Volunteer
Job Description
ADDRESS: Bosque Del Apache National Wildlife Refuge; 1001 Highway 1; San Antonio, New Mexico 87832
DEPT: Fish & Wildlife Service
DATES: 5/17/2021 – 8/31/2021
DESCRIPTION:
Welcome to Wild at one of America’s most premier federal lands – Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge! As a volunteer for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Visitor Center Ranger Naturalists will inform and inspire visitors at Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge in Central New Mexico.
Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge is located in central New Mexico along the Rio Grande, an oasis in the desert. Well known for the tens of thousands of cranes, geese, and ducks who winter here each year, the summer months are busy with intensive wildlife management actions. While refuge staff conduct the tasks associated with water management, agricultural work, and endangered/threatened species conservation, volunteers will assist in communicating this and other refuge work to visitors.
We are seeking individuals and/or couples to serve as ranger naturalists for the May 17, 2021, through August 31, 2021, season. All applicants must be available for the entire season; couples will work the same days and may work together in the visitor center and while performing interpretive roving on the refuge.
The Visitor Center Ranger Naturalist Position requires that you work three and a half days per week (eight hours per day for three days and one 4-hour day) May 17, 2021, through August 31, 2021. Your lunch break will be one hour off duty near the midpoint of your shift.
You may be required to have a federal background investigation completed for this position. If you had a favorably adjudicated federal background investigation completed, please indicate the year and agency on your application. Please list at least two volunteer or professional work references on your application.
DUTIES
Core Duties:
Please note that the refuge visitor center is currently closed, so some flexibility in duties may be necessary as COVID-19 pandemic precautions are implemented. You will be provided with personal protective equipment that may be required during the COVID-19 pandemic. You will be asked to comply with COVID-19 safe work practices to protect yourself, your fellow team members, and the public.
Meets and cheerfully greets visitors while staffing the refuge visitor center. During the COVID-19 pandemic, this may be primarily answering phones.
Explains basic refuge regulations to visitors such as areas open for biking, hiking, and walking dogs.
Offers wildlife viewing advice and gives driving directions.
Assists visitors in identifying wildlife they have observed.
Appropriately restocks trail guides and maps at trail heads and entrance locations.
Provides advice to photographers concerning when and where to best capture outstanding images.
Concisely explains the refuge entry fee options.
May operate an electronic cash register to sell entry passes.
May issue non-fee passes according to policy.
Accurately completes end of day shift reports and maintains security of accountable stock.
As a public point of contact, receives 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.
When safe to do so, goes out on the refuge to areas of high bird concentration and uses spotting scope, binoculars and field guides to help visitors identify birds and to increase the visitor’s understanding of the refuge mission and objectives.
May give short, informal talks to visitors about wildlife while roving the visitor center and visitor center plaza.
Answers phone calls and provides basic information and transfers calls.
Safely picks-up and disposes of litter found along roadways, trails and visitor areas.
Maintains visitor 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 needed by the volunteer. Complies with COVID-19 pandemic safe work practices.
Complies with volunteer uniform policy. Maintains a neat and professional appearance.
COLLATERAL DUTIES:
Assists with other projects as assigned based on the needs of the refuge which could include assisting with janitorial duties. The COVID-19 pandemic could result in operational changes. If the Visitor Center is closed the volunteer will be required to take on other duties in order to fill a minimum of 24 hours per week. These duties could 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”.
WORK ENVIRONMENT
RV Volunteers typically work solo, as a couple, or in small groups with staff and other volunteers on Refuge priority projects in outdoor settings or in the visitor center.