Volunteer Activities
• Conservation Education
• Tour Guide/Interpretation
• Visitor Information
• General Assistance

Photo Courtesy of NPS

El Morro National Monument is looking for friendly, motivated people to assist our visitor services program.

The Volunteer position(s) runs from early April to end of May. Beginning and ending dates are somewhat flexible. Note: one or more Volunteer positions may be filled from this announcement.

DUTIES: Our volunteers aid seasonal and permanent staff with a variety of duties: staffing the visitor center, opening and closing facilities, roving the trails, assisting park visitors, and helping with special projects. Physical requirements include the ability to hike a 2 mile, moderately strenuous park trail that climbs 250 feet and crosses uneven terrain.

Special projects may include, but are not limited to, rockfall and inscription monitoring, campground patrols, assistance with interpretive displays and publications, library tasks, and assistance with special events. We are also very supportive of volunteers creating special projects based on their own interests and skills.

SKILLS: Customer service experience, cash handling experience, ability to hike trails of uneven terrain including moderately steep switchbacks, and the desire to learn about El Morro.

ORIENTATION: Volunteers new to the area will have work time to explore nearby parks and attractions, as well as quiet time in the library to become familiar with the natural and cultural history of the national monument.

HOUSING: Furnished housing is provided on site. 

LOCATION: El Morro is located in a rural area and is considered a remote duty station. The town of Grants, NM (population 10,000) is located approximately 50 miles east of the monument on Highway 53. Due to the distance to super markets, gas stations, and other services, a personal vehicle is required. Depending on your carrier, cell phone reception and WiFi may be limited or non-existant.

DESCRIPTION OF EL MORRO NATIONAL MONUMENT: All other rocks in America do not together hold so much history as do those of El Morro National Monument. Rising 200 feet above the valley floor, this massive sandstone bluff was a welcome landmark for weary travelers. A reliable waterhole hidden at its base made El Morro (or Inscription Rock) a popular campsite. Beginning in the late 1500s, Spanish explorers and soldiers, followed by American surveyors, immigrants and soldiers, passed by El Morro. While they rested in its shade and drank from the pool, many inscribed their signatures, dates and messages. Ancestral Puebloans, living in an 800-room pueblo on top of the bluff over 700 years ago, began this trend by carving hundreds of petroglyphs. El Morro was proclaimed the second National Monument in the National Park system on December 8, 1906. The vast continuum of human history inscribed upon the rock and preserved in the ancient ruins makes El Morro National Monument a handbook of cultural history of the Southwest. The majestic bluff, shady pool, high desert forest (7200 ft.), and sweeping vistas make this a natural wonder as well.

HOUSING & AMENITIES
Type: Other
Description: Volunteer housing is located on site, is rent free and fully furnished. Depending on availability, it may be an efficiency apartment (single occupancy), or it may be shared quarters in a 3-bedroom house, with up to two housemates.

Volunteer Activities
• Conservation Education
• Office/Clerical
• Other
• Tour Guide/Interpretation
• Visitor Information
• General Assistance

Photo Courtesy of NPS

Purpose: To provide opportunities for park visitors to experience ancestral Pueblo history, make lasting memories, and nurture stewardship ethics. This mission is shared between volunteers, interns and park rangers alike. Volunteers play a critical role in accomplishing this goal for each visitor who walks through the doors. We couldn't do it without you.

Logistics: This 60-90 day volunteer position is within the Interpretive and Visitor Services division, and VIPs will volunteer 32 hours/week. The available range for this volunteering opportunity is April - December.  For new volunteers, a simple NPS background check may be required. This is a uniformed position, with shirt, jacket, nameplate and hat provided by Aztec Ruins.

Position Description:

This volunteer will work primarily at the Visitor Center. This is the season when our visitation starts to slow down, but with a high component of international visitation and our largest special event of the year. Fall field trips also occur, with opportunities to interact with classrooms informally (roving) or formally (field trip educational program).

The Interpretive component (estimated 2 hrs/day) will be outside in/near the ruins.

• Volunteers lead daily "spot talks", which are fun and engaging, with an activity for kids and intriguing content for the adults. Existing "spot talks" are available, or volunteers can create their own based on their talent/interest. Weather ermitting.
• Daily roving is either in the ruins or near the river, sharing information and answering questions.

The Visitor Center component (about 4 hrs/day) typically includes helping staff the Visitor Center and assisting with visitor orientations. VIPs will be trained on the WNPA register, and will conduct sales. VIPs coordinate information mailouts (Junior Ranger patches!), Flat Stanley requests, and assist with stocking brochures. These volunteers actively participate in special events as well (ex: American Indian Cultural Arts Festival, full moon tours, East Ruin tours, summer solstice archeoastronomy alignments, Lecture Series events). The Visitor Center is the hub of the whole park, and can be a busy place!

