Volunteer
Job Description
FROM: https://www.volunteer.gov/s/volunteer-opportunity/a093d000000e1v5AAA/interpretation-and-visitor-services-volunteer
DEPT: National Park Service
DATES: 4/10/2023 – 9/29/2023
ADDRESS:
Fort Raleigh National Historic Site
1500 Fort Raleigh Road
Manteo, North Carolina 27954
DESCRIPTION:
Join the staff at Fort Raleigh National Historic Site in the beautiful Outer Banks of North Carolina and help connect visitors to the stories of the Lost Colony, Freedmans’ Colony during the Civil War, along with many others.
Fort Raleigh National Historic Site nestled on the Outer Banks of North Carolina seeks energetic people who love to engage visitors in rich historical stories. You will play an active role on the Interpretive team as we greet hundreds of visitors to the site daily. The right candidates will provide walking tours, interpretive programs and assist visitors at the museum and visitor center.
The park visitor center holds recently renovated museum exhibits and artifacts dating to the first English settlement attempts in North America and a Freedmen’s Colony during the American Civil War. Walking tours and interpretive programs are offered throughout the day and can attract crowds of 60+ visitors.
Ideally, the position will begin the second week of April, so volunteers have the opportunity to participate in Interpretive training hosted by Fort Raleigh National Historic Site, Cape Hatteras National Seashore and Wright Brothers National Memorial. The training will offer participants the tools for successful Audience Centered Experience (ACE) Interpretation and can be a great introduction for the season. The position is flexible, however ending the season in September or early October is ideal.
If this sounds like what you’re looking for, I am happy to talk with you more about this opportunity.
DUTIES
Be aware, receptive, and responsive to visitor needs.
Actively participate in a safe workplace culture.
Maintain positive and professional relationships among the staff and public.
Provide interpretive programs and guided walking tours of the park to visitors.
Rove park grounds and provide informal information, orientation, and/or interpretation to visitors.
Operate the park visitor center including opening and closing the building, operating audio-visual equipment to play park video in the auditorium, providing park and area information, stocking brochures, and maintaining attendance statistics.
QUALIFICATIONS
Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
Ability to communicate orally.
Ability and/or interest to research and communicate historic information.
Ability to effectively deal with stressful situations and repetitive tasks.
Ability and/or interest in developing interpretive programs and providing them to the public.
SKILLS
Conservation Education
Office/Clerical
Visitor Information
WORK ENVIRONMENT
Work is performed mainly in a climate controlled office setting. Outer Banks weather is notoriously unpredictable and can change quickly. The area experiences thunderstorms, high winds, rain, high heat, moderate cold, tornados or waterspouts, and hurricanes. The site is also home to a number of insects including biting flies, chiggers, mosquitos, sand gnats, and ticks.
Summers are busy on the Outer Banks with many opportunities for recreation and sightseeing in the area. A wide variety of restaurants, shops, entertainment, and the small downtown community of Manteo are located three miles south of the park. Large grocery stores, a hospital and many amenities can be found in Nags Head and Kill Devil Hills about 15 miles to the east.
The RV site provided for volunteers is nestled in a wooded area less than a half mile from the park visitor center and a five-minute walk from a sound-side beach with great sunsets! Volunteers who contribute 32 hours of service per week receive the site and full hook ups in exchange for their time. Internet is available at the site if volunteers choose to pay for the connection. Park laundry facilities are located 13 miles east at Bodie Island or a laundromat can be found 3 miles south in Manteo.
JOB HAZARDS
General housekeeping
BACKGROUND/REFERENCE CHECK REQUIRED
Yes