Volunteer
Job Description
FROM: https://www.volunteer.gov/s/volunteer-opportunity/a093d000000hAaeAAE/fulltime-visitor-services-volunteer
DATES: 5/15/2023 – 10/15/2023
DESCRIPTION:
Bring your RV and join our Visitor Services team at Saint-Gaudens NHP in Cornish, NH from mid-May through mid-October 2023 in the beautiful Upper Valley! The site is dedicated to the sculptor, Augustus Saint-Gaudens, where you will find his home, studio, galleries and gardens. Our team does a little bit of everything, from roving to interpretation to staffing the visitor center desk to assisting with various events that include concerts, sculpture events, Star Parties and art exhibitions.
The position works 32 hours per week, generally Friday through Monday, with Tues/Wed/Thursday off. Ideally, we would hire a couple and each person would work 32 hours/week, but we are open to a single person as well. Most importantly is that we bring on someone who works well with a diverse group of people, has strong customer service skills, and is excited to share the stories of Saint-Gaudens, the Cornish Colony and the surrounding Upper Valley area.
Visitor Service Volunteer Duties include:
· Staffing the Visitor Center desk & kiosk ~ greeting visitors & answering questions
· Acting as a docent in the historic home, Aspet
· Assisting with events, such as our Summer Concert Series and Sculptural Visions
· Operating the bookstore, collecting fees and administering passes
· General roving and informal interpretation around the historic grounds, gardens and trails
· Opportunity for more formal interpretation if the interest is there!
The position runs 5 months, from mid-May through mid-to-late-October.
There is no monetary stipend for this position; there is a RV space with hook-ups provided located a 5-minute leisurely walk from the Visitor Center, which is our base operations for our Visitor Services team. Due to some federal fee collection as part of the job, a background check is required and will be paid for by the NPS.
Windsor, VT is a 10-minute drive from the park, with a grocery store, pharmacy, bank, and some restaurants. Within a 20-minute drive, you can find a greater number of stores of all kinds in either Lebanon, Hanover or Claremont, NH or in White River Junction, VT. Almost anywhere you drive, you’ll be privy to beautiful views of the Connecticut River and Mount Ascutney. The White Mountains in NH and the Green Mountains in VT are both within a one-hour drive. And don’t get me started on the fall colors – they were gorgeous this past year!
DUTIES
Visitor Services staff start at 8:30AM and end at 5:00PM with a lunch in the middle. A typical day may find a volunteer staffing the Visitor Center desk for 2 hours, followed by 1 hour in the historic house, Aspet, and then an hour of roving time before lunch. After lunch, you may staff the kiosk for an hour, then assist with a tour group or an event or give a pop-up tour. There is usually 1 hour of project time a day to study up on all-things-Saint-Gaudens, work on a special project related to the park or to hike the grounds or nature trails.
QUALIFICATIONS
Ability to stand for up to one hour at a time; strong customer service skills; ability to work well with a small (up to 8 individuals) team; basic knowledge of and experience with computers and POS (point of sale) systems.
SKILLS
Visitor Information
WORK ENVIRONMENT
Saint-Gaudens NHP is the only NPS site in New Hampshire and the only one dedicated to a sculptor specifically. The park is 190 acres with the Aspet Core – which features the home, studio, galleries, stables and gardens of the sculptor – considered the main and busiest part of the park. We receive about 35,000 visitors per year total, with the bulk visiting during the open season, from late May through October 31.
There are about 9 permanent employees year-round, but during the open season, with seasonal volunteers, park rangers and interns, the employee population triples. The Visitor Services division works closely with the other divisions, which include Curatorial, Administration, Natural Resources and Facilities.
As a Visitor Services volunteer, you might walk up to 2 miles per day, between opening and closing the buildings at the beginning and end of the day and walking to various workstations, like the visitor center or the historic home.
Saint-Gaudens NHP is a gem of a park site, with gorgeous gardens, beautiful views, amazing artwork and a collaborative, team-oriented staff.
JOB HAZARDS
Slip, trip, and fall hazards
BACKGROUND/REFERENCE CHECK REQUIRED
Yes