Other park projects may be available as well (about 1 hr/day), based on park needs/resources and the volunteer's interest/experience. Other project areas include: administration, natural resources, cultural resources, preservation, or facility management. This can be a great way to diversify your experience at Aztec Ruins.

Housing: For this position, the volunteer must have a trailer or RV. Two RV spaces are available, and they are quite close together but with great views of the neraby archeologic site.  Computer access will not be available onsite through NPS computers and no WiFi is present within the park. Cell coverage is good, and multiple WiFi areas are present within a 5 minute drive. Basic weather information and links to additional weather and area information are found at: http://www.nps.gov/azru/planyourvisit/things2know.htm

References: Two references are requested with your application.

Echo the footsteps of ancestral Pueblo people - invest a part of your journey here at Aztec Ruins! 

HOUSING & AMENITIES
Type: Trailer/RV Pads
Description: The volunteer will bring their own RV or trailer. Electric/sewer/trash provided onsite. Cell reception is good. WiFi and laundry facilities are not available onsite but they are available nearby in Aztec.

Volunteer Activities
• Campground Host

Photo Courtesy of FS

The Holy Ghost Campground is in need of a great host or host couple!  Plus, the wildflowers are amazing through the Holy Ghost Canyon!

Duties include greeting and providing information to visitors and campers, cleaning restrooms and fire rings, making rounds through the campground in the morning and evening, cleaning up trash, representing the Forest Service as stellar volunteers.

Holy Ghost Campground includes 3 vaulted toilets, picnic tables, fire rings/grills, and a total of 24 camping units and one group site.

The host RV site is suitable for campers up to 30 fet long.  Amenities include water (portable water container provided), propane (reimbursed for your propane tank fuel), and sewer.  The campground host at this campground will need to be self-contained for electricity and cell service is not available in the canyon.  

This campground is approximately 20 minutes up the Pecos Canyon; the nearest town is Pecos, New Mexico.  Host reimbursement is $50/week with Mondays and Tuesdays designated as days off.  

Dates are flexible.

HOUSING & AMENITIES
Type: Trailer/RV Pads
Description: (see Opportunity description)

Volunteer Activities
• Conservation Education
• Tour Guide/Interpretation
• Visitor Information
• General Assistance

Photo Courtesy of NPS

El Morro National Monument is looking for friendly, motivated people to assist our visitor services program.

The volunteer position(s) runs from April 1 - May 31, 2019. Beginning and ending dates are somewhat flexible. There may be a possibility to extend the position if the volunteer so desires. Note: one or more volunteer positions may be filled from this announcement.

DUTIES: Our volunteers aid seasonal and permanent staff with a variety of duties. These include: staffing the visitor center, opening and closing facilities, roving the trails, assisting park visitors, and helping with special projects. Physical requirements include the ability to hike a 2 mile, moderately strenuous park trail that climbs 250 feet and crosses uneven terrain.

Special projects may include, but are not limited to, rockfall and inscription monitoring, campground patrols, assistance with interpretive displays and publications, library tasks, and invasive species control. We are also very supportive of volunteers creating special projects based on their interests and skills.

SKILLS: Customer service experience, cash handling experience, ability to hike trails of uneven terrain including steep switchbacks, and the desire to learn about El Morro.

ORIENTATION: Volunteers new to the area will have work time to explore nearby parks and attractions, as well as quiet time in the park library to become familiar with the natural and cultural history of the national monument.

HOUSING: Volunteer must supply their own RV.  An RV pad and utilities (water, sewer, electric hookups) will be provided without charge.

LOCATION: El Morro is located in a rural area and is considered a remote duty station. The town of Grants, NM (population 10,000) is located approximately 50 miles east of the monument on Highway 53. Due to the distance to super markets, gas stations, and other services, a personal vehicle is required. There is no WiFi or internet available at the monument, but there are WiFi cafes in the local area. Depending on your carrier, cell phone reception may be limited or non-existant. 

