Nature Center Helper

St. Catherine Creek National Wildlife Refuge is located along the Mississippi River just south of Natchez, Mississippi. It is well known for the thousands of wading birds, waterfowl, and forest birds, which utilize the dense flooded areas, swamps, bottomland forests, and uplands. Bayou Cocodrie is just across the river in Ferriday, Louisiana, and is comprised mainly of forested bottomlands and managed wetlands. This position is primarily located at St. Catherine Creek NWR.

This is a unique opportunity for a nature-loving, creative, artist to revitalize a visitor services program for the refuges The nature center needs to be repainted on the interior, installing creative and refuge season-appropriate displays and exhibits. Scientific literature researcher and writers are encouraged to apply.

Primary duties of this volunteer position include maintaining displays/kiosks/bulletins, answering phones, filing and office organization, and interaction with visitors in the nature center. Interpretation through design of displays, brochures, kiosk displays, and refuge signage placement are possible duties. Depending on experience and workload, there may be opportunity to give interpretive talks and hikes, or to assist with bird surveys/wildlife tasks, trail maintenance, litter pickups, or boardwalk repairs. If additional outdoor work is desired, tending to the pollinator garden is encouraged.

Work schedule will be pre-arranged with the station manager.

HOUSING:

RV pads with electric, water, and sewer hookups are available at both refuges with a minimum six week commitment of 24 hours per week, negotiable for a longer term. Due to the remote locations of the refuges, cellular phone service is not guaranteed, but is available by the office and is somewhat available at the RV site. Inquire with the refuge manager about other on-site housing options, or if housing is not needed at all. For enrolled college students or recent graduates (within 2 years), a student house is available with a furnished, private bedroom and shared bath, with Wi-Fi and laundry on-site. Sorry, no pets are allowed due to wildlife considerations.