Volunteer
Job Description
FROM: https://www.volunteer.gov/s/volunteer-opportunity/a09t000000CZnd1AAD/visitor-center-volunteer-kabetogama-lake-and-ash-river
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ADDRESS: Voyageurs National Park; Voyageurs National Park Headquarters; International Falls, Minnesota 56649
DEPT: National Park Service
DATES: 4/30/2022 – 9/23/2022
DESCRIPTION:
Work at Voyageurs National Park! Assist in staffing our visitor centers and giving interpretive programming. This position is located at Voyageurs National Park in northern Minnesota at the Kabetogama Lake Visitor Center and the Ash River Visitor Center.
This position is located at Voyageurs National Park, located in northern Minnesota. Primary duties are staffing the visitor center desk and sales area, providing trip-planning assistance, and disseminating information in person or via mail, telephone, or electronic mail (if background check cleared for computer use.) Duties may also include assisting with, or conducting interpretive programs (i.e. canoe, talks and hikes), helping to prepare for special events, or helping to construct temporary displays and exhibits. Volunteer may also be responsible for filling written and e-mailed information requests. Volunteers working in this capacity will receive appropriate training, guidance, and supervision from the District Interpreter.
As a uniformed volunteer with the NPS, the volunteer serves as a front-line representative of the agency at the visitor center. The volunteer is responsible for providing current, accurate information on Voyageurs National Park and the NPS to visitors, along with information on surrounding areas. The volunteer explains recreational opportunities, including national park interpretive programs and services, and privately operated facilities and services. The volunteer distributes maps, brochures, and other printed material; informs visitors of potential safety hazards; provides directions and routes of travel to provide access to the park.
RV pads and hook ups available for volunteer housing. Cabins in shared housing may be available.
DUTIES
The volunteer performs a variety of general office duties, including answering telephones, responding to written or phone requests for information, filing, typing and duplicating informational handouts. The volunteer operates a variety of office machines, including cash registers, calculators, typewriters, copiers, computers (if appropriate background check has been run,) and telephone/fax machines. The volunteer may be a passenger in or operate government vehicles.
The volunteer staffs the Jefferson National Parks Association sales outlet, makes sales using a cash register, inventories stock, and keeps display area stocked and neat in appearance at all times.
The volunteer may also perform any or all of the following duties in the course of completing their work. These duties are secondary to the primary duties and typically constitute 20% or less of the duties of the position.
· Collecting fees, stocking brochure and permit boxes, collecting permits.
· Performing roving contacts at a variety of park locations.
· Assisting other park staff at special events.
· Going into the field to familiarize self with area resources.
· Assisting, as needed, with basic emergency response.
· Opening and closing procedures of visitor center.
QUALIFICATIONS
To perform the duties of this position, the volunteer must have the following knowledge, skills and abilities:
· Ability to communicate effectively and deal with a high volume of personal contacts in a courteous, friendly, tactful, and intelligent manner
· Knowledge of NPS and park mission and goals.
· Skill in the handling of cash, checks, and credit cards, and ability to complete mathematical calculations and make change.
· Ability to operate an electronic cash register, credit card machine, calculator, typewriter, and computer.
· Knowledge of NPS and park fee collection guidelines and procedures.
WORK ENVIRONMENT
Standing for long periods of time, walking on uneven surfaces, bending, lifting of moderately heavy items, use of stepstools and ladders to reach high shelves, and sedentary work is required. Work is generally performed indoors in both visitor center and office settings. Trips to park field locations or local travel within or near International Falls, Kabetogama, Ash River, Rainy Lake, or Crane Lake may be required, which may include travelling as a passenger on a government vessel. The volunteer may be subject to working in adverse weather conditions while outdoors.
Summer temperatures typically range between 60 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit, although spring and autumn temperatures can dip below 32 degrees. The winter climate is cold, with average temperatures ranging from 32 degrees Fahrenheit to -30 Fahrenheit depending on the month (with wind chill factors up to -50 Fahrenheit or below).
Locations & Accommodations: Housing is available by RV site hook up or a cabin. Volunteers must work 32 hours per week for waived housing fees. All housing locations are in heavily forested areas; cell phone and satellite reception is spotty and unreliable at best.