America’s Natural and Cultural Resources Volunteer Portal
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America’s Natural and Cultural Resources Volunteer Portal |
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Find a Volunteer Opportunity 
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SEARCH RESULTS 1 Opportunity Found
Opportunity Description: ORGANIZATION HIGHLIGHTS: Hopewell Furnace is a National Historic Site operated by the National Park Service as one of the finest examples of a restored charcoal-burning, cold-blast, iron furnace and its surrounding community. Such "iron plantations" played a crucial role in the development of southeastern Pennsylvania and laid the foundations for the industrial development of this country. Hopewell Furnace operated from 1771 until 1883, spanning several generations of that development, from its infancy in the colonial period to the creation of the steel and railroad industries of the 19th century. AREA: Located in southeastern Pennsylvania, just 15 miles from Reading (the "outlet capital of the world") and 45 miles west of Philadelphia, but still in a very rural area. It is bordered on three sides by 7,500 acre French Creek State Park and is close to Pennsylvania Dutch Country. JOB TITLES & DUTIES: Curatorial Assistant - The Curatorial Assistant obtains an overview of collection management by assisting the Park Ranger (Cultural Resources) with historic housekeeping, library work, reorganization of storage, environmental monitoring, accessioning, and cataloging. Individual projects are assigned based on the changing needs of the park. Archival projects are currently a priority. Volunteer Interpreter - In the summer this involves explaining to visitors about life at Hopewell Furnace through the technique of third-person living history. This may include molding and casting demonstrations, demonstrations of domestic crafts, brick oven baking, blacksmithing, farming, or charcoal making. During the fall or the spring a Volunteer Interpreter would be involved in giving tours to school groups. Some interns have also performed clerical work and staffed the visitor center information desk. Maintenance Assistant - Interns work with trades people (Wood Crafter, Maintenance Mechanic, etc.) performing duties such as painting, repairing historic structures, and splitting wood for charcoal burns. These duties also involve working with the facility manager on inventories, condition assessments, and administrative functions. Maintenance Assistants gain first-hand knowledge about the day-to-day operations of a National Park Service Historic Site and the maintenance of historic structures. DATES: Internship dates are variable, full or part time. Generally, positions last 3 to 4 months (with 20 hours of work per week). SKILLS: Knowledge, Skills & Abilities in the following areas are helpful, but not required: Cultural Resources - history, archeology, or museum studies. Historical Interpretation - history, theater, communications, or park management. Maintenance – architecture, historic preservation, landscaping, carpentry, woodworking. All volunteers must show a willingness to work and get along with a wide variety of co-workers and visitors. A genuine desire to insure that each visitor has an enjoyable experience at Hopewell Furnace is essential. Volunteers must be flexible enough to handle variations in work routine caused by shifting priorities and visitor needs. COMPENSATION: No stipends available. Shared housing is provided. (No pets allowed in shared housing.) Depending on an intern’s needs and the availability of funds, reimbursement for expenses for one meal per day for each 5 hour day worked ($7.50) or $.50 per mile for a car commute may be available. A great opportunity to learn through on-the-job experience about the daily operations of a National Park and the skills required for historical interpretation, visitor center operations, and cultural resource preservation and management.
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