Hello

Meet the Welshes

"The mind, once stretched by a new idea, never returns to it original dimensions." ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson.

Hello, we are Jennifer and Jeff. Our grand adventures began in Great Smoky Mountains National Park many moons ago. The moment we arrived our minds were expanded by awe as we took in the wondrous site of the expansive Smoky Mountain range. It was as if that time and space had been waiting for us all our lives. In that moment we were hooked. And so we allowed our curiosity to lead us toward many paths, rivers, valleys, lakes, oceans and mountains of the National Park System with our growing family to create the most cherished memories of our lives.

Our mission is to make a difference by volunteering our time and talents in the parks as a way of showing our appreciation of what the National Park Service has done to protect and preserve these special places for our family to enjoy. We hope that we may help to carry on that legacy for future generations by contributing a small part of ourselves. We enjoy helping visitors feel welcome, learn, have fun, and play safe so that they may be stretched with new thoughts and hopefully a deeper sense of what makes our National Parks so special and why we all must do our part to protect them.

Your Volunteers

Jennifer Welsh

I love that I can share two cherished passions- helping others and my love of nature. As a former 27 year pediatric registered nurse/nurse educator, I've mastered the skill of remaining calm in tense situations and apply critical thinking to an array of issues. I am also a former business owner with my husband in which I served as the office manager, bookkeeper, and dispatcher. I pride myself on being compassionate, honest, positive and dependable. I am a BLS CPR/AED/Pediatric Certified Provider.

My volunteer experience includes 11 years as a Girls Scout Leader, youth group leader, soccer coach and Volunteer-In-Parks. I enjoy taking on new challenges. I also enjoy cooking, reading, hiking, kayaking, riding my e-bike and camping.

Summary of Skills: Business Management, Camp Hosting, Interpretation/Education, Trail Roving, Trail Maintenance, Front Desk Visitor Center, Cash Register and Retail, Lawn Care, Mindfulness Instructor, Yoga Instructor, Certified Health Coach.

Jeff Welsh

My 28 year career in HVAC enabled me to be in the outdoors practicing a trade I love while building great relationships with my customers. The past several years I owned my own heating and cooling business with my wife. We successfully restored a 58 year business that was struggling financially; to the largest, highest-grossing HVAC company in Sedona, Arizona. I ran a team of technicians and installers and was the sales manager all while I continued to run service in the field. I enjoy working hard and believe my sense of integrity is my greatest attribute.

My volunteer experience includes head soccer coach for 16 years, youth group leader, missions, and Volunteer-In-Parks. My hobbies include fishing, hiking, skiing, kayaking and camping.

Summary of Skills: Customer Service, Maintenance, HVAC, Electrical, Plumbing, Painting, General Construction, Propane, Honey Wagon, Ground Keeping, Trail Roving, Trail Maintenance, Facility Maintenance, and Camp Hosting.

HOW WE TRAVEL

Our camper is a 27 foot, 2022, travel trailer pulled by a 2020 Dodge Ram Dually. We take pride in keeping our camper and campsite in immaculate condition.

Meet Sunny

Sunny is our two year old mini English Cream Dachshund. Sunny grew up in the parks patrolling dog friendly trails Sunny is passionate and enthusiastic becoming a B.A.R.K. Ambassador at all the parks she visits. Sunny quickly becomes Mascot of the parks we volunteer in and is loved by all the Rangers.

GRAND CANYON NATIONAL PARK

Our First VIP position was at the magestic

Grand Canyon National Park, Mather campground.

We served as the 2022 summer season campground hosts for a 300+ site campground. Our duties included preparing campsites for guest check-in, cleaning fire rings, interpreting campground safety guidelines, reporting concerns to law enforcement and assisting Park Rangers in the kiosk.

We enjoyed meeting people from all over the world, helping first time campers learn how to have the best, safe experience and sharing stories of past and present.

CAPE PERPETUA VISITOR CENTER,
SIUSLAW NATIONAL FOREST
YACHATS, OREGON

Jennifer flew solo while Jeff wrapped up business in Arizona. Cape Perpetua Visitor Center is located in the Siuslaw National Forest in Yachats, Oregon and is under the USDA, United States Forest Service branch. This was an exciting adventure serving as an interpreter/educational role to enhance visitor experience and safety. This site was a fee area and National Park Pass sales were a part of the skills obtained. With 26 miles of trails to rove in the misty forest and morning walks to Thor's well and Devil's Churn there was no shortage fun for Sunny!

JOURNEY TO ALASKA

Why we chose to work as hosts in the private sector...Alaska is expensive! We landed in Valdez, Alaska (not by plane, we actually drove there). Together, we served as camp hosts as at a privately owned KOA. We did it all there. Guest services in the office, groundskeeping, housekeeping, laundry and even bathrooms. We could never forget...the honeywagon!

We spent five incredible months working in Alaska and during that time we formed new friendships, traversed the state, and visited many National Parks.

Our children even made a visit to add joy to our adventure.

BISCAYNE NATIONAL PARK

Back in the lower forty-eight and 6,000 miles from our last stop we arrived in Biscayne National Park to volunteer for the winter season. Biscayne National Park is the largest marine park in the National Park system. We put our skills to the test in interpretation and education by leading visitors on guided Jetty walks, canoeing and fishing clinics, plankton labs, and island education adventures. Non-stop learning, adventure and joy!

Our favorite part of this journey- the relationships we formed with the

Park Rangers and Staff.

The most incredible humans work tirelessly and so passionately to make

Biscayne National Park so special for visitors and the community!

GRAND TETON NATIONAL PARK

Jeff joins the National Park System working in Maintenance/Facilities Division. A great place to start as a temporary, seasonal employee working with amazing humans who love nature and wildlife as much as we do! While Jeff is hard at work as a paid employee beautifying the park's facilities, Jen continues her service with NPS as a VIP Interpreter at Jenny Lake and String Lake. After many hours of bear training, Jen put her skills to the test soft hazing black bears out of developed areas. Another perk to being a VIP in the Tetons...roving the most beautiful trails in the lower 48!!! How exciting to be a part of visitors' experiences in such a magical place. Giving trail directions, teaching "Bear Safe" principles, Leave No Trace ethics, geology talks, wildlife viewing safety and so much more. Did we mention fly fishing in world class waters? Truly a most memorable experience with once again beautiful, amazing people to mentor and grow with. It doesn't get any better than this.