Greeter/Guide Program

Help the Conservancy meet the information needs of Central Park's 38 million annual visitors.  Whether they are from far away places, or are New Yorkers who use the Park regularly, many need help navigating the Park, or have general interest questions. Enhance their experiences by greeting, guiding and informing them, whenever possible, about the importance of Central Park Conservancy's role in the Park and much more. Training is provided for each type of greeter or guide, and we ask for a two-year commitment to the Greeter/Guide program.

Greensward Guides
Greensward Guides generally work in pairs, walking in pre-designated areas of the Park greeting visitors, giving directions, answering Park-related questions, informing about upcoming events, teaching good Park stewardship and more.

Kiosk Greeters and Visitor Center Greeters
Kiosk Greeters assist visitors from one of the three information kiosks inside the Park: West 60th Street near Columbus Circle, East 72nd Street near Fifth Avenue, and West 72nd Street near the West Drive.  Kiosk Greeters work solo.

Visitor Center Greeters support the facility staff by helping out at one of four Park visitor centers: Chess & Checkers House, Belvedere Castle, the Charles A. Dana Discovery Center, and North Meadow Recreation Center.

Training
Whether you work in a Kiosk, a Visitor Center, or as a Greensward Guide, all Greeter/Guide positions require some prior knowledge of the Park and the same amount of training. This includes a mandatory group interview and three classroom sessions, and then one-on-one mentoring in the Park by a number of our experienced Greensward Guides.

Once training is completed you can schedule your shift for either a weekday or weekend morning or afternoon. Along with asking for a two-year overall commitment, we also ask Greeter/Guides to commit to three hours per week (must be the same day and time-slot each week).

Upcoming Greeter/Guide Interview and Training Dates

Training to be a Central Park Conservancy Greeter/Guide includes attending a mandatory group interview, and then if accepted into the program, three mandatory two-hour classroom sessions, followed by peer mentoring sessions in the Park itself.

If you are interested in interviewing to be a Greeter/Guide please apply to be on the wait list by clicking on the link below, creating a profile (if new to CPC volunteering), then clicking the Sign-Up tab.  Then scroll down to 2. Greeter/Guide Program, choose Greeter/Guide Interview - wait list, then click on the Sign Up button (please do not click on "Add me to the back up list"). You will not receive an automatic response, but you will be signed up to be contacted once the next Greeter/Guide group interview and training dates are set.

Apply online!  If you have previously created an online volunteer profile, please do not create a new one.  If you do not remember your log-in information, please contact us at: volunteer@centralparknyc.org.

To find out more about volunteering as a Greensward Guide, read this profile about one of our current volunteers.

Tour Guide Program
Related to, but separate from the Greeter/Guide program is the Conservancy Tour Guide program. Tour Guides lead public walking tours throughout the Park, helping visitors discover Central Park's history, ecology and design. Guided tours take place year-round, rain or shine, except in extreme weather conditions. Tour Guides may also provide custom tours to groups. A minimum two-year commitment is required.