Volunteer
Job Description
FROM: https://www.volunteer.gov/s/volunteer-opportunity/a093d000000kgYqAAI/historic-building-rover-volunteer
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ADDRESS: Shenandoah National Park; Shenandoah National Park; Luray, Virginia 22835
DEPT: National Park Service
DATES: 5/19/2023 – 11/3/2023
DESCRIPTION:
Historic Building Rovers will help visitors make personal connections to park resources by providing information on trip planning and safety at Shenandoah’s historic structures and visitor centers. Historic Building Rovers will support the Interpretation Team at Shenandoah National Park by welcoming and orienting visitors to the park’s resources. Rovers will spend time with visitors at the historic Massanutten Lodge at Skyland, work from visitor centers, and visit other historic locations in the park as needed to provide assistance.
DUTIES
· Staff the Historic Massanutten Lodge daily at Skyland. Provide visitors with interpretive stories of Skyland and Shenandoah. Answer visitor questions related to historic area assigned. Open/Close building daily. Keep air circulating in building and clean when necessary.
Provide orientation and information on park resources, safety, and trip planning to visitors in a positive professional manner while representing the National Park Service.
· Help visitors make personal connection to park resources and values.
· Staff visitor center(s) providing orientation, information and informal interpretation to visitors on park resources, safety, etc.
· Staff Rapidan Camp on as needed basis (this involves keeping air circulating in building, cleaning etc)
· Assists with Shenandoah National Park Association (SNPA) sales.
· Assists with basic visitor center operations such, providing day hiking information, interacting with Junior Rangers, and assisting with movies in the auditorium.
· May assist with opening/closing the visitor centers following established SOP and guidelines.
· May complete special projects as assigned by their supervisor.
· Position wears a VIP uniform.
QUALIFICATIONS
· Customer service experience and skills.
· Ability to learn, understand and communicate topics and information to visitors.
· Outgoing, people oriented, and positive attitude.
· Ability to stand for long periods and answer repetitive questions with patience and a positive attitude.
· Experience/knowledge of park facilities, trails, resources, and safety-related issues.
· Effective communication skills.
· Ability to work independently and as part of a close-knit team in a fast-paced, high energy environment.
SKILLS
Conservation Education
General Assistance
Working with People
WORK ENVIRONMENT
·The location of daily shifts may vary throughout the park depending on volunteer experience and wishes and the park’s operational needs to include hiking trails, outdoor amphitheaters, visitor centers, Mobile Visitor Center, overlooks, etc.
· Once the participant has completed their initial training and orientation, they may be asked to work independently in a visitor center or on local area trail roves, depending on the volunteer’s experience and wishes as well as the park’s operational need.
· They may operate a government vehicle (Mobile Visitor Center (MVC), Hoover Mover etc) for travel to trail roves or programs.
· The participant will provide visitor center assistance at either Big Meadows and/or Dickey Ridge visitor center/s, working with other staff to provide visitor assistance and information as well as basic operational duties to include light cleaning, stocking supplies, and opening/closing procedures.
· Volunteers will provide basic orientation, information and informal interpretation to visitors on park resources, safety, etc. They will provide brochures, trail maps, junior ranger supplies and similar information to visitors, as needed.
· Wildlife and tick safety information will be provided during orientation and throughout the season. The park is home to approximately 300+ black bears, 2 species of venomous snakes, poison ivy, ticks that transmit tickborne illness, as well as a variety of other wildlife and plants.
· The park enjoys the full four seasons and the volunteer’s work may be conducted both indoors and outdoors during occasional inclement weather (light rain or windy conditions) and regularly during hot, humid summers and crisp, cool spring/fall conditions, depending on the volunteer’s experience and wishes as well as the park’s operational needs.
· Comfortable footwear for standing and walking/hiking should be worn. Hiking boots or rugged hiking sneakers required for walking/hiking roves.
· For hiking/walking roves, volunteer will be issued a radio and first aid kit for the shift.
· May require long hours of standing.
· Bending, stooping, reaching required.
· May require walking on uneven or dirt/rocky surfaces for up to two miles or more.