Volunteer
Job Description
FROM: https://www.volunteer.gov/s/
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ADDRESS: Reelfoot National Wildlife Refuge; 4343 Highway 157; Union City, Tennessee 38261
DEPT: Fish & Wildlife Service
DATES: 3/15/2022 – 9/15/2022
DESCRIPTION:
Reelfoot NWR is 10,428 acres and was established to provide habitat to migratory waterfowl. The Visitor Center is located near Reelfoot Lake, which is a popular destination for hunters and fisherman, as well as kayakers, photographers, and wildlife enthusiasts.
Site information: Four concrete pads are available for volunteers with full hook-up (both 30 and 50 amp), concrete pads are 32 ft. in length, two which are covered, with 4 foot of gravel behind, and more than enough gravel in front if you have a larger camper. Laundry facility on site, free of charge. Free propane hook-up. RV hookup sites are located within sight/walking distance of visitor center. Sites are nestled next to 2 ponds. Pets are allowed, but must be kept on a leash while outside. Pets may not be brought into the visitor center, or ride in government vehicles. Free wifi and volunteer RV site, and public wifi at Visitor Center. Cell phone service is patchy throughout the refuge, but there are several spots on the refuge where you can get service.
Location: Reelfoot NWR is located in Obion County in northwest Tennessee, just a few miles from the TN/KY state line. The refuge is 15-20 minutes from Union City, TN, which has several restaurants, a Wal-Mart, a variety of shops, and the Discovery Park of America, etc. The town of Tiptonville, TN is 10 minutes away and offers a variety of restaurants, gift shops, the local Reelfoot Lake State Park museum, and more. Memphis, TN is approx. 2 hours away.
The Reelfoot NWR staff takes pride in providing quality experiences for visitors. When the visitor leaves the refuge, we want them to look forward to bringing other family and friends back. The Outdoor Maintenance (OM) Volunteer plays a key role in making sure the visitors enjoy exploring the refuge. Many returning visitors may not feel the need to have additional information and are comfortable with heading straight to the trails, viewing towers, and refuge roads to explore. By maintaining our trails, piers, viewing towers, signs, and keeping litter picked up, this shows visitors that we care about the refuge, as well as their experience. Duties include, but are not limited to, mowing, weed eating, spraying, pressure washing, picking up limbs and littler, repairing boardwalks and towers, painting, roving interpretation, being the refuges “eyes and ears”, checking roads for fallen limbs, cleaning beaver dams from culverts, etc. The OM Volunteer may be asked to assist with onsite/offsite environmental education or interpretive programs (such as hauling canoes or setting up archery materials). Qualities sought when filling this position; friendly/personable, patient, honest, trustworthy, dependable, works well with others, self-motivated, flexible, independent, can handle hot and humid weather (or cold weather), familiar with a variety of tools, problem solving skills, etc.