Volunteering
Fort St. Joseph National Historic Site
Help make a difference at Fort St. Joseph by volunteering in heritage programming and/or nature opportunities.
Volunteer opportunities are open to everyone! Join Parks Canada staff or help out on your own and protect the cultural and ecological integrity of Fort St. Joseph. Did you know that the grounds and waters surrounding the historic fort make up the St. Joseph Island Migratory Bird Sanctuary? Whether you’re into nature or history, there’s a place for you at Fort St. Joseph.
Site entry is free for registered volunteers on the days of your volunteer activities.
Want to volunteer as a group? Bring your friends, family, coworkers or youth group and share your passion for volunteering at Fort St. Joseph.
Way to volunteer
Heritage Programming Volunteers
How To Apply
Special Events
Volunteer for one of our scheduled events as a party of one or bring family and friends. These events offer a variety of heritage programming and nature-based activities. Whether you’re into birds, monarchs, historic games or living history, Fort St. Joseph is a place for you.
If you are interested in one of the volunteer opportunities listed below, please email infolhnfort-stjoseph-fortstjosephnhsinfo@pc.gc.ca with regards to which activities you would be interested in participating as a volunteer. Alternatively, you can call 705-246-2664.
Site entry is free for registered volunteers on the days of your volunteer activities. A minimum contribution of two hours is required per day. You are responsible for your own travel, meals, and accommodations.
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World Migratory Bird Day
Second Saturday in May
Help share the iNaturalist project at Fort St. Joseph, lead a guided bird walk, make some native wildflower seed balls and help educate visitors about the variety of ecosystems that birds and other animals enjoy on the park grounds.
Good to know: The hours for this special event are from 6:00 am - 2:00 pm.
Canada Day
July 1
Help us celebrate Canada Day by making historic cookies in our wood-fired bake oven! Costumed interpreters can also help at our fur trade encampment and share historic games with visitors.
Good to know: The bake oven will be weather dependent. A little rain is manageable, but lightning is not.
Historic Places Day
Third Saturday in July
Help us share stories of Fort St. Joseph at our fur trade encampment, or share the excitement of some historic games. There are opportunities available both indoors and outside.
This is the day that our volunteer voyageur canoe brigade makes a visit to Fort St. Joseph, offering voyageur canoe rides to visitors. If you’d like to help out, we’d be happy to find a place for your skillset.
Good to know: The voyageur canoe is weather and volunteer dependent.
St. Joseph Island Parades
Last Friday in July and First Saturday in August
Dress up like a soldier or a voyageur and join our parade float at the community nights celebrated on St. Joseph Island. Volunteers may ride or walk in the parades of Richard’s Landing and/or Hilton Beach.
Good to know: Volunteers are welcome to enjoy the community night celebrations…but get your pie early!
Fall Migratory Bird Day
Second Saturday in October
Help share the iNaturalist project at Fort St. Joseph, lead a guided bird walk, make some native wildflower seed balls and help educate visitors about the variety of ecosystems that birds and other animals enjoy on the park grounds.
Help us bid farewell to the season at our indoor fur trade encampment and/or by sharing historic games with visitors. Weather permitting, we hope to give a musket salute to the season at our final musket demonstration of the year at the end of the day.
Good to know: The hours for this special event are from 8:00 am – 4:00 pm.
Heritage Programming Volunteers
Volunteering can be as simple as showing up and sharing your passion for the site or you may need some specific training by park staff.
If you are interested in one of the volunteer opportunities listed below, please email infolhnfort-stjoseph-fortstjosephnhsinfo@pc.gc.ca with regards to which activities you would be interested in participating as a volunteer. Alternatively, you can call 705-246-2664.
Site entry is free for registered volunteers on the days of your volunteer activities. A minimum contribution of two hours is required per day. You are responsible for your own travel, meals, and accommodations.
Living History Volunteer
June through September
If you have a passion to share information about the times and activities of Fort St. Joseph, then helping with our fur trade encampment might be a good fit for you. In addition to sharing furs and trade items with visitors, we regularly share firelighting, fingerweaving and cooking/baking demonstrations at the wood-fired bake oven. This living encampment space is a gathering place for ideas, stories, experiences and people. If you have a craft, skill or knowledge base to share, please contact fort staff for opportunities to volunteer.