DESCRIPTION OF EL MORRO NATIONAL MONUMENT: All other rocks in America do not together hold so much history as do those of El Morro National Monument. Rising 200 feet above the valley floor, this massive sandstone bluff was a welcome landmark for weary travelers. A reliable waterhole hidden at its base made El Morro (or Inscription Rock) a popular campsite. Beginning in the late 1500s, Spanish explorers and soldiers, followed by American surveyors, immigrants and soldiers, passed by El Morro. While they rested in its shade and drank from the pool, many inscribed their signatures, dates and messages. Ancestral Puebloans, living in an 800-room pueblo on top of the bluff over 700 years ago, began this trend by carving hundreds of petroglyphs. El Morro was proclaimed the second National Monument in the National Park system on December 8, 1906. The vast continuum of human history inscribed upon the rock and preserved in the ancient ruins makes El Morro National Monument a handbook of cultural history of the Southwest. The majestic bluff, shady pool, high desert forest (7200 ft.), and sweeping vistas make this a natural wonder as well.

HOUSING & AMENITIES
Type: Trailer/RV Pads
Description: Located on-site in the employee housing district, an RV pad with full hookups will be provided free of charge.

Volunteer Activities
• Archaeology
• Botany
• Conservation Education
• Tour Guide/Interpretation
• Visitor Information
• Back Country/Wilderness
• General Assistance

Photo Courtesy of NPS

Pecos National Historical Park is seeking volunteers enthusiastic about working with students, educational groups, and the general public.  Each fall hundreds of students visit the park for an educational field trip.  Volunteers will assist our staff in presenting the curriculum-based education programs. They will work with student groups to provide safety information, interpretive programs, and educational programs.  Volunteers will also staff the visitor center, conduct roves, and assist with the cooperating association bookstore.

This opportunity is ideal for those who enjoy working with children and the public. Interested volunteers should exhibit a passion for history or nature, working with children, and a desire to provide excellent customer service.  RV volunteers are asked to commit four days and 32 hours per week for a minimum of two months.

Pecos National Historical Park is located 2 miles south of the village of Pecos, New Mexico on State Highway 63, four miles north of interstate 25. Pecos NHP is 25 miles east of Santa Fe and 44 miles to the west of Las Vegas, New Mexico. The multi-cultural resource of the park are enclosed in a predominately piñon/juniper woodland plant community with elevation from 6900 to 7400 feet. Precipitation averages 17 inches per year. Snowfall averages 23 inches in the winter. Average maximum winter temperature is 40 degrees. Average maximum summer temperature is 80 degrees. For additional information, please visit the Pecos NHP web site at www.nps.gov/peco

If you are interested in this position, please click the "Apply Online Now" link below. If park needs and our dates of availability align, you will be contacted for further information.

Must be able to pass a background check for this position.

HOUSING & AMENITIES
Type: Trailer/RV Pads
Description: In exchange for four days per week of volunteer service, Pecos NHP offers an RV pad with hookups for septic, water, and electricity. Pads also include a picnic table. Pecos NHP does not offer public camping; the campground area is volunteers only in a secluded area. Please note: water will not be turned on until overnight temperatures are consistently above freezing. We do not offer television or internet connections at this time.

Volunteer Activities
• Archaeology
• Other
• Tour Guide/Interpretation
• Visitor Information
• General Assistance

Photo Courtesy of NPS

Make Your Volunteer Experience Memorable for Yourself and for the Visiting Public!

WE NEED YOUR HELP! Especially from March to September 2019.

USE YOUR SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE TO HELP VISITORS DISCOVER GILA CLIFF DWELLINGS NATIONAL MONUMENT AS AN INTERPRETIVE VOLUNTEER

Limited dorm rooms in a shared house are available as well as RV spots with full utilities.

POSITION DESCRIPTION:

The park is seeking interpretive volunteers throughout the year.

Have you ever wanted to find out what it's like to be a park ranger? Are you seeking to learn and expand your skills as an interpreter? Then Gila Cliff Dwellings may be the volunteer place for you!

• Volunteers seeking or having experience presenting interpretive communications for the cliff dwellings are welcome!
• Volunteers also provide informal interpretation related to surrounding cultural and natural resources.
• Volunteers staff the Gila Visitor Center providing regional orientation and information to visitors. Working at the visitor center includes selling items through the Western National Parks Association store and operating a computerized cash register.
• Training is provided.

NO campground host opportunities exist at Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument.

Volunteers are asked to make a 3 month/32 hour a week minimum commitment. Longer stays are possible if both parties find it beneficial to extend the term of service. Shorter terms may also be available depending on your background and experience!

LOCATION AND LOGISTICS:

The National Monument is located in a remote area within the beautiful mountains of the Gila National Forest and Gila Wilderness Area of southwestern New Mexico.  Enjoy amazing scenery and outstanding local recreational opportunities including hiking, biking, photography, wilderness hot springs, wildlife observation, and much more.

A limited number of dorm rooms for singles are usually available and there are many RV sites with hookups provided.

