Volunteers assist the staff at Friendship Hill National Historic Site in many ways. Many Friendship Hill staff members have responsibilities at Fort Necessity National Battlefield, giving interested volunteers and interns unique opportunities to expand their experience.
Volunteer and Intern Positions at these parks include:
Interpretation/Guide –Friendship Hill/Fort Necessity
Training and research materials are provided to volunteers to develop interpretive talks and programs relating to Friendship Hill primary themes of statesman/diplomat Albert Gallatin; Western Expansion and the Whiskey Rebellion. Fort Necessity’s themes include George Washington at Fort Necessity; French and Indian War; the French, British and American Indian participants; the Mount Washington Tavern and the National Road.
- Friendship Hill – Staffing the Visitor Center desk and relating the story of Albert Gallatin and his connection to southwestern Pennsylvania. Daily April-October and weekends November-March.
- Fort Necessity – Living History soldier: presents talks and musket or artillery firings on a regular basis to adults and children. These programs are usually conducted April-September.
- Fort Necessity- Fur Trade Station: on a regular basis presents talks and hands-on activities to adults and children about 18th century fur trade; teach American Indian games and teach corn grinding. Usually conducted June-September.
- Fort Necessity – Staffing the Visitor Center desk; collecting entrance fees; providing information and assistance to visitors. Fill in for the Eastern National bookstore clerk. Year round.
Technological Aid-Fort Necessity/Friendship Hill
Work with Park staff and Press Information Officer on press releases; website development; podcast development; video taping; photography and other projects as needed.
Library Aid - Friendship Hill/Fort Necessity
Assist the Librarians on a variety of projects including: preparing new books to be processed into the collection; library inventory; re-shelving books and magazines; and check for overdue items.
Resource Management Aid – Friendship Hill/Fort Necessity
Work with the Resource Management Specialist on a variety of projects including: monitoring and data collection for water quality; wildlife and fisheries population and habitat management; vegetation and pest management; and human impact assessment.
Maintenance Aid - Friendship Hill/Fort Necessity
Assist the permanent office staff in computer data entry. Other projects could include: assist maintenance in trail rehabilitation; grounds mowing/grooming; carpentry; plumbing; electrical; historic preservation and other related tasks.
Training of volunteers may consist of formal classroom training and/or on the job informal shadowing of experienced volunteers and rangers. Black powder training is usually held the first week of June.
