The program is currently administered by the National Weather Service. One of our responsibilities is to take meteorological observations which are used to record the climate conditions of the United States. The National Weather Service relies heavily on a cast network of cooperative weather observer volunteers to achieve this objective. The National Weather Service determines where observations are needed and furnish standard meteorological instruments to individuals who volunteer their time to take and record daily observations of the weather. Currently there are about 8000 published volunteer observing stations operated by individuals.
All cooperative observers submit a monthly report summarizing daily weather observations.
These contributions to the NWS mission are invaluable. At Wakefield, we monitor stations in East-Central Virginia, Northeastern North Carolina and the Lower Maryland Eastern Shore. If you would like to find out more about the National Weather Service's Cooperative Observer Program, click here or here to visit the Cooperative Observing Program Homepage at the National Weather Service Training Center Houston M. Camper is shown being presented a plaque by Rick Curry, the Wakefield Cooperative Program Manager. Mr. Camper retired from the coop program after 50 years of service, he ensured continuation of his station, Warsaw 2 NW, by recruiting and training his own replacement. Mr. Camper credited his wife Dorothy's support for enabling him to contribute to the Cooperative Observing Program for such a long period.