Volunteers live and work at an altitude of about 5800 feet (1780m). Since the park is open year-round and much of the job is outdoors, volunteers will be working in a wide range of weather conditions and temperatures. Staffing the cliff dwellings requires standing for extended periods of time. It also means  hiking an unpaved one-mile loop trail that is steep and strenuous several times a day fairly quickly. The 185-foot elevation gain (and loss) traveling to the dwellings is the equivalent of climbing 18 flights of stairs. All volunteers must be able to walk the trail fairly quickly, sometimes more than once each day.

Cell phones do not work within the Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument area. A land-line phone at the visitor center lets people reach you in an emergency. Free (limited) WiFi and laundry is available in the housing area. Nearby RV park has access to hot spring soaking, WiFi, and pull-through spaces for volunteers.

NOTE: Please include three references (with phone numbers) in section 19 of the application. If you apply online, you can enter information into section 19 by using the final entry block at the end of step 4 of the application.  Couples must complete applications for EACH person.

Due to the remoteness, reliable personal transportation and a valid driver’s license are required.

HOUSING & AMENITIES
Type: Trailer/RV Pads
Description: Housing may be available including RV pads with full hookups; or private dorm rooms with shared kitchen, living room and bath facilities, Wi-fi, and laundry. A small trailer may be available for volunteers with a pet.

Volunteer Activities
• Construction/Maintenance
• Visitor Information
• General Assistance
• Weed/Invasive Species Control

Photo Courtesy of NPS

MAKE YOUR VOLUNTEER EXPERIENCE MEMORABLE WHILE HELPING GILA CLIFF DWELLINGS!

 Positions are open year-round. The park is particularly looking for help between March and September 2019.

There are NO campground host positions at Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument.

 WHAT WILL YOU DO?

Applicants should possess professional experience and skills in areas such as: basic carpentry, tilework, roofing, plumbing, carpet cleaning, housing repairs and rehab, interior and exterior painting. experience and skills in general maintenance practices including janitorial, basic repairs, and trash collection. Other work will include basic janitorial and maintenance, but this is secondary to the professional level work.

The volunteer carries out professional maintenance/construction/repair duties and works on other projects as needed. The filling of this position is based on the current needs of the park. The jobs performed may vary widely depending on the park's needs, but bathroom cleaning and general maintenance are guaranteed regular tasks.

Other duties may include work such as: exterior and interior painting; electrical, plumbing, carpentry, and other repair or replacement; gutter cleaning, repair, and installation; trail improvement, landscape and gardening work; housing repairs and cleaning, appliance repair and replacement, and other similar duties depending on the park's need at the time.

LOCATION AND LOGISTICS:

The National Monument is located in a remote area within the beautiful mountains of the Gila National Forest and Gila Wilderness Area of southwestern New Mexico.  Enjoy amazing scenery and outstanding local recreational opportunities including hiking, biking, kayaking, wilderness hot springs, wildlife observation, and much more.

A limited number of dorm rooms for singles are usually available. Prospective volunteers with RVs are encouraged to apply since there are RV sites available.

Volunteers will be living and working at an altitude of about 5700 feet (1737m). Since the park is open year-round and much of the work is outdoors, volunteers will be working in a wide range of weather conditions and temperatures. Working at the cliff dwellings may require standing for extended periods of time and hiking an unpaved one-mile loop trail that some may consider steep and strenuous. Other work may require lifting over 40 pounds, working indoors and outdoors, climbing ladders, and using hand and power tools.

Cell phones do not work within the Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument area. There is a land-line in the dorm. Free WiFi is available in the housing area. The RV park sites have free utilities, WiFi, quiet, and easy access to hot spring soaking. Staying at the RV park entails a 10-mile round trip drive to the work site in your private vehicle.

NOTE: Please include three references (with phone numbers) in section 19 of the application. If you apply online, you can enter information into section 19 by using the final entry block at the end of step 4 of the application.  Couples must complete applications for EACH person.

Due to the remoteness, reliable personal transportation and a valid driver’s license are required.

HOUSING & AMENITIES
Type: Trailer/RV Pads
Description: Housing may be available including RV pads with full hookups, or private dorm rooms with shared kitchen, living room and bath facilities, Wi-fi, and laundry.

Volunteer Activities
• Visitor Information
• Fish/Wildlife
• General Assistance

Photo Courtesy of FWS

Volunteers are needed to work in our visitor center September - November (there is some flexibility on starting and ending dates.) This is a three-day per week position, working about eight hours a day (with a one-hour lunch break). Additional hours are requested during training and during the week of the annual Festival of the Cranes Nov. 20-23.  Your primary responsibilities will include: greeting the public at the visitor center front desk and providing accurate refuge information and wildlife observation advice, answering the refuge phone, operating a cash register to collect Tour Loop fees and performing roving interpretation and visitor facilities maintenance checks.

