Visitor Services Volunteer

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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.

Start Date - 2024-09-29

End Date - 2025-06-30