Volunteer
Summer
Job Description
FROM: https://www.volunteer.gov/s/volunteer-opportunity/a09SJ00000AEpWM
ADDRESS: 442 Ranger Station Road Stanley, Idaho, 83278
DATES: 5/28/2026 – 9/30/2026
DEPT: Forest Service
JOB DESCRIPTION:
Sawtooth Interpretive & Historical Association (SIHA) manages two Sawtooth NRA properties (Redfish Visitor Center and Stanely Museum) and supports operations at the Stanley Ranger Station.
Two positions open to be held by an individual or couple with their own RV. They will assist with the daily operations of the Stanley Ranger Station front desk and the Redfish Lake Visitor Center & Stanley Museum on occasion, working alongside a crew of 6 seasonal Naturalists and Historic Specialists (generally college-age) and the Summer Programs Coordinator. Managed by the Sawtooth Interpretive & Historical Association in direct partnership with the Sawtooth National Recreation Area
GENERAL RESPONSIBILITIES:
Attend and participate in 2 weeks of pre-season training and other scheduled training sessions throughout the season. Building maintenance tasks – sweeping, moping, dusting; straightening and stocking bookstore inventory. Cleaning public restrooms. Operating a cash register, point-of-sale system, and credit card machine. Selling bookstore items and taking memberships and donations.
Maintaining a cash bank and daily sales records. Visitor services – answering questions in person and by phone, assisting with trip planning, sharing Wilderness rules and regulations, campground rules and regulations and general area information.
Special events and programs – helping set up and staff special events including History Day, Smokey Bear’s Birthday Party and the Sawtooth Salmon Festival. Discovery Stations – trailside touch table set up with an animal theme (bears, otters, beavers, etc) – engage with visitors, share interpretive information. Volunteers need to be able to conduct light physical work such as sweeping, lifting up to 20 pounds (chairs, books, interpretive props), bending/stooping to clean, walking on paved and unpaved uneven trails, up to 1/2 mile uphill and downhill pulling a supply wagon.
Other negotiable duties:
Campground roving – walking through nearby campgrounds (2 miles or less) engaging campers, answering questions, sharing area information about bear/food regulations, fire regulations, and visitor center programs. This can include being outdoors for a few hours in the sun under all weather conditions.
Grounds maintenance – maintain the Stanley Museum grounds using a riding lawn mower and weed eater.
Interpretive Services – researching, writing and implementing interpretive programs including: a 30 minute Junior Ranger program, 15 minute patio talk, and 30 minute ranger talk.
Trailhead Portals – setting up and staffing stations at busy trailheads sharing Wilderness regulations, trail information, and Leave-No-Trace practices with recreators. This can include being outdoors for a few hours, setting up a pop-up tent and folding table and speaking with hundreds of trail users.
Other duties, as agreed upon.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS: Experience in visitor services/education, a plus. Outgoing personality with strong verbal communication skills. Flexibility and willingness to jump in and help in a variety of capacities, as needed.
Capacity to perform light maintenance work in indoor and outdoor settings. Ability to maintain daily written logs. Ability to interact with diverse visitors while maintaining a positive, helpful and non-confrontational attitude. Ability to communicate in-person, by email, and over the phone. Knowledge of Point-of-Sale systems and Google Suite, or willingness to learn. Comfortable working with a small crew of college-age naturalists with diverse backgrounds. Willingness to wear many hats and perform a variety of different roles throughout a work day.
WORK ENVIRONMENT: Work indoors in a Ranger Station office and at a busy visitor center in the Sawtooth National Recreation Area. Additional possible locations include outdoors at nearby campgrounds, the grounds surrounding the visitor center where interpretive programs are held, the Stanley Museum desk and grounds, and outdoors at popular trailheads throughout the area.
WORK SCHEDULE: Three consecutive days on (Mon-Weds or Thurs-Sat), four days off
BENEFITS INCLUDE:
Daily work stipend – $33/day – paid out at end of season.
Free RV pad with electric, water, gas, and sewer hook-ups. A fire ring and picnic table are not available at every site.
If assigned, personal vehicle mileage is reimbursed (at $0.55/mile) for project work (NOT including traveling to and from work).
USFS Volunteer uniform and/or SIHA polo shirts, sun shirt, jacket, and name tag will be provided.
1-year SIHA membership and 20% discount on full priced SIHA bookstore items (excluding Gallery items).
A beautiful location for a seasonal volunteer position!