Information about the local community, recreational opportunities and weather: Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge is located 90 miles south of Albuquerque and 18 miles south of Socorro, New Mexico.  The refuge is also located in the northern part of the Chihuahuan Desert and experiences the dramatic night to day temperature change typical of desert environments (40 degrees or more).  Approximately 5" of precipitation occur during the period November through March (snow is a rare event).

We are close to National Forests, spectacular Bureau of Land Management scenery, interesting National Park Service - National Monuments and numerous state and county parks. There is a plethora of opportunities to hike, bike and explore historical sites as well as beautiful canyons.

Accommodations are provided.

Our RV community is a level, graveled area consisting of 17 sites; each with water, sewer, electric, and wireless internet access. Propane is provided for external tanks. The Bosque Lounge and Visitor Center are located just a short walk away.

The Bosque Lounge is available for volunteer use and features, free laundry, a commercial style kitchen stocked with cooking utensils, a freezer, a refrigerator, an ice machine, an outdoor BBQ grill, a restroom, a dry sauna, a pool table, a piano, a lending library of fiction books, and plenty of room to meet as a group, hold special dinners, play cards or layout a puzzle.

HOUSING & AMENITIES
Type: Trailer/RV Pads
Description: Accommodations are provided and consist of RV sites.

Our RV community is a graveled area consisting of 17 sites. Each site has water, sewer, electric (most with 30 and 50 amps), and wireless internet. Propane portable tanks can be refilled free on site. The Bosque Lounge and Visitor Center are located just a short walk away.

The Bosque Lounge is available for volunteer use and features, free laundry facilities, a commercial kitchen stocked with cooking utensils, extra freezer and refrigerator space, an ice machine, outdoor propane BBQ grills, a restroom, a dry sauna, a pool table, a piano, a lending library of fiction books, and plenty of room to meet as a group, hold special dinners, play cards or layout a puzzle.

We are not able to offer meal reimbursement, a living allowance or stipend.

Volunteer Activities
• Office/Clerical
• Visitor Information
• Fish/Wildlife
• General Assistance

Photo Courtesy of FWS

Volunteers are needed May, June, July, August (extensions to your season are possible at either end) to work in our air-conditioned visitor center.  This is a three-day per week position, eight hours a day.

This is a great time of year to see hummingbirds, nesting neotropical songbirds, lizards and wildflowers. Come enjoy the summer weather.

Your primary responsibilities will include:  greeting the public at the visitor center front desk and providing accurate refuge information and wildlife viewing advice, answering the refuge phone and transferring calls, occasionally operating a cash register to collect entrance fees and sell recreation passes, driving to town for the mail run and twice a day feeding the hummingbirds.  When staffing permits volunteers are encouraged to perform interpretive roving outside on the refuge Scenic Drive.  Shifts are three days a week, eight hours a day with a one-hour break mid-day for lunch.  The summer season is our slower season for visitor services, the daily pace of work is much more relaxed compared to the hectic winter months.  You will speak to visitors every day you work but there may be quiet times in between visitors that you can use to learn about the refuge, help with administrative tasks or perhaps read that novel you were hoping to finish this year.  Wi-Fi may be a viable for use with your personal devices while working in the visitor center.  The height of visitation is during the frosty winter months 

Information about the local community, recreational opportunities and weather: Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge is located 90 miles south of Albuquerque and 18 miles south of Socorro. The refuge is located in the arid zone of New Mexico and is generally quite dry. The mountain ranges to the west and the Rio Grande Valley to the east give the area a moderate climate throughout the year. Approximately 5" of precipitation occur during the period November through March, summer monsoons may bring a few more inches but some summers are dry.

We are close to National Forests, spectacular Bureau of Land Management scenery, interesting National Park historic sites and many state and county parks. There are numerous opportunities to hike, bike and explore historical sites, museums as well as beautiful canyons.

HOUSING & AMENITIES
Type: Trailer/RV Pads
Description: In order to facilitate your volunteer experience with 24 hours of service per week, per person living on the refuge, accommodations are provided and consist of RV sites with your utilities paid for by the government.

Our RV community is a graveled area consisting of 17 sites. Each site has water, sewer, electric (most with 30 and 50 amps), wireless internet service covers some sites and is provided in the Commons Building (Bosque Lounge). Propane is provided - we are able to re-fill your external tanks. The Bosque Lounge and Visitor Center are located just a short walk away.

