crew clean and prepare or break down the guest rooms. For your trouble, you’ll receive $11/hour, dorm accommodations within the park, plus employee discounts and the privilege of actually calling one of America’s most beautiful wildernesses home.