Historic Games
June through September
What did people do to have a little fun and pass the time at Fort St. Joseph? Did people play Nine Men’s Morris, ninepins, or marbles? What about niizho bikwaakwadoon (also known as double ball) or ship’s quoits? Youth and the young at heart are welcome to help visitors experience a selection of historic games and pastimes from the era of Fort St. Joseph. Indoor and outdoor opportunities are available.
Flintlock Musket Volunteer Demonstrator
June through September
Qualified and trained candidates will be able to fire a flintlock musket at our musket demonstrations. This specialized volunteer opportunity requires additional training and the physical ability to safely control a musket. All musket demonstrations are weather dependent. Please contact us to know more about the requirements for this opportunity.
Good to know: All qualified candidates must be 18+ years old or have written parental permission for those aged 16 or 17.
Nature Volunteers
Volunteering can be as simple as downloading the iNaturalist app – or get some training from parks staff and volunteer on your own schedule.
If you are interested in one of the volunteer opportunities listed below, please email infolhnfort-stjoseph-fortstjosephnhsinfo@pc.gc.ca with regards to which activities you would be interested in participating as a volunteer. Alternatively, you can call 705-246-2664.
Site entry is free for registered volunteers on the days of your volunteer activities. A minimum contribution of two hours is required per day. You are responsible for your own travel, meals, and accommodations.
Nature Programming Volunteer
May through October
Fort St. Joseph promotes healthy meadow habitats like the one that surrounds the historic fort today. Whether you want to help visitors learn about the different flora and fauna of the fort, conduct a Mission for Monarchs or get your hands dirty by making seed balls, we would love to hear from you.
Additionally, the grounds and waters around the fort are designated as the St. Joseph Island Migratory Bird Sanctuary. If you would like to share your knowledge of birding and to help visitors identify and experience the birds that use the space today, please contact fort staff for opportunities to get involved.
iNaturalist
May through October
Become a self-guided citizen scientist for Fort St. Joseph National Historic Site!
Using the free mobile app or the website, report any species (big or small) you see and their location. Don't forget to snap a picture! Discover what others are finding or use iNaturalist to ID a species. The data collected helps scientists better understand and protect environments – not only at Fort St. Joseph, but worldwide!
Discover more projects throughout Canada at iNaturalist.ca.
Good to know: Once downloaded, this app does not need cellular data or a Wi-Fi connection.
Mission for Monarchs Surveyor
June through September
Would you like to survey the meadow habitat around the historic fort for monarch activity?
Parks Canada staff conduct Mission for Monarchs surveys in designated plots, looking for immature and mature monarch activity. By surveying the meadow at regular intervals, you can help Parks Canada monitor how this species at risk uses the site today.
This volunteer opportunity requires some initial training but may then be able to be performed independent from staff.
Good to know: Poison Ivy is on site. Initial training will cover best practices to reduce exposure risks.
Trail and Grounds Steward
June through September
Fort St. Joseph has 4 trails, ranging from 0.5 km to 2 km in length. If you are interested, you can help to keep them clear of debris and large sticks as well as communicating with fort staff of other trail needs. Additionally, the meadow grounds around the historic fort promotes pollinators. To help this ecosystem, meadow management may include the removal of saplings with hand tools.
If these volunteer activities sound interesting, please contact fort staff for more information.
Good to know: Poison Ivy is on site. Initial training will cover best practices to reduce exposure risks.
How To Apply
If you are interested in one of the volunteer opportunities listed above, please email infolhnfort-stjoseph-fortstjosephnhsinfo@pc.gc.ca with regards to which activities you would be interested in participating as a volunteer.
Please include the following items in your message:
- Why are you interested in becoming a Parks Canada volunteer at Fort St. Joseph National Historic Site?
- What experiences, if any, do you have in relation to your chosen volunteer opportunity?
- How often are you interested in volunteering?
Please note: you must be at least 14 years old to volunteer unless accompanied by a parent or guardian.
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