Pets are allowed but must remain inside RV when not attended by owner.

The Bosque Lounge is available for volunteer use and features, free laundry, a commercial style kitchen stocked with cooking utensils, extra freezer and refrigerator space, an ice machine, outdoor propane BBQ grill, a restroom, a dry sauna, pool tables, a piano, a lending library of fiction book and plenty of room to meet as a group, hold special dinners, play cards or layout a puzzle. Wireless internet is available in the building and extends to some of the RV sites.

Unfortunately, we are not able to offer meal reimbursement, a living allowance or stipend.

Job description:  Visitor Services volunteers will need the ability to multi-task and utilize communication and presentation skills to introduce and provide an exemplary national park experience for the visiting public.  Duties include staffing the contact station; providing information, education and informal interpretation for visitors about the facilities, programs, and regulations of Valles Caldera National Preserve; providing correct information for park service phone callers; assisting with individuals needing special assistance in the visitor center or on guided tours; recording visitor statistics for park use; and providing sales and operation of the Valle Grande Bookstore.

Goal: By assisting park rangers in providing information, volunteers contribute to the enjoyment of park visitors.

Qualifications: Applicants should have a keen interest in meeting and working with people, public speaking skills, customer service skills, ability to organize information, ability to work cooperatively with others in a stressful environment, ability to follow directions and handle issues with tact and in a professional manner, knowledge of the local area, and the ability to tolerate changing climate/temperature for extended periods of time.  Applicants must be willing to wear the official NPS volunteer uniform provided by the preserve. 

Required: strong communication skills, solid research ablility, patience, enjoy working with people. 

Desired: valid driver's license, natural and/or cultural science background, ability to work independently, public speaking skills, first aid/CPR certification, excellent customer service skills.  

Time Commitment: Schedule is negotiable, but a minimum commitment of 15 shifts per year is required. We welcome help for all shifts, but particularly need help on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays.

• Shifts can be mutually agreed upon, but are typically 4-8 hours. Volunteers are scheduled for a morning shift (9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.) and/or afternoon shift (1:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.) on a specific day or days each week.
• The visitor contact station is open seven days a week, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and is closed only on Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day. 

Training: Trainees are provided an orientation to Valles Caldera National Preserve and the Valle Grande Contact Station & Bookstore.  They are provided with written resources which they are expected to study. Training for sales and operation of the Valle Grande Bookstore will be provided by our friends groups, Los Amigos de Valles Caldera.  They should also make use of the other training resources available at the contact station.

HOUSING & AMENITIES
Description: Housing, RV pads, and campsites are NOT available within the preserve.

Job description: Shuttle Driver volunteers will transport visitors along a designated shuttle route in 12-passenger vans. The safety of the passengers is the prime responsibility of a shuttle driver. Duties include following a set schedule and route; providing information for visitors about the shuttle system; assisting with individuals needing special assistance (includes wheelchair loading/unloading); completing vehicle safety inspections; logging vehicle use; cleaning vans; gassing vans; recharging electric vans; using and following radio protocol; and recording visitor statistics for park use.

Goal: By assisting the preserve's shuttle operations, volunteers contribute to the enjoyment of park visitors and help reduce the preserve's carbon footprint.

Qualifications: Applicants should have a keen interest in meeting and working with people, customer service skills, ability to work cooperatively with others in a stressful environment, ability to follow directions and handle issues with tact and in a professional manner, knowledge of the local area, and the ability to tolerate changing climate/temperature for extended periods of time.  Applicants must be willing to wear the official NPS volunteer uniform provided by the preserve. 

Required: valid driver's license, strong communication skills, patience, enjoy working with people. 

Desired: valid commercial driver's license, ability to work independently, first aid/CPR certification, excellent customer service skills.  

Time Commitment: Schedule is negotiable, but a minimum commitment of 8 days per year is required. We welcome help for all days, but particularly need help on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays.  Shifts can be mutually agreed upon, but are typically 8 hours/day. Volunteers are scheduled for 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. on a specific day or days each week.

Training: Trainees are provided an orientation to Valles Caldera National Preserve and shuttle operations.  They are provided with written resources which they are expected to study. They should also make use of the other training resources available at the contact station.

HOUSING & AMENITIES
Not Available

Volunteer Activities
• Botany
• Conservation Education
• Other
• Range/Livestock
• Science
• General Assistance
• Weed/Invasive Species Control

Photo Courtesy of NPS

Cheatgrass is listed in New Mexico as a Class C noxious weed species which allows management decisions to be determined at the local level based on feasibility of control and level of infestation. Cheatgrass is an introduced, early emerging annual grass native to southern Europe, northern Africa, and southwestern Asia. Currently, population sizes of cheatgrass on the Preserve are at a manageable size meaning there is a realistic chance of greatly reducing current cheatgrass populations and preventing further invasion on a sustainable level for years to come!! This volunteer project is a great opportunity to see and work in places where most people don’t get to go and enjoy the great landscape while contributing valuable work to natural resource management.

