This represents roughly half of all volunteer efforts for CSP, and over half of all the conducted or presented interpretive programs CSP offers. A statewide survey was sent to 1,295 volunteers identified by CSP as having an information services role, and 940 were returned for a 73 percent response rate. CSP information duty volunteers come from a wide range of life circumstances. CSP volunteers are highly satisfied with their duties, rating them a 6 on a 7- point scale. The average length of service is 6 years, with 59 percent reporting five years or less and 6 percent staying on for over 16 years.
Data also suggest that after the first two years the dropout rate begins to decline.
Information services volunteers were recruited in a variety of ways. Volunteers put the visitors' needs first and their own personal gains second. They also highly valued learning new things and interacting with staff or other volunteers. Five subgroups of volunteers, each with a different information services role were compared. Women more often did information services jobs, whereas men more often were campground hosts.