Job Description
CAMPGROUND: Wertheim National Wildlife Refuge
DEPT: Fish & Wildlife Service
AVAILABILITY: 5/1/2020–10/1/2020
RV INFORMATION: Trailer/RV PadsDescription: One RV pad is located at this national wildlife refuge. The pad is crushed gravel and has full hook ups (water, electric and sewer). Amenities for RV volunteers include a picnic table and access to a washer/dryer in the headquarters building. On the job training will be provided.The Long Island National Wildlife Refuge Complex, headquartered in Shirley, New York, encompasses ten units, totaling nearly 6,500 acres. The primary purpose for each is to benefit wildlife. These ten units protect many of the Island’s habitat types critical to migratory birds, endangered species and other wildlife. The Complex’s strategic location—situated in the Long Island Pine Barrens and along the Atlantic Flyway—provides important nesting, wintering and migratory stop-over areas for hundreds of bird species. Each unit is unique in wildlife species, habitat and management programs. Five of the units on Long Island are open for visitors.Wertheim National Wildlife Refuge comprises 2,572 acres, with a mixture of wetlands, open water and upland forest. The heart of the refuge is the Carmans River, a New York state-designated Scenic and Recreational River. The Carmans provides habitat for a variety of birds and fish, as well a place for fishermen and canoers to enjoy. The refuge also falls within the Central Pine Barrens region of Long Island. Formed by a unique set of geological conditions over the past 15,000 years, the Pine Barrens is Long Island’s premier ecosystem and one of the Northeast’s greatest natural treasures. It is home to literally thousands of plant and animal species, many of them endangered or threatened. The refuge offers six miles of hiking trails; hikers commonly see white-tailed deer and wild turkeys. A new headquarters building and visitor center opened on the eastern section of the refuge in May 2012. Unfortunately, we cannot host a dog at the site. Indoor pets only.
DESCRIPTION
Volunteer Activities• Conservation Education • Tour Guide/Interpretation • Visitor Information • General Assistance Photo Courtesy of FWS DescriptionIf you like interacting with people, both young and old, this is the volunteer position for you!! This volunteer position interacts closely with Long Island Refuge Complex’s Visitor Services team. Stationed at Wertheim National Wildlife Refuges, volunteers will focus their energies: Staffing the Complex’s new interactive visitor center (Meet and cheerfully greet visitors, provide area and refuge recreation opportunity information, give orientations to the work of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the National Wildlife Refuge System; assist visitors with refuge rules and regulations; concisely explain the refuge entrance fee options; answer telephones, answer visitor questions, respond to visitor correspondences, distribute brochures and restock brochures.); Roving refuge trails to educate refuge visitors (Engage refuge visitors as they walk trails and look for wildlife, show wildlife related props and photos.); Provide informal interpretation (Research, develop and present interpretive programs, talks or demonstrations); Doing clerical activities (Filing, answering the phone at the front desk, researching refuge history at local libraries and organizing Complex’s image library.); Photographing a variety of natural resources; and Performing basic maintenance duties (Maintain cleanliness of public restrooms; pick up and dispose of litter found along roadways, trails and visitor areas). Skills Desired: Volunteers should have good communication skills, an interest in and ability to learn about area history and natural resources, a desire to share knowledge with visiting public and work with a diversity of staff and visitors. Experience with public speaking is beneficial, but not necessary. We especially look for volunteers with backgrounds as educators or naturalists and with skills in birding and photography. A flexibility to handle variations in routine due to shifting priorities and visitor needs is appreciated. In addition, we are looking for volunteers with a demonstrated skill for investigating refuge history through local sources. We are also looking for people with experience organizing and sorting image libraries (i.e. slides, photographs and digital images). To apply: A minimum three-month commitment during the specified timeframe is required. Applications will be accepted up through November 30th of each year, with selections made in mid-January. Contact Ann Marie Chapman at (631) 286-0485 ext. 2131 or AnnMarie_Chapman@fws.gov (If emailing, in the subject line, type in your name followed by the position you are applying for. Example: Ann Marie Chapman: Wertheim Refuge RV Volunteer). You will be sent an application and requested to send a photo of you and your RV. HOUSING & AMENITIESType: Trailer/RV PadsDescription: One RV pad is located at this national wildlife refuge. The pad is crushed gravel and has full hook ups (water, electric and sewer). Amenities for RV volunteers include a picnic table and access to a washer/dryer in the headquarters building. On the job training will be provided.The Long Island National Wildlife Refuge Complex, headquartered in Shirley, New York, encompasses ten units, totaling nearly 6,500 acres. The primary purpose for each is to benefit wildlife. These ten units protect many of the Island’s habitat types critical to migratory birds, endangered species and other wildlife. The Complex’s strategic location—situated in the Long Island Pine Barrens and along the Atlantic Flyway—provides important nesting, wintering and migratory stop-over areas for hundreds of bird species. Each unit is unique in wildlife species, habitat and management programs. Five of the units on Long Island are open for visitors.Wertheim National Wildlife Refuge comprises 2,572 acres, with a mixture of wetlands, open water and upland forest. The heart of the refuge is the Carmans River, a New York state-designated Scenic and Recreational River. The Carmans provides habitat for a variety of birds and fish, as well a place for fishermen and canoers to enjoy. The refuge also falls within the Central Pine Barrens region of Long Island. Formed by a unique set of geological conditions over the past 15,000 years, the Pine Barrens is Long Island’s premier ecosystem and one of the Northeast’s greatest natural treasures. It is home to literally thousands of plant and animal species, many of them endangered or threatened. The refuge offers six miles of hiking trails; hikers commonly see white-tailed deer and wild turkeys. A new headquarters building and visitor center opened on the eastern section of the refuge in May 2012. Unfortunately, we cannot host a dog at the site. Indoor pets only.