Objective:

Reduce population sizes and prevent further population growth and distribution. Cheatgrass extends along various roadways on the Preserve so our goal is to prevent the invasion of cheatgrass from these roadways into our forests and grasslands.

Duties:

This volunteer activity involves removing cheatgrass primarily from roadsides before seeds have matured and fallen to the ground. Duties include manually pulling cheatgrass from the roots by hand and removing all plant material using large contractor bags. Pulling cheatgrass from the roots is really easy! Since they are annual plants (individuals only live one year) they do not develop extensive root systems therefore they come up effortlessly which makes our work much easier! This type of work involves bending, squatting, crouching, kneeling, sitting on the ground, etc. Some walking/hiking involved; distances and terrain vary.  Also involved is some simple data collection using data sheets and smart phones.

What to Bring:

Expect to be on your feet enjoying this beautiful landscape for the majority of the day. Be prepared with lunch, water, sun protection (hats, sunglasses, sunscreen, etc.), leather or garden gloves, rain gear (just in case it’s needed), and comfortable hiking shoes. All of the above items should be contained in a backpack that you will carry with you throughout the day as you will constantly be moving around. Well fitted garden gloves are preferred when pulling cheatgrass (your hands will be protected while still having the precision ability to select for cheatgrass among other vegetation. Kneeling pads (such as those used by gardeners) or actual knee pads are also helpful in protecting your knees while pulling. 

Qualifications:

• Enthusiasm and open mind
• Easily adaptable to changing conditions and/or tasks
• Interest in working outdoors exposed to the elements and extreme weather conditions
• Ability to adequately identify cheatgrass
• Familiarity with local flora
• Skills in plant identification
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team
• Strong communications skills

Time Commitment:

At least one full field day – approximately 8-10 hours; several field days a summer is ideal.

Training:

Orientation and training will be provided by Plant Ecology staff on the day of work. VALL staff will work alongside the volunteer initially but volunteers may return to continue field work independently if they wish (this is preferred).
 

For More Information: Martina Suarzo, martina_suazo@nps.gov, 575-829-4856 

HOUSING & AMENITIES
Description: Housing, RV pads, and campsites are NOT available within the preserve.

Volunteer Activities
• Botany
• Conservation Education
• Other
• Range/Livestock
• Science
• General Assistance
• Weed/Invasive Species Control

Photo Courtesy of NPS

Come join the plant ecology team in surveying for noxious weeds on the Valles Caldera! A large portion of noxious weed management involves preventative measures such as inventory, mapping, and removal prior to ground disturbing treatments. This summer we will be focusing our efforts on South Mountain, one of our remaining intact forests that has not been touched by fire in recent years. In advance of continued climate change and uncharacteristically catastrophic wildfires, the Valles Caldera National Preserve will begin forest restoration treatments (thinning and Rx burning) on South Mountain as early as the fall of 2017. The VALL plant ecology crew will be monitoring for noxious weed species in South Mountain before these restoration activities begin. This volunteer effort is a great way to explore the Preserve and all of its natural beauty while contributing valuable time to noxious weed management and forest preservation!

Objective:

Inventory, map, and remove noxious weed species prior to ground disturbing treatments as well as in burn scars and other post disturbance areas.

Duties:

Noxious weed surveys involve walking/hiking in proposed treatment areas following standard survey protocols. There are 6 noxious weed species of interest which are all likely to be present in a forest habitat. Target species include Bull thistle, Musk thistle, Canada thistle, Cheatgrass, Oxeye Daisy, and  Spotted Knapweed. Locations of the targets species will be recorded using GPS units and smart phones, other pertinent data will be recorded. Removal of the above species will involve manually pulling plants from the root. If the plants have begun to bud, flower, or drop seeds, the entire plant and all its parts must be removed from the environment. In these instances all plant materials will be collected in large contractor bags and removed entirely.

What To Bring:

Expect to be on your feet enjoying this beautiful landscape for the majority of the day. Be prepared with lunch, water, sun protection (hats, sunglasses, sunscreen, etc.), thick leather gloves (all thistles have sharp spines), rain gear (just in case it’s needed), and comfortable hiking shoes. All of the above items should be contained in a backpack that you will carry with you throughout the day as you will constantly be moving and will be considerably far from a vehicle.

