Trail Ambassador

Park Information:

Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park encompasses approximately 2,923 acres of mostly hardwood forest that preserves a Civil War battleground of the Atlanta Campaign. Between June 19 and July 2, 1864, a series of battles occurred here between Gen. Joseph E. Johnston's Confederate force of 65,000 troops and Gen. William T. Sherman's Union army of 100,000 men. Eventually, Sherman's army outflanked the Confederate force and forced them to abandon their lines. The loss of Kennesaw Mountain removed one of the last major geographic obstacles protecting Atlanta, which eventually fell to the Union army in September of 1864. The fall of Atlanta bolstered the Union army's resolve to continue the conflict and eventually led to the re-election of Abraham Lincoln as president in 1864.

Description:

Trail Ambassadors, who are members of the Kennesaw Mountain Trail Club, are volunteers who welcome and assist the 2.2 million visitors who attend park events and recreate along the park’s 22-miles of trails. Trail Ambassadors offer assistance with directions, provide basic information about the park’s cultural and natural resources, inform visitors about trail conditions or issues, educate visitors about park rules and regulations, and notify park staff about important safety-related incidents or concerns.  Trail Ambassadors are a living representation of the park’s desire to engage event and recreation users and enhance their experience of and connection to the park.

Benefits:

• Get active outdoors! Stay physically fit while improving your community and country through service to your local national park.
• Opportunity to learn more about Kennesaw Mountain NBP, its history, its trail network and many other visitor-oriented programs, services and facilities.
• Meet new people from all over the world who share an interest in history.
• Receive complementary training (Training provided by the National Park Service and the Kennesaw Mountain Trail Club).
  • Required training: Volunteer orientation, Trail Ambassadors orientation, Epply course, Volunteer for 3 events to include a trail maintenance day, supervised hike with an experienced Trail Ambassador.
• Support your national park.
• Make new friends and join a team who share similar interest.
• Represent Kennesaw Mountain NBP by helping local, national, and international visitors develop a better understand and enjoyment of the park.

Qualifications:

• Have a working cell phone.
• Have a working email address.
• Ability to communicate courteously and professionally with visitors, park staff, and fellow volunteers.
• Successfully complete orientation and training.
• NPS Background checks may be required.

Responsibilities:

• Ambassadors know the park and its trails. They learn the location of the trailheads, trail lengths, trail signage, restrooms, water resources, nearby landmarks and monuments, and other park initiates that impact trail users. They patrol designated locations in the park to maximize visitor interactions.

       5.  Support Park and Trail Club community outreach programs.

NOTE: Trail Ambassadors are provided with a uniform shirt and baseball cap, and carry park issued backpacks that contain materials such as a first aid kit, trail maps, park brochures, special event flyers, and dog leashes/poop bags. All park issued attire and equipment must be returned when the volunteer ceases his/her service to the park.