Volunteer
Job Description
FROM: https://www.volunteer.gov/s/volunteer-opportunity/a093d000000pTUtAAM/camp-host-cottonwood-campground
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ADDRESS: Big Bend National Park; 1 Panther Junction; Big Bend National Park, Texas 79834
DEPT: National Park Service
DATES: 11/1/2023 – 1/31/2024
DESCRIPTION:
The primary duties and responsibilities of the campground host are to help National Park Service personnel ensure that campers have a safe, enjoyable visit and that campers are aware of campground rules and regulations.
Cottonwood Campground is a fairly small campground with 25 campsites and 1 group site near the banks of the Rio Grande, the international border between the United States and Mexico.
This campground is at an elevation of 2,100 feet. Because cold air tends to sink into lower valleys during the peak seasons of fall and winter, temperatures are cooler here than in other parts of the park during these times. Be prepared for all types of weather.
This area also serves as a launch/take-out point for float trips down the Rio Grande via access at the boat ramp just outside the entrance to the campground. Additionally, there are numerous hiking trails and backcountry roads for exploration.
This is a minimum 32-hours per week volunteer position. The incumbent must furnish his or her own trailer or RV under 40’ in length. Electrical, water and sewer hookups are provided free of charge and propane is reimbursed. Laundry facilities are provided.
There is wifi in the housing area for use by the camp host only.
Full-time and part-time volunteers who will work outside must be identifiable to the public. Uniform consists of brown or tan (khaki) pants/shorts and a khaki work shirt with VIP patch sewn on the left-hand sleeve. Volunteers may obtain volunteer work shirts and hats at the volunteer cache.
DUTIES
The primary duties and responsibilities of the campground host are to help National Park Service personnel ensure that campers have a safe, enjoyable visit and that campers are aware of campground rules and regulations. Specific duties will include:
Answering visitor’s questions concerning daily park activities such as walks, talks and tours.
Use a computer tablet to download and monitor the campground reservations with the use of a Daily Arrival Report. Using DAR, each campsite sign will be posted with the upcoming reservation and changed as reservations change. Will assist visitors in locating or changing their campsites.
Become familiar with the Park’s resources and be able to answer visitor’s questions concerning trails, points of interest, and recreational activities available.
Volunteer must feel comfortable making visitor contact and explaining rules and regulations to campers.
Assist the maintenance and ranger staff by picking up litter in the campground.
Alert the ranger staff to change out the iron rangers as they become full.
During busy periods, or on request from the ranger stations, reporting campground status to Park Dispatch as the campground fills, is full or status changes.
Acting as the eyes and ears of the Park Staff by reporting signs of resource or facility damage, maintenance needs, violations of rules and regulations, etc., to proper personnel.
Comforting visitors during emergency situations. The incumbent may assist park rangers during minor medical incidents by performing first-aid for visitors (i.e. cleaning and bandaging minor cuts and abrasions) depending on his or her training and skill levels.
Willingness to set a good example by upholding the rules and regulations of NPS in general and Big Bend National Park in particular.
Miscellaneous Duties:
May be called on to assist park staff with other projects outside the campground, including occasionally shuttling park staff to and from river patrols, office projects, etc.
QUALIFICATIONS
Desired qualifications include:
Knowledge of the park and surrounding areas
Able to use a computer tablet to download and print the daily arrival report.
Comfort making visitor contact and explaining rules and regulations to campers.
Willingness to set a good example by upholding the rules and regulations of NPS in general and Big Bend National Park in particular.
All park employees, including volunteers, should always look professional, and therefore need to have neat, clean uniforms which meet the NPS uniform standards. The Volunteer Office can explain where to find the closest washer and dryer. Only wear your volunteer uniform when you are on duty. Do not wear your uniform out of the park unless you are driving a shuttle. Never wear your volunteer uniform in a park where you are not currently signed up as a volunteer. Do not wear bits and pieces of your uniform. It is an all or nothing situation.
SKILLS
General Assistance
Visitor Information
Working with People
WORK ENVIRONMENT
Big Bend National Park encompasses 801,000 acres of Chihuahuan Desert with varied scenery and diversity of plant and animal life. The park is considered a remote location with the closest hospital two hours away. Cell phone coverage is scant and internet reception will most likely require a “Hughesnet” type satellite dish or a local phone line connection. There is wifi at the Chisos Basin Lodge and the store at Rio Grande Village. The park community consists of 250 people, including employees of the National Park Service, Forever Resorts (concessionaire), Border Patrol, U.S. Postal Service, K-8 school and their families. The park has a post office, gas stations, camper stores, restaurant, and lodge. Recreational opportunities include hiking, bird watching, photography, backcountry camping, bicycling, and river rafting. Elevation at Panther Junction is 3,800 feet. The climate is generally pleasant with hot summers (90-100 degrees F.) and mild winters (30-50 degrees F.). Terlingua, a 1 hour drive, has lodging, restaurants, a hardware store, a small grocery, churches and a bank. Alpine, Texas, a 2 hour drive, has most necessities, including supermarkets, a variety of stores, a hospital, pharmacies, churches, a movie theater, and a university. The nearest larger cities are Midland/Odessa (225 miles) and El Paso (325 miles).
Some work may be performed outdoors in rugged terrain; to include very steep, wet, muddy, rough, uneven or rocky surfaces. All positions require some physical exertion such as standing for long periods, lifting up to 25 pounds, stretching and reaching. Camphost positions require walking, bending, shoveling, raking and working outdoors and indoors in all types of weather. You may encounter bears, mountain lions, poisonous snakes and stinging insects in the course of your regular activities. The park is taking precautions and following CDC recommendations to prevent the transmission of COVID.
Gun Law Notice:
Under 43 C.F.R. § 20.511, Departmental volunteers in the course of their official duties are prohibited from possessing firearms on property under control of the Department. Because of the stated purpose of the sponsors of Section 512 to provide uniformity under applicable state law from bureau-to-bureau, the potential liability issues that could result, and the absence of any criminal penalties applicable to this regulation, this Departmental policy continues to apply to all NPS/FWS employees and volunteers during their official duties. Volunteers who are not on official duty may possess firearms on Departmental lands under the same conditions applicable to members of the general public, according to P.L. 111-24, Section 512. For this purpose, volunteers are considered the same as other employees when engaged in their official activities.