Volunteer
Job Description
FROM: https://www.volunteer.gov/s/volunteer-opportunity/a093d000000mIA4AAM/site-host-silver-lake-recreation-area-day-use-on-apalachicola-nf
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ADDRESS: Apalachicola National Forest; 11152 Northwest SR 20; Bristol, Florida 32321
DEPT: Forest Service
DATES: 3/6/2023 – 10/1/2023
DESCRIPTION:
Visitors most often come to the largest recreation area on the Apalachicola National Forest to swim off the 250-foot white sand beach, walk the mile-long interpretive trail or picnic at one of 45 picnic tables, each of which comes with an individual grill. This family-friendly destination just outside Tallahassee is ideal for a family day of fun in the sun!
- Be a first person informal contact for visitors; may be asked to provide roving and formal/informal interpretation to communicate developed site, agency mission.
- Stay in the area and serve as a resource for visitors; visit with and conduct inspections throughout the recreation area.
- Assist with registering trail usage plus provide information on rules/guidelines to help provide a safe, clean environment for all visitors (note: fees are not collected by volunteers directly from hikers – this is a self-service fee area).
- Provide posted information, answer questions about the campground, local amenities and services, trails, area recreational opportunities and site regulations
- Identify issues that need to be addressed; contact FS officials to address issues.
- Serve as an important link between USFS law enforcement officials and the site. Hosts only report incidents and situations that need to be addressed. Hosts do not take actions to enforce laws, regulations and policies, such as detaining or arresting suspects and endangering themselves or visitors.
- Monitor safety and reporting hazards to appropriate FS officials.
- Assist in maintaining the beauty of the site and visitor safety by ensuring that visitors know and follow rules during their visit; conduct minor maintenance and clean up.
- Help with other duties that may arise that benefit the visitors.
- Maintenance responsibilities will include: daily water testing of chlorine residual, cleaning restroom, cleaning contact station, operate mowing equipment as needed and trained, light carpentry and plumbing repairs, emptying of trash cans and recycling receptacles, transporting garbage to work center dumpster, litter pickup.
- May be called upon to assist with emergencies such as SAR (search-and-rescue) or evacuations due to hurricane or wildland fire; operate two-way radio equipment; report suspicious behavior and/or criminal incidents.
QUALIFICATIONS
Must be willing to make 6 month commitment including holidays, be able to work at least 30 hours per week, and have your own RV/trailer with a shower and bathroom.
SKILLS
- Visitor Information
- Working with People
General maintenance, cleaning, and grounds keeping.
- Carpentry
- First Aid Certificate
- General Assistance
- Heavy Equipment
- Other Trade Skills
- Visitor Information
- Working with People
Boating–Non-motorized
- Non-motorized boats float on the 15-acre lake angling for largemouth bass, brim or catfish. The landscape is a mostly longleaf pine and hardwood hammock forest.
Fishing
- Fish from banks of the lake, which are accesible in many spots via the hiking trail.
Nature Watching
- Bald eagles and songbirds are at home in this longleaf pine forest that also makes room for cypress, tupelo trees, turkey oak and palmettos. Rare species of plants and animals can be found at Silver Lake, but the observant visitor is more likely to see turtles, alligators, bears, turkeys and armadillos.
- Silver Lake is in the Munson Sandhills, which are composed of deep dry sands that have accumulated over limestone. Because the sand absorbs rainfall so completely, wetlands are relatively rare in this part of the forest. In places, the limestone dissolves and collapses, forming the depressions and ponds, lakes and sinkholes that are common in the area.