Job Description
CAMPGROUND: Organ Mountains-Desert Peaks National Monument
DEPT: Bureau of Land Management
AVAILABILITY: 4/1/2020–10/1/2020
RV INFORMATION: OtherDescription: Small one bedroom furnished homes. No pets allowed. Internet connectivity is limited. Three covered parking spaces are first come, first serve.
DESCRIPTION
Volunteer Activities• Office/Clerical • Visitor Information • General Assistance Photo Courtesy of BLM DescriptionDo you enjoy talking to people and staffing visitors centers? Consider hosting at the base of the Organ Mountains at Dripping Springs Natural Area! It’s a beautiful and cozy area less than a 30 minute drive to Las Cruces, NM, a city with a population of 100,000. Come and experience the beauty of the Chihuahuan Desert and the forested, rocky spires of the Organ Mountains. ABOUT DRIPPING SPRINGS NATURAL AREA Dripping Springs is approximately 1,012 acres. It is a day-use area with over 5 miles of moderately easy trails in the Organ Mountains. There are 13 covered picnic shelters, one group site available for reservations, and a small amphitheater. The Visitors Center is small and was formerly the headquarters for a large ranch. Dripping Springs is largely run by volunteers. There will be another site host volunteer(s) with the same duties, and multiple day site hosts from the local area that will staff the Visitors Center during the day. The site receives light to medium usage with many visitors from Las Cruces, NM, El Paso, TX, and Cd. Juarez, Chih., MX. However, holidays such as Easter and Labor Day, or popular organized events can be really busy. The site hosts will reside at Dripping Springs. There are two one-bedroom furnished residences available for site hosts. One of the residences is attached to the Visitors Center, and the other one is a short walk away. Due to the proximity and layout of the buildings, there might be visitors that wander among the residential areas. There are also two other residences that are reserved for seasonal park rangers, interns, and an Artist-in-Residence. No pets are allowed. There are covered spaces for three vehicles which are available on a first come, first serve basis. Internet connectivity is limited. Volunteers will be reimbursed $12 per day. Reimbursements are paid out once a month, but there can be extended delays subject to the workload/availability of employees processing it. Reimbursements are not stipends or salaries/wages. There will be a government vehicle available for official duties exclusive to the site host volunteers. There is a shared washer and dryer available to residents at Dripping Springs. Dripping Springs is part of Organ Mountains-Desert Peaks National Monument. The Monument was established by presidential proclamation on 2014. It is 500,000 acres with 240,000 acres of Wilderness. The Monument is managed out of the Las Cruces District Office which manages 5.4 million acres of public land in southwest New Mexico. The Monument staff consists of eight permanent employees. Site hosts will interact more frequently with three Monument park rangers and two District law enforcement rangers. Expect hot summers with temperatures usually in the high 90s and occasional thunderstorms. In the spring, there will be high winds usually 60 mph or above. Winters range from a low in the 30s to a high in the 60s. Area Attractions: White Sands National Monument, Prehistoric Trackways National Monument, Las Cruces, NM: grocery stores, gasoline stations, hospitals, restaurants (serving a lot of delicious Mexican food), entertainment SITE HOST DUTIES Preferably, we are looking for volunteers that can commit to 6 months at a time. The BLM has contracted with Tresco, Inc. which provides employment opportunities for people with disabilities in the community. They visit the site once or twice a week to clean out restrooms and change out all the garbage cans. Volunteer 3-4 days every week alternating Wednesdays with the other site host(s). Open and close entrance gates every day. DST: 7 AM to sunset, MST: 8 AM to sunset Staff the Visitors Center and provide visitor information in person or on the phone. Sell day use permits and passes using a cash register following standard operating procedures. Keep the Visitors Center clean Open and close the Visitors Center Check for fee compliance Pick up litter Change out trashcans as needed in the site, and at two other recreation sites. Re-stock toilet paper in restrooms as needed Maintain government vehicle such as oil changes Collect data on visitor usage Re-stock Recreation Use Permits at self-pay stations and trail registration sign-in sheets at trail heads. Monitor the site by hiking the trails. Hosts may also assist with other duties, if interested, such as educational programs or maintenance. REQUIREMENTS Defensive Driving certification, BLM online training available Cashier and Collections Officers training through BLM DOI Talent online training program. Be able to work independently, reliable, and adapt well to new situations. BLM employees will not be available every day to assist. Be professional and courteous with visitors. Wear a BLM volunteer shirt and badge. Fill out timesheets, reimbursement forms, data collection forms, and truck usage forms in a timely manner. Must be willing to learn about Organ Mountains-Desert Peaks National Monument to provide accurate information to visitors. Keep the site clean and tidy. Volunteer for at least 6 months with an opportunity to volunteer up to a year. If volunteering for a year, campground hosts will be able to return after 6 months. The BLM is an Equal Employment Opportunity federal agency. Everyone is welcome to apply. We do not discriminate based on race, religion, color, national origin, sex, age (over 40), disability, sexual orientation, genetic information, and reprisal. After you submit your application, you will receive a response within one or two weeks. Thank you for your interest and patience! Hopefully, we get to work together in the future. Feel free to contact us with questions. HOUSING & AMENITIESType: OtherDescription: Small one bedroom furnished homes. No pets allowed. Internet connectivity is limited. Three covered parking spaces are first come, first serve.