Volunteer
Job Description
DEPT: National Park Service
DATES: 12/1/2022 – 11/30/2023
ADDRESS:
Pipe Spring National Monument
406 N Pipe Springs Road
Fredonia, Arizona 86022
Surrounded by red rock and vast expanses, Pipe Spring National Monument shares the stories of water in the desert and the many cultures who have utilized those waters for countless generations. Ranging from the Ancestral Puebloans, Kaibab Band of Paiute Indians, Spanish explorers, members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and the U.S. Federal Government, the history of this desert oasis is nearly as vast as the scenery.
2023 is the Centennial of Pipe Spring being included as a unit of the National Park Service, giving the opportunity to share a rich variety of cultural stories as well as desert ecology, Kaibab Paiute traditions, and pioneer lifeways. The selected volunteers will provide guided tours of a historic structure, greet visitors and collect fees in our visitor center and museum, and lead cultural demonstrations in a variety of different topics based on the interests of the volunteer, aligning with the Monument’s history.
The Monument encompasses 40 acres that is entirely surrounded by the Kaibab Paiute Indian Reservation on the Arizona Strip. The Monument includes a visitor center and cultural museum, restored grasslands, a Southern Paiute encampment, gardens, orchards, historic structures, and a 1/2 mile hiking trail with views over 50 miles on clear days. The Monument is located in Arizona near the border with Utah.
Due to the nature of this position, a 12-week commitment is required and in order to receive free housing, 32 hours of volunteer work per week is required.
Many recreational opportunities exist within a 1-3 hour drive of the Monument, including Zion National Park, Grand Canyon National Park, Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, Bryce Canyon National Park, Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, and countless other federal, state, tribal, and local attractions. To learn more about Pipe Spring National Monument, please visit www.nps.gov/pisp or facebook.com/pipespringnps
DUTIES
DUTIES: The volunteers selected will be trained to staff the visitor center information desk, collect entrance fees, provide formal and informal interpretation, rove the Monument grounds, present guided tours of a historic structure, lead occasional formal programming upwards of 45 minutes in length, assist the Ranchhand in the care of a variety of livestock (including Texas longhorns, mustangs, mule, and chickens).
Volunteers may also assist with special events, educational programming, and outreach events, dependent on staffing and season. Work will also include the preparation and presentation of special interpretive products, cultural demonstrations, and assistance in maintenance of gardens and orchards, as seasonally appropriate. Volunteers will initiate visitor contacts and provide information related to the primary themes of the Monument.
Topics covered at the Monument include, but are not limited to: Kaibab Paiute lifeways and culture, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (also known as Mormon) settlement and culture, ranching and cowboy history, government and politics of the 19th Century, desert ecology, hydrology, biology, and geology.
QUALIFICATIONS
SKILLS DESIRED: Strong verbal communication skills are essential along with the interest and ability to learn area history in relation to the national stage, with enjoyment of sharing this information with the visiting public. Volunteers must be able to develop a working knowledge of the wide variety of stories shared at Pipe Spring and learn interpretive techniques to present this information to audiences of upwards of 50 people, forging connections to the history and resource.
The selectees must be able to work alongside a diverse staff, representative of the cultures with a direct history to Pipe Spring and the surrounding area. A genuine desire to ensure that the visitor has a lasting and positive experience at Pipe Spring is paramount.
SKILLS
Biology
Conservation Education
Drivers License
Livestock/Ranching
Public Speaking
Teaching
Visitor Information
Working with People
Writing/Editing
WORK ENVIRONMENT
Pipe Spring National Monument is in a remote location with a relatively small staff in comparison to our neighboring large parks (Grand Canyon, Bryce, Zion, etc.). Because of this, the various divisions within the park must work cooperatively to achieve all goals. At Pipe Spring, Rangers, Volunteers, and Interns are all equal and have similar responsibilities. A positive, safe, and happy work environment is crucial, and consistently achieved at Pipe Spring.
JOB HAZARDS
General housekeeping
Slip, trip, and fall hazards
Work organization and process flow (including staffing and scheduling)
BACKGROUND/REFERENCE CHECK REQUIRED
Yes