There’s no one “right” way to volunteer with AMC—just the one that fits you.
Getting involved can look a lot of different ways: maintaining and repairing public trails, leading trips, sharing your expertise, speaking up for conservation, or contributing to community science. Hands-on opportunities exist in every corner of AMC, and each one plays a role in protecting and connecting people to the outdoors. And while every role gives back to the places we love, volunteers often find they get just as much in return. It’s a chance to deepen your connection to the outdoors, build new skills, meet people who share your passion, and be part of something bigger.
Read on for a guide to volunteering at AMC.
Photo by Paula Champagne.
Nature, History, & Outdoor Education
Volunteer Naturalist
Share your knowledge and passion for the outdoors by leading evening programs and nature walks at AMC lodges and huts. As a Volunteer Naturalist, you’ll help people connect to nature and deepen their understanding of the outdoors.
Best for: Educators, curious minds, natural history buffs, lifelong learners
- Location: Maine Lodges & New Hampshire’s White Mountain Huts
- Activity Level: Gentle (Maine) or Strenuous (New Hampshire)
- Areas of Interest: Local ecosystems, wildlife, geology, flora, cultural history, outdoor skills
- Season: Year-round (varies by location)
- Time Commitment: 32 hours/year + initial training, with a commitment of at least 3 years
- What’s in it for you: Free meals and lodging, retail discounts, million-dollar views on every outing, and the chance to share what you love and spark curiosity for the outdoors in others.
Alpine Stewards
Help protect fragile alpine environments by engaging hikers on Leave No Trace, alpine ecology, and safety high above treeline. Alpine Stewards also monitor fragile ecosystems and practice light trail work.
Best for: Hikers who are passionate about protecting the places they love and want to help other people have a great experience
- Location: Franconia Ridge & Presidential Range, White Mountains, New Hampshire
- Activity Level: Strenuous
- Areas of Interest: Conservation, stewardship, outdoor recreation, education
- Season: Summer / Early Fall
- Time Commitment: 2 weekends/year + initial training, with a commitment of at least 3 years
- What’s in it for you: Free meals and lodging, quality time spent in the alpine zone, meaningful conversations, and the satisfaction of protecting some of the Northeast’s most fragile landscapes.
Evening Speakers
Got a passion for White Mountains natural history? Bring it to life for AMC guests through engaging evening programs.
Best for: Storytellers & subject-matter experts
- Location: Highland Center & Pinkham Notch Visitor Center
- Activity Level: Gentle
- Areas of Interest: Education, storytelling, public speaking, culture
- Season: Year-round
- Time Commitment: Flexible
- What’s in it for you: Free meals and lodging, retail discounts, and a platform to share your passion, connect with audiences who want to learn, and turn your expertise into memorable experiences for others.
Archives Volunteer
Help preserve AMC history with on-site collection, care, and data entry, or remote transcription of handwritten journals and audio recordings. Your time helps make our history more accessible to the world.
Best for: History buffs
- Location: New Hampshire or remote
- Activity Level: Gentle
- Areas of Interest: Outdoor History
- Season: Year-round
- Time Commitment: Flexible
- What’s in it for you: A behind-the-scenes look at AMC’s rich history, and the chance to preserve stories that will inspire future generations of outdoor enthusiasts.
Volunteers doing trail work on the Bay Circuit Trail in Massachusetts. Photo by Paula Champagne.
Conservation & Trails
Trail Volunteers
Work alongside AMC staff, volunteer leaders, and other members to build, maintain, and repair trails, and grow your skillset alongside a welcoming community at AMC’s Trail Skills College. A hands-on way to give back while protecting the places you love.
Best for: Doers, builders, and anyone who doesn’t mind getting their hands dirty
- Location: Throughout AMC’s region (Maine to Virginia)
- Activity Level: Moderate to Strenuous (requires hiking and some heavy lifting)
- Areas of Interest: Conservation, stewardship, outdoor work, tradesmanship
- Season: Spring through Fall
- Time Commitment: Day projects to ongoing involvement
- What’s in it for you: New skills, free training, a like-minded community, a sense of accomplishment, the opportunity to leave a lasting mark on the trails you love.
Adopt-A-Trail
Adopt your own section of a trail and enjoy free access to AMC’s training, tools, and safety equipment, as well as free AMC lodging and food while on work trips. Our trail adopters make 2-3 maintenance visits a year on a schedule that works best for them.
Location: White Mountains, Noble View, Cardigan, Maine
Apply to Adopt a Trail
Chapter-led Trail Work Events
Join a chapter-led volunteer trip and collaborate with fellow outdoor enthusiasts to care for the trails you love.
Location: Virginia to Maine
Sign Up for Chapter-Led Trail Work
Trail Work Parties
Fun, community-centered opportunities to help revitalize and build trails, engage in conservation activities, and work alongside fellow outdoor enthusiasts.
Location: Virginia to Maine
Find a Trail Work Party Near You
Photo by Madelyn Wood.
