Volunteer
Job Description
FROM: https://www.volunteer.gov/s/volunteer-opportunity/a093d000000YkxJAAS/aransas-national-wildlife-refuge-summer-2022-rv-volunteers-maintenance
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Share your love of wildlife and National Wildlife Refuges. Join us as a maintenance volunteer at Aransas National Wildlife Refuge. Now accepting applications May – July 2022.
About: Aransas National Wildlife Refuge is a hidden gem located in the center of the Texas Coastal Bend, and is the winter home for the famous whooping crane! Located near the town of Rockport, Aransas NWR is an impressive 115,000 acres, and is a mecca for birding and fishing. This is an exciting time for Aransas, as we have just moved into our new visitor center, and have recently furnished our equally-new volunteer commons building.
Accommodations: 30 and 50 amp RV pads are provided for volunteers, which includes water, septic, and nearby recycling and trash disposal. Adjacent to the RV pads is the new volunteer commons building, which has a full kitchen with a plethora of cooking utensils and appliances; two washers and driers; full bathrooms with showers; full entertainment center with a 55″ television; and refuge WiFi access.
Local Information: Aransas National Wildlife Refuge is about a forty-minute drive from the city of Rockport, which is the closest location for groceries (HEB & Walmart), hardware, restaurants, and a pharmacy. A post office is located in the small town of Austwell, nine miles outside of the refuge. The cities of Corpus Christi, Houston, San Antonio, and Austin are all within a few hours’ drive.
Things to Know: Summers are the “slow” season in regards to visitation on the refuge as it is hot and humid, and mosquitoes can be prevalent. (Though, the fishing is great!) Note: We are located on the Texas Gulf Coast, so although hurricanes are rare, there is always the possibility of evacuation during hurricane season. We have a Hurricane Plan in place for such an instances.
Time Commitment: We ask that volunteers commit to three months, but we can accommodate shorter stints, as well as longer stays through mid-October. Each volunteer must commit 24 hours of in-kind volunteer service work, per week, for an RV pad and accompanying accommodations.
DUTIES
Maintenance Volunteer Duties: The refuge is seeking a general maintenance volunteer who will assist with upkeep of refuge facilities, grounds keeping, and equipment. Ideal candidates should have experience operating basic power tools and will be trained on z-turn mowers. Volunteers will be relied upon to help with mowing, maintaining trails, and general upkeep of public use facilities which includes cleaning restrooms.
Training is provided for volunteers, including defensive driving training, and how to operate any required equipment. Volunteers who are flexible and have positive attitudes typically have excellent experiences working in the maintenance program!
QUALIFICATIONS
Volunteers must have their own RV or Trailer for housing.
A valid driver’s license is required.
Volunteers must be comfortable with wearing a uniform and name bar.
Volunteers must be able to pass a federal background check.
Use of some hand tools required for maintenance volunteers, and willingness to operate a z-turn mower. No professional experience necessary, but having handy skills is a plus.
However the most important skill is having a positive attitude! 🙂
SKILLS
Drivers License
General Assistance
Hand Power Tools
WORK ENVIRONMENT
Maintenance Volunteers typically work outdoors, and will spend much of their time on a z-turn mower, or operating a vehicle. Work can be hot and humid. Bug jackets are provided.
JOB HAZARDS
Equipment operation
BACKGROUND/REFERENCE CHECK REQUIRED
No