Elk volunteers wanted
A volunteer, shown in a yellow vest, approaches park visitors as they view elk. NPS photo
The Great Smoky Mountains National Park is looking for volunteers to expand its Elk Volunteer-in-Park Program in 2024.
At elk viewing sites, volunteers help manage traffic, provide information to park visitors and educate visitors about the park’s natural and cultural resources. The goal is to keep people and elk safe. The park’s law enforcement staff supervise volunteers and work closely with them.
Volunteers must attend an in-person training, to be held near Cherokee in April 2024, with the exact date to be announced in early 2024. They must commit to filling at least one four-hour shift per week from May through mid-November next year.
For more information, contact Ranger Lauren LaRocca at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .
