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2 people are interested
Environmental Education Assistant
ORGANIZATION: Big Cypress National Preserve
Please visit the new page to apply.
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2 people are interested
Volunteers work with the S.W.A.M.P., Swamp Water and Me Program, a curriculum based program with the 6th grade students and their teachers from Collier County public and private schools. Volunteers are assistants to the park rangers and interns during the S.W.A.M.P. field trips to the preserve. During these trips volunteers are the tail of the group helping with group management, safety, assisting students with experiments and data collection and other activities such as radio telemetry, dip netting and water quality testing. Volunteers may need to lead the groups on occasion if there is an emergency or staffing issue.
The field trips involve hiking into a cypress strand, prairie and pineland. While the hiking is not long in distance it can be physically demanding as it involves long periods of standing, walking through knee to thigh deep water, heat and humidity, mosquitoes, uneven footing and other swamp creatures besides the 6th graders! A normal Environmental Education day is from 9:30 - 3:30. VIPs arrive at the education center at 9:30 and begin preparing for the arrival of the students which includes housekeeping duties, preparing and loading all equipment and working on projects if time allows. 10:00 students arrive. 11:00-2:30 in the field with program, 2:45 - 3:30 clean and re-stock equipment and student backpacks, prepare for the next day and work on projects. This includes sweeping, mopping and cleaning toilets.
On days when no field trips are scheduled the volunteers may assist rangers with other programs including wet walks, canoe trips and special events or work on special projects
Requirements: Volunteers must be able to commit to working a 6 hour day on a set day or days throughout the season. Hours may be longer if working a special event. Changes to the set days may be made with advance notice depending upon staffing needs.
Federal Background checks may be required.
Volunteers must live in the local commuting area. No housing is provided by the preserve.
Volunteers will drive their personal vehicles to the duty station which is the Environmental Education Center located on Birdon Road. They will drive a government vehicle if traveling to a special event or outreach program.
Email or call Lisa Andrews, Outreach/Education Coordinator // lisa_andrews@nps.gov // 239-695-1164
More opportunities with Big Cypress National Preserve
No additional volunteer opportunities at this time.
About Big Cypress National Preserve
Location:
33100 Tamiami Trail East, Ochopeee, FL 34141, US
Mission Statement
Are you looking for an invaluable "hands-on" experience in your career field? The National Park Service (NPS) offers beautiful and challenging environments with a VIP (Volunteer in Parks)/Internship program intended to provide working experiences to augment your degree program.
Description
The Big Cypress National Preserve was created in 1974 to protect the water quality, natural resources, and ecological integrity of the Big Cypress Swamp. The freshwaters of the Big Cypress Swamp, essential to the health of the neighboring Everglades, support the rich marine estuaries along Florida’s southwest coast. Protecting over 750,000 acres of this vast swamp, Big Cypress National Preserve contains a mixture of tropical and temperate plant communities that are home to a diversity of wildlife, including the elusive Florida panther.
Big Cypress National Preserve was one of the first national preserves within the National Park Service. As a Preserve, Big Cypress manages for a broader range of recreational activities, including hunting and Off-road Vehicle access.
CAUSE AREAS
WHEN
WHERE
Multiple locations Naples, FL 34120
DATE POSTED
August 2, 2022
SKILLS
- Math / Science Instruction
- Teaching / Instruction
- Environmental Education
- STEM
GOOD FOR
N/A
REQUIREMENTS
- Driver's License Needed
- Background Check
- Orientation or Training
- Volunteers must be able to commit to working a 6 hour day on a set day or days throughout the season. Hours may be longer if working a special event. Changes to the set days may be made with advance notice depending upon staffing needs.