Other
Volunteer
Job Description
FROM: https://www.volunteer.gov/s/volunteer-opportunity/a093d000000a1c9AAA/gladie-visitor-center-volunteer
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ADDRESS: Daniel Boone National Forest; 3451 Skybridge Road; Stanton, Kentucky 40380
DEPT: Forest Service
DATES: 5/31/2022 – 12/31/2022
DESCRIPTION:
Provide customer service at the Gladie Visitor Center by greeting visitors, assisting with questions and providing information about trails and outdoor recreation on the Daniel Boone National Forest.
Gladie Visitor Center is located in the Red River Gorge, a top destination for hikers, climbers, paddlers, and sportsmen alike. The Red River Gorge also boasts a rich cultural history of Native American Rock Shelters, bluegrass, 19th century oil/coal extraction, moonshining, and hemp farming. The Visitor Center includes a large interpretive area, a gift shop, and an original homestead from the early 1800’s where the Ledford family resided and who were kin to the well-known bluegrass musician Lily May Ledford. The Gladie Visitor Center serves as the information center to orient all visitors to the recreational and historical offerings of the Red River Gorge.
Volunteers on duty at the Gladie Visitor Center are primarily responsible for greeting visitors and assisting them with questions about trails and other outdoor recreation, camping, local areas of interest, history of the Gladie historic site and other general information on the area, with the goal of enhancing their experience in the Red River Gorge Geological area within the Daniel Boone National Forest.
Hours are flexible but 2-5 days a week is preferred. The Gladie Visitor Center is open from 10am – 5pm Thursday – Monday.
Start and end dates are also flexible, preferred dates are between March – November. If non-local, a minimum 2 month commitment is required. A volunteer campsite with hookups for an RV can be provided for those that are non-local.
DUTIES
1. Assist with opening and closing of Gladie Visitor Center.
2. Engage visitors and answer questions about the Red River Gorge, including trails, climbing access points, camping, as well as nearby areas of interest.
3. Provide roving interpretation on the history of Gladie and the original homestead with potential for providing tours of the grounds and Gladie cabin.
4. Encourage responsible recreation within the Red River Gorge.
5. Assisting in the gift shop with stocking product and running register.
6. Handle issues and complaints, engaging the appropriate level of response to handle the matter in a timely manner.
7. Assist with general cleaning of facility and grounds upkeep.
8. Perform other general duties as assigned by the managers of Gladie visitor center.
QUALIFICATIONS
1. Ability to work successfully as part of a team as well as assume independent responsibilities.
2. Excellent communication skills for communicating with visitors and fellow visitor center employees and managers.
3. Good working knowledge of the Red River Gorge, including commonly used trails, climbing access points, as well as local history.
4. Prior experience working/volunteering in a visitor center setting is strongly desired.
5. Strong customer service ethic and the ability to interact well with people of all ages and backgrounds.
6. Previous retail experience preferred.
7. Knowledge of commercial lawn equipment including Zero Turn Lawn Mowers, weed eaters, and back pack leaf blowers for those interested in groundskeeping volunteer work.
SKILLS
Clerical/Office Machines
Conservation Education
General Assistance
Office/Clerical
Public Speaking
Visitor Information
Working with People
WORK ENVIRONMENT
Gladie Visitor Center building mainly inside, but some outside work/grounds keeping may come up.
JOB HAZARDS
General housekeeping
Slip, trip, and fall hazards
Ergonomic problems
BACKGROUND/REFERENCE CHECK REQUIRED
Yes