Friends of Minidoka is calling for volunteers to help prepare the Minidoka National Historic Site for its spring opening, with a workday scheduled for April 25 at 9:30 a.m. in Hunt.
The volunteer event will support site staff as they ready the visitor center and grounds ahead of the May 1 opening day. Organizers say volunteers will assist with both indoor and outdoor tasks throughout the day.
What Volunteers Will Do
The April 25 workday will involve a variety of maintenance and preparation duties at the historic site, which commemorates the World War II-era incarceration camp where more than 13,000 Japanese Americans were detained between 1942 and 1945.
Friends of Minidoka will provide snacks and lunch for volunteers who participate in the cleanup efforts.
About Minidoka National Historic Site
The Minidoka National Historic Site preserves the history of one of ten War Relocation Authority camps established during World War II. Located in south-central Idaho, the site includes original structures and reconstructed elements that help tell the story of the forced relocation and incarceration of Japanese Americans during the war.
The site closes for the winter season and reopens each spring for visitors. The visitor center offers exhibits, educational materials, and access to the historic grounds where barracks, a guard tower, and other remnants of the camp remain.
The guard tower visible at the site today is a reconstruction built by engineering students from Boise State University. All original towers were demolished after the war ended.
How to Sign Up
Those interested in volunteering on April 25 are asked to register in advance through Friends of Minidoka. The organization has set up an online sign-up system for participants.
The volunteer workday offers community members a chance to support the preservation of an important piece of Idaho and American history while helping prepare the site for thousands of visitors expected during the 2026 season.
What Comes Next
The Minidoka National Historic Site will officially open to the public on May 1. The site typically operates through the fall before closing again for winter. Visitors can explore the grounds, view exhibits in the visitor center, and learn about the experiences of Japanese American families who were incarcerated at Minidoka during World War II.
Friends of Minidoka continues to support the National Park Service in maintaining and interpreting the historic site through volunteer programs, educational initiatives, and preservation efforts throughout the year.