Experience Alaska while Volunteering at Alaska Islands & Ocean Visitor Center

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Positions: Visitor Center Docents- Volunteer Couple

SUMMER 2018

When: 4/23/2018-9/8/2018

Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge is seeking RV volunteers for the summer of 2017 in beautiful Homer, Alaska. Volunteers serve 32 hours per week at Islands & Ocean Visitor Center, greeting people from all over the world, and sharing the stories of seabirds, marine mammals, and Native Cultures from Coastal Alaska.

Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge was established to conserve marine mammals, seabirds and other migratory birds, and the marine resources upon which they rely. The Refuge's 3.4 million acres include the spectacular volcanic islands of the Aleutian chain, the seabird cliffs of the remote Pribilofs, and icebound lands washed by the Chukchi Sea, providing essential habitat for some 40 million seabirds, representing more than 30 species. Although many of the individual islands and refuge lands are closed to public use to protect wildlife, Islands & Ocean Visitor Center provides visitors an opportunity to view wildlife from a mainland location or a public beach, attracting more than 60,000 visitors to the center annually.

Typical volunteer duties include, but are not limited to:

• Provide orientation and assistance to visitors by providing information, maps and brochures, audio-visual assistance for the theater, and answering and directing phone calls
• Assisting with sales in the Alaska Geographic Bookstore
• Assisting with interpretive programs including: guided hikes, talks, or demonstrations
• Light maintenance of grounds, trails, and facilities
• Clerical and office assistance

We are looking for friendly, energetic couples to join our team for the 2017 summer season in Homer, Alaska. This opportunity is for a couple traveling with their RV, with experience in visitor services and communicating effectively with people. In exchange for 32 hours per week, or four days/week, volunteers are reimbursed for living expenses/food while working on site. The couple will also be given a one time travel allowance of $500.00. Volunteer couple will be reimbursed for RV space rented at local park, approximately 0.5 miles from Visitor Center.

Applicants should have prior experience in communicating with the public, be physically able to assist on guided hikes on a moderate grade, provide recent references, and have valid driver's licenses. Volunteers will need to work independently and with guidance from refuge staff. All volunteers offered wildlife watching opportunities and an orientation to better acquaint them with the area and the refuge. Background checks will be required for these positions.

If interested in this volunteer opportunity please contact Visitor Center Manager, Kara Zwickey, at Kara_Zwickey@fws.gov or call 907-226-4675.