Responding to this opportunity alerts staff of your interest in this role. It does not automatically sign you up for this assignment. Park Staff will reach out to interview you and determine if you will be selected to volunteer for this specific assignment and if potential availability for this assignment matches your needs.
Known for its lighthouse, stunning ocean views, and octopus-shaped Sitka spruce, Cape Meares State Scenic Viewpoint is a must-see when driving the Three Capes Scenic Loop. From the park’s many viewpoints, you might spot many seabirds, migrating gray whales or other marine mammals such as sea lions, dolphins, and porpoise.
The lighthouse hosts support visitor experience by operating short tours and a gift shop inside the lighthouse. The duties of the host pair are to clean, stock, secure and operate a small gift shop in the workroom of the lighthouse and give short interpretive tours of the lighthouse tower. One of you runs the gift shop using a cash register, credit card machine, and customer service skills, while the other gives tours. Crowd management skills are needed by both when visitation is high. The tours should last 7mins to 10mins. There are 25 stairs in the lighthouse and the position requires you to be on your feet most of the time. Review the volunteer assignment description for this position here.
Currently we are recruiting two host teams for August/September 2026 positions.
Time Commitment: Volunteers should anticipate a schedule that includes 20 – 30 hours of volunteer service each week, per host. The lighthouse is open 11am to 4pm, so on your work days you need to arrive a little early to get ready, and then leave and lock both doors once you have finalized financial paperwork for the day. You may close the lighthouse to take a break 2-230 pm. The schedule is either a Thursday through Saturday or a Sunday to Tuesday shift - each team works every other Wednesday. This gives teams a 3 or 4 day weekend to make up for the long hours.
Location: Cape Meares State Scenic Viewpoint. Learn more about the park and the available amenities on the Host Site Directory page for this property online here. Normally the hosts in this position camp at Cape Lookout. In 2026 season Cape Lookout will be in closure so we will have one host team camped at Cape Meares in what is usually a maintenance host site, and one host team camped at Sitka Sedge in a secondary host site at that property.
Due to the demanding nature and structure of the position and limited host sites at Cape Lookout, this opportunity is only available to a host team.
