Volunteer
Thank you for your interest in volunteering at Mount Washington Observatory!
As a nonprofit, member-supported institution, volunteers are an important part of our operations. Volunteer opportunities are available at our weather station on top of Mount Washington, and at our administrative offices located in downtown North Conway, New Hampshire. We also occasionally need volunteers to assist with tasks in the field and at offsite events.
Volunteers support our administrative staff in a variety of ways. In the office, volunteers help with mailings and other administrative tasks. Outside, volunteers help us with landscaping and maintaining our remote instrument sites throughout the White Mountains. Volunteers also provide support at local and regional events. If you would like to offer your time and talent, we invite you to complete a valley volunteer program application.
For more information about the program, email volunteer@mountwashington.org
Winter shift eligibility requires that you’ve previously completed at least one summer summit volunteer shift.
Thank you for your interest in returning as a summit volunteer for the winter season. We’re grateful for the time and energy you’ve already shared with us, and for your willingness to take on the unique challenges of winter hospitality volunteering!
To be eligible, you must have previously served as a summit volunteer in another season. Winter shifts are active and hospitality-focused, with multiple guest trips scheduled each week from December through early April, as winter conditions often linger at the summit well into spring. Priority scheduling is given to returning winter volunteers and summit staff requests.
Each week, two volunteers serve at the summit. Volunteers typically prepare dinner for the crew and three meals a day for overnight groups, which can include up to 17 guests. The winter season is the busiest time for educational and climbing trips, with overnight groups visiting once or twice a week, along with day trips.
We receive more applications than available shifts, so placement cannot be guaranteed. However, cancellations do occur, and if you do not receive an assignment initially, you may be contacted during the season to fill a last-minute opening—so don’t be discouraged.
Note: When you click on application link below, there is a delay for the form to appear so give the application a minute to load onto the page.
To apply, visit this link:
Winter Summit Volunteer Program Application
Volunteers are a key part of the smooth operation of Mount Washington Observatory’s renowned mountaintop weather station. Each week in the summer (June to September), two volunteers are on duty at the summit to support our staff. While their primary responsibilities include planning and preparing meals for the Observatory crew and guests, part of each day also involves a couple of hours helping out in the Observatory’s summit gift shop.
We will publish the 2026 Summer Summit Volunteer application in March.
Every year, Seek the Peak brings together outdoor enthusiasts, hikers, and supporters of Mount Washington Observatory for a day of challenge, camaraderie, and community in July. Volunteers are essential to making this event successful, helping participants enjoy a memorable experience while supporting our mission to advance weather and climate science.
The 26th Annual Seek the Peak will be held on July 18, 2026.
Please check back in March to sign up to volunteer to support this event.
