Interpretive Services and Outreach Volunteer
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
Volunteer
Job Description
FROM: https://www.volunteer.gov/s/volunteer-opportunity/a093d0000013QgK
ADDRESS:
11981 Rend City Road
Benton, Illinois, 62812-9803
DATES: 4/1/2024 – 11/7/2024
DEPT: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
JOB DESCRIPTOIN:
Interpretive Services and Outreach Volunteer
Background: The USACE at Rend Lake operates a full-service Visitor Center all year round. Visitor Center Volunteer Attendant services are employed at the Visitor Center to supplement government employee administration. Visitor Center Attendants interact with visitors and Rend Lake operations and maintenance personnel as an integral part of Rend Lake operations, allowing the USACE to offer what visitors rate as some of the highest quality and most valuable public recreation facilities. The Visitor Center is combined with the Rend Lake Project Office as one 20,000 square foot facility. The 8,000 square foot Visitor Center features a large exhibit hall, multipurpose room, brochure area, and indoor public restroom facilities. Outdoor facilities include a covered classroom, courtyard, bulletin board, electronic marquee, and a pollinator garden. The Visitor Center welcomes ~18,000 visitors annually.
The primary duty of an Interpretive Services Volunteer is to assist the Rend Lake Interpretive Services staff in providing programming and outreach that educates visitors on Corps of Engineers missions. Volunteers are required to provide an average of 20 hours of service per week and may serve the entire recreation season April through October. Additional volunteer activities may be necessary to meet the hour requirements but can be arranged through the volunteer coordinator and interpretive services staff. Full-time Visitor Center Volunteers are eligible for a full hook-up site in South Marcum Campground Volunteer Village (Turkey Hollow).
Specific duties include:
• Assist Interpretive Services staff with preparing for programs and presentations.
• Assist with preparation for Environmental Science Series Programs (every Saturday Memorial Day-Labor Day) and Small World Programs (every third Tuesday of the month year round).
• Assist with staffing special events and programming (i.e., boat shows, water safety festivals, local parades, community homecoming’s etc.).
• Assist with writing articles, press releases, and Facebook posts.
• Assist in distributing promotional materials to area businesses, rest stops, and tourism bureaus.
• Promote water safety at Corps boat ramps and beaches through water safety games, passing out water safety items, and performing boat safety checks.
• Assist with maintenance of visitor center aquariums, terrariums, and bird feeders.
• Maintain Visitor Center pollinator garden and Visitor Center Parking Lot Landscaping.
Schedule: Varies depending on needs and schedule of Interpretive programs and staff. Additional hours as needed will be coordinated with the volunteer coordinator and/or interpretive services staff.