Maintenance
Office
Volunteer
Job Description
FROM: https://www.volunteer.gov/s/volunteer-opportunity/a093d00000147SX
ADDRESS:
30587 Overseas Highway
Big Pine Key, Florida, 33043
DATES: 7/1/2024 – 9/30/2024
DEPT: Fish & Wildlife Service
JOB DESCRIPTION:
Our Refuge: Located about 130 miles from Miami, FL and only 30 miles from Key West, National Key Deer Refuge is a fantastic destination to see a variety of wildlife in many of our diverse habitats. The refuge consists of pine rockland forests, tropical hardwood hammocks, freshwater wetlands, salt marsh wetlands, and mangrove forests. It is home to more than 20 endangered and threatened plant and animal species. The National Key Deer Refuge was established in 1957 to protect and preserve the national interest in Key deer and other wildlife resources in the Florida Keys. Nature Center volunteers play a vital role in the visitor’s introduction to the refuge system. This position helps to ensure visitors leave with an educated, positive, and fulfilling experience.
RV Accommodations: We are looking for 2 people to co-occupy one RV Site. We have 3 site, and they are all located on refuge near our bunkhouse and maintenance facilities. The volunteers will commute 1 mile to and from the Nature Center for their shifts. Volunteers must provide their own transportation. Water, sewer, and 50 amp electric is provided at each site, along with nearby trash and recycling disposal. Cell phone coverage is great at this location. Outdoor shower, laundry and communal freezer are located near sites.
Local Amenities: This refuge is a mosaic of almost 90,000 acres of land and water located throughout the lower Florida Keys, with the main access being located on Big Pine Key. Big Pine Key is a small community with one grocery store. There are a few restaurants and little shopping. Medical care is limited but hospital and other medical needs can be met on Marathon, Key West, or in Miami.
Time Commitment: NKDR Resident Volunteer program requires a three-month commitment. 24 hours per person is asked. Please note, the start and end date listed are flexible. Please reach out if you have questions regarding that.
Responsibilities may include:
· Meet and cheerfully greet visitors while staffing the refuge nature center.
· Explain basic refuge regulations to visitors.
· Offers wildlife viewing advice, identification, and give driving directions.
· Act as a public point of contact, receive reports from visitors of rare wildlife sightings, problems or violations and provides public comment forms and/or calls for appropriate refuge staff to deal with the issue.
· May present short, informative talks to visitors about wildlife while roving the nature center.
· Answer phone calls and provide basic information and transfer calls.
· Safely pick up and dispose of litter found along roadways, trails, and visitor areas.
· Maintain nature center in a clean and tidy condition. Cleaning may include, sweeping, vacuuming, washing windows, wiping counters, emptying trash cans, disinfecting toilets and other tasks as assigned or as seen as need by the volunteer.
· Complying with volunteer uniform policy and maintaining a neat and professional appearance.
· Other duties may include tasks that are more physical in nature such as assisting with: landscaping, invasive plant removal, painting, minor carpentry, organizing and cleaning refuge warehouses and many other projects that are on the refuge “long-term to do list”.
· Additional special projects and duties may be requested.