National Park Service
U.S. Department of the Interior / Use the complete site name here (e.g. Palo Alto Battlefield Historic Site). / 2202 Roosevelt Avenue
San Antonio, Texas
78210-4900

San Antonio Missions National Historical Park

News Release

April 19, 2007

For Immediate Release

Al Remley (210) 534-8875 ext. 227

Cell (210) 304-0431

SAN ANTONIO MISSIONS SEEKS VOLUNTEER’s

If you like to explore the past, meet people, and enjoy creative challenges, San Antonio Missions National Historical Park is looking for you! The park is currently recruiting for their Volunteer-In-Parks (VIP)-Docent program. VIP-Docents present talks, tours and demonstrations for the 1.2 million annual visitors to the park’s four Spanish missions - Mission Espada, Mission San Juan, Mission San José, and Mission Concepción.

There are opportunities to volunteer behind the scenes in our professional services division for our park archeologist as well. For those who are interested in travel, Trails & Rails may be for you. Volunteers for the Trails & Rails program will work on Amtrak’s “Texas Eagle” between San Antonio and Fort Worth, Texas making presentations of the regions natural and cultural history. Must be at least 18 years of age to volunteer for the Trails & Rails program.

VIP-docents volunteer at least four hours a week. They present guided walks and talks to park visitors, staff information desks, and assist with special events both on-and off-site. They may work in our library, with archeological collections, as office assistants or in the field. Docents volunteer at all four missions of the national park - Mission Espada, Mission San Juan, Mission San José, and Mission Concepción.

The park also offers monthly tours to a mission ranch, Rancho de las Cabras, located near Floresville, Texas.

Since the Volunteer in Parks Program began in 1970, thousands of people have made enormous contributions to parks across the country. Superintendent Stephen E. Whitesell says, “Volunteers are vital to the public’s enjoyment of San Antonio Missions. We couldn’t do our job without them.” Presently, there are about 90 active participants in the program.

Los Compadres, the park's friends group, provides much of the program's funding. For more information please call Krystal Fleeger, VIP Coordinator at (210) 932-1002 extension 223.

-NPS-

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