Job Description
FROM: https://www.volunteer.gov/s/volunteer-opportunity/a093d000000cYKuAAM/20-hrswk-resident-gardenertrail-worker
LOCATION:
St. Catherine Creek National Wildlife Refuge
21 Pintail Ln
Natchez, Mississippi 39120
DATES: 12/19/2022 – 7/28/2023
Live on the refuge or volunteer consistently to tend to and build our pollinator garden and improve/maintain recreational trails.
St. Catherine Creek NWR is a beautiful 25,000-acre wildlife refuge on the eastern bank of the Mississippi River which attracts thousands of migrating birds, from ducks to shorebirds to neotropical migrant songbirds. The headquarters is in the upland forest, and the pollinator garden needs some time and attention to ensure it stays healthy and tidy as its the first thing that visitors see when entering the refuge. There is some trail work and maintenance needed as well. A work vehicle is provided while on the refuge.
Age 18 and up may apply. Please complete the application on volunteer.gov, submit at least two work references (not related to you) AND send an email to the Site Contact with why you’re interested in the volunteer position and any questions. If you are applying as a couple, please detail if your partner is wanting to work alongside you or to do something else on the refuge.
HOUSING:
Sheltered RV pad with full hookups (water, sewer, electric) can fit up to 48 ft RV. It’s secluded up on a hill safe from floods and set amongst trees. Another option may be a house. There is flexibility in the schedule, but we ask that residents commit to a minimum of 6-weeks total (120 hours per resident), with a minimum of 20 hours per week. There may be periods during the winter where it is not possible to work due to the weather/temperature.
DUTIES
The garden is approximately 400 square feet and we are looking to expand by another 400 sq ft! The garden needs tending most of the year, including pruning everything back in the winter, applying mulch, and starting seedlings indoors, springtime planting, summer weeding and trimming. For the trailwork, we are looking to repair some rough spots that have gotten damaged by storms, install some steps, and re-route a 200-ft section of trail through an upland area to stop damage to the creek. There is some boardwalk/bridge/kiosk repair as well.
QUALIFICATIONS
Interest and enthusiasm for working with plants, ability to work on trails, ability to work independently with minimal supervision, use of manual tools (e.g., loppers, pruning shears, shovel, hand shovels, trowel, etc), and ability to lift bags of mulch and soil that can be up to 50 lbs. A handtruck/dolly is provided for transporting heavy material.
SKILLS
General Assistance
Hand Power Tools
Landscaping/Reforestation
WORK ENVIRONMENT
>75% outdoors
JOB HAZARDS
General housekeeping
Slip, trip, and fall hazards
Equipment operation
Equipment maintenance
Insects, plants, weather
BACKGROUND/REFERENCE CHECK REQUIRED
Yes