Advocacy & Community Science
Engage with AMC’s conservation, advocacy, and community science initiatives. Write letters to elected officials, participate in cleanups and invasive species removal, or record community science observations.
Best for: Environmental advocates and anyone passionate about science-backed policy and research
- Location: Throughout AMC’s region (Maine to Virginia)
- Activity Level: Gentle to Moderate (depending on activity)
- Areas of Interest: Conservation, policy, advocacy, environmental science & research
- Season: Year-round
- Time Commitment: Flexible
- What’s in it for you: A direct role in shaping the future of the outdoors by contributing to on-the-ground research, supporting conservation policy, and turning your voice into impact.
iNaturalist Observer
Record alpine plant sightings on a free app using your phone or tablet.
Record Alpine Plants with iNaturalist
Community Snow Observer
Help AMC researchers capture snow depth data with a ruler or avalanche probe and a smartphone app.
Record a Community Snow Observation
Conservation Action Network
Sign up for AMC’s Conservation Action Network (CAN) newsletter to receive advocacy updates and invitations to contact your elected officials.
Sign Up for CAN Alerts
Outdoor Recreation, Leadership Education, & Community Building
Volunteer Trip Leaders
From local day hikes to international trips, Volunteer Trip Leaders lead outdoor adventures ranging from local lunch walks to international expeditions. Train as an AMC leader and become a Chapter Trip Leader, Adventure Travel Leader, or VCC Trip Leader. The possibilities for trips and meaningful community experiences are endless!
Best for: Leaders, planners, adventurers, and outdoor recreation enthusiasts
- Location: Across AMC’s region & international
- Activity Level: Varies
- Areas of Interest: Leadership, recreation, & community-building
- Season: Year-round
- Time Commitment: Flexible (trip-based)
- What’s in it for you: Get outside more often, grow your leadership skills with AMC’s leadership training, and build a community of adventure partners and new best friends.
How to Become a Volunteer Leader
Information Volunteers
Be the go-to resource for guests, offering trail tips, gear advice, outdoor insights, and a warm welcome to AMC spaces.
Best for: Friendly outdoor enthusiasts who love helping others get outside
- Location: Huts, Lodges, and Visitor Centers in NH, NY, and NJ
- Activity Level: Gentle to strenuous, depending on location
- Areas of Interest: Helping hikers, education, community engagement, and promoting AMC’s mission
- Season: Year-round at Pinkham and Highland; summer/fall at other locations
- Time Commitment: 32 hours/year + initial training, with a commitment of at least 3 years
- What’s in it for you: Free lodging and meals, retail discounts, and the opportunity to learn new things, meet people who love the outdoors, and be the reason someone feels confident stepping onto the trail.
Volunteer-led Camps & Cabins
Collaborate with other volunteers to help manage and operate AMC camps and cabins, supporting everything from guest services to site opening, closing, work parties, and operations.
Best for: Team players who want to create welcoming outdoor spaces and get outside while doing
- Location: Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Connecticut & New York
- Activity Level: Gentle to Moderate
- Areas of Interest: Hospitality, Operations, Community-building, Outdoor Access
- Season: Year-round (varies by site)
- Time Commitment: Ongoing / Seasonal
- What’s in it for you: A connection to a special place in the outdoors, a tight-knit community of fellow volunteers, and the rewarding experience of creating welcoming spaces for others.
Social Activity Leaders & AMC Ambassadors
Bring people together and help AMC meet the world. Whether you’re hosting chapter socials or representing AMC at events, this role is all about building connections and growing our outdoor community.
Best for: Social connectors, community builders, outgoing personalities, and AMC enthusiasts
- Location: Chapters & community events across AMC’s region
- Activity Level: Gentle
- Areas of Interest: Community-building, outreach, events, storytelling, membership growth
- Season: Year-round
- Time Commitment: Flexible. Tabling could be just 1-2 hours per commitment.
- What’s in it for you: Expand your network, meet new adventure partners, and be the spark that helps others discover AMC.
Chapter Committees
Help guide the future of AMC by lending your voice, expertise, and perspective to committees and leadership groups that shape programs, priorities, and impact. Chapter Committees are responsible for local leadership, oversight, and coordination, ensuring the chapter operates in alignment with AMC policies and priorities. Typical responsibilities include stewarding chapter finances, supporting volunteer leaders, overseeing chapter activities and committees, providing guidance and advice to chapter volunteers, representing chapter perspectives to the Board, and recommending policies related to chapter operations.
Best for: Strategic thinkers, leaders, and those passionate about organizational impact
- Location: Chapters across AMC’s Region
- Activity Level: Gentle
- Areas of Interest: Leadership, strategy, governance, policy, risk management, community-building, outreach, events, storytelling, membership growth
- Season: Year-round
- Time Commitment: Between 5-30 hours a month
- What’s in it for you: The ability to help shape the future of AMC, expand your leadership experience, and make a lasting impact at an organizational level.
AMC Highland Center in the White Mountains, NH. Photo by Corey David Photography.
Don’t see what you’re looking for here?
Browse the AMC Activity Guide for All Upcoming Volunteer Opportunities