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
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 three 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.
Haleakala National Park and More
While we dreamed of one day returning to Hawaii to live, we never imagined it would be for Jeff to work at Haleakala National Park. Jeff was blessed with a permanent position in October 2024 as Maintenance and Building Supervisor. Jeff was doubly blessed with the finest team ever doing the most exciting projects!
You have know idea where life can take you if you are open to all possibilities. We have to pinch ourselves every morning!!!
Volunteerism in Maui
Grand Teton National Park
Grand Teton Lodge Company Campground Hosts 2025
So life happened. We found ourselves faced with our most challenging decision since we hit the road. Jeff, being a new probationary permanent employee at Haleakala had to roll the dice with whether to risk being terminated in the federal workforce reduction or take a deferred resignation. He opted to voluntarily resign as he was in a non-critical position and we are confident we made the right call. Although it was not with a lot of tears for what could have been. Once we were back on the mainland we were so happy knowing we were closer to family and could take a road trip that would last for more than two hours. We were hired as summer campground hosts at Gros Ventre Campground. Returning to our old stomping grounds surrounded by good friends and the most beautiful scenery was a gift. And we of course got right to work as VIP's again. What can we say...Volunteering is in our blood!
Working as campground hosts at Gros Ventre Campground makes us the luckiest people around. We spend our days outdoors beautifying campsites, cleaning restrooms, meeting people from near and far and manning the desk. We truly have the time of our lives every day helping visitors to have fun and play safe. What a life!
The String Lake Volunteer program is one of my fondest memories. I never imagined I would face off with these two bears and more for a summer but here I am doing it again. 2025 summer season is even better with Jeff by my side. Keeping the humans and the BEARS safe at String Lake is no easy task but we sure do love it!
What is in that bag you ask? Yellow-flowered heliantheilla (sunflower) seeds. New this season Jen revolunteered for the Grand Teton seed collection program. During seed season each week volunteers met to collect various seeds to be dried, cleaned and packaged for future restoration projects.
Jennifer Welsh
928-821-3613
Jeff Welsh
928-821-1742