Visitor Services Volunteer

FROM: https://www.volunteer.gov/s/volunteer-opportunity/a09SJ000000TJ0r

ADDRESS: 90942 Kelso Cima Rd Kelso, California, 92309

DATES: 9/29/2024 – 6/30/2025

DEPT: National Park Service

JOB DESCRIPTION:

Join the visitor services team at the Mojave National Preserve and discover a sparsely developed yet unique desert landscape that is hours from major metropolitans! This 1.6 million acre preserve, managed by the National Park Service, offers a vast range of ecosystems, human histories, and dark skies to explore. By sharing your talents and passion for this little-known gem of a park you will be protecting it and fostering future generations of stewards for all public lands.

Minimum commitment of one month, at least 32 hours per week; past volunteers have said that a minimum of 2 – 3 months is even better!

Duties:

·       Staff visitor centers: provide information in-person and via telephone and mail, conduct park store sales, and help keep facilities tidy and accessible;

·       Contact and engage the public at popular visitor destinations, on hiking trails, and while driving a government vehicle on paved and non-paved roads, providing park orientation, resource education, safety and resource protection messages;

·       Help visitors with vehicle trouble by assisting directly or contacting tow companies or Visitor & Resource Protection (VRP) rangers;

·       Report resource violations to VRP rangers/dispatch;

·       Report any adverse resource impacts, facility damage, or unsafe conditions;

·       Operate a park radio for visitor and staff safety and assistance;

·       Assist with safety incidents, for instance, staffing road closures, stacking sand bags, clearing parking lots for helicopter landing;

·       Occasionally assist Facilities staff in keeping restrooms and vault toilets clean in visitor areas & campgrounds;

·       Conduct regular inspections and light cleaning of government vehicles assigned to volunteers;

·       Maintain records of hours volunteered, visitors contacted, and types of contacts/assistance rendered;

·       Maintain roving kits with interpretive props, brochures, junior ranger books, badges, safety equipment, and other seasonal necessities;

·       Contribute images, video clips, and/or captions/posting text to rangers for park social media feeds & website;

·       Possible opportunities to conduct structured interpretive and educational programs, and work on various projects that increase efficiency of park operations and enhance visitor experience, enjoyment and understanding;

·       Assist other divisions with volunteer events, special tasks, and other duties of interests.

Qualifications:

·       Enjoy working with people;

·       Strong communication skills;

·       Ability to work outside in a wide variety of weather conditions (wind, heat, cold);

·       Sensitivity to and appreciation of visitors and staff of a wide range of backgrounds;

·       Ability to maintain situational awareness for safety of staff, volunteers, and visitors;

·       Handling any potential conflicts with tact and diplomacy;

·       Ability to safely drive government vehicles, including on bumpy non-paved roads;

·       Desirable skills: first-aid, multilingual, public speaking, four-wheel drive vehicle operation.

Lodging:

RV pad: preference given to applicants with RV/trailer;

Dormitory style facility possibly available.

Tagged as: FALL '24, SPRING '25, WINTER