Qualifications:

• Enthusiasm and open mind
• Easily adaptable to changing conditions and/or tasks
• Interest in working outdoors exposed to the elements and extreme weather conditions
• Ability to adequately identify noxious weed species
• Familiarity with local flora
• Skills in plant identification
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team
• Strong communications skills

Time Commitment:

At least one full field day – approximately 8-10 hours; several field days a summer is ideal.

Training:

Orientation and training will be provided by Plant Ecology staff on the day of work. VALL staff will work alongside the volunteer initially but volunteers may return to continue field work independently if they wish (this is preferred).

For More Information: Martina Suarzo, martina_suazo@nps.gov, 575-829-4856 

HOUSING & AMENITIES
Description: Housing, RV pads, and campsites are NOT available within the preserve.

Volunteer Activities
• Archaeology
• Botany
• Campground Host
• Minerals/Geology
• Trail/Campground Maintenance
• Tour Guide/Interpretation
• Visitor Information
• Fish/Wildlife
• General Assistance
• Weed/Invasive Species Control

Photo Courtesy of BLM

Campground Host needed for the Rio Grande del Norte National Monument’s Rio Bravo Campground beginning mid-April, 2019.  The host site has a 30/50 amp 110 volt electrical hook up, telephoneline, water and sewer connection, as well as a shaded table, fire ring and grill and storage shed. The campground features 4 RV campsites (with water and electric hook-ups), 8 regular campsites, a reservable group shelter, picnic area and trailhead, potable water, and restrooms with flush toilets and sinks and coin-operated showers, as well as one vault toilet. Laundry facilities for volunteers are available at the visitor center as well.

The volunteer serves 5 days a week including weekends. Duties include staffing the Rio Grande Gorge Visitor Center, located 1 mile away, advising visitors of campground and recreation area rules and regulations, cleaning the campground restrooms, picking up litter and light maintenance at the campground and nearby recreational sites including lifting of up to 20 pounds.  A minimum 3 month commitment is required to apply, and preference is given to longer commitments. Preference is given to industrious volunteer couples. Reimbursement for meals and incidental expenses of up to $20/day per person is available dependent on experience and current funding, as well as all utilities and mileage for any use of personal vehicle.  Volunteers may also be asked to assist the park rangers perform routine vehicle and/or foot patrols, assist in interpretive hikes and school programs, and perform archaeological site stewarding. Incumbent must have a current driver’s license, reliable vehicle, and reside in their own functional RV/trailer onsite.  Incumbent must operate federal vehicle.

Location Description: The campground is located 17 miles south and west of Taos, NM, down in the Rio Grande Gorge at the southern end of the Rio Grande Del Norte National Monument.  The Rio Grande river flows southward through this majestic canyon, and there is ample opportunity to see many bird and wildlife species, including bighorn sheep, river otter, coyote, bobcat beaver, golden eagle, western tanager, blue heron.  Elevation is approximately 6100’, and daytime temperatures in the summer can reach into the 90’s, while evenings are always pleasantly cool. The area offers a wide range of activities, including hiking, boating, bird watching, mountain biking, picnicking, camping and fishing, painting and photography.

For more information contact: Randall Roch at 575-751-4718

HOUSING & AMENITIES
Type: Trailer/RV Pads
Description: Must have own RV (electric, water, and septic provided), and means to move the RV, and transportation.

Volunteer Activities
• Archaeology
• Campground Host
• Construction/Maintenance
• Office/Clerical
• Trail/Campground Maintenance
• Tour Guide/Interpretation
• Visitor Information
• General Assistance
• Weed/Invasive Species Control

Photo Courtesy of BLM

For more information, and to apply for this volunteer position, contact: Randall Roch at 575-751-4718

Campground Host needed for the Rio Grande del Norte National Monument’s Rio Pueblo Campground, beginning in April, 2019 thru October, 2019 There may be an opportunity to transition to another campground for the winter.  The host site has a 30/50 amp 110 volt electrical hook up, telephone line,  sewer connection, as well as a shaded table, fire ring and grill...NO WATER ON SITE, however potable water can be hauled from a site 1/4 mile away. There is a coin operated shower four miles away available for volunteer use. The campground features 6 campsites, trailheads, and vault toilets. Laundry facilities for volunteers are available at the visitor center as well. The volunteer serves 5 days a week including weekends. Duties include staffing the Rio Grande Gorge Visitor Center, located 6 miles away, advising visitors of campground and recreation area rules and regulations, cleaning the campground restrooms, picking up litter and light maintenance at the campground and nearby recreational sites including lifting of up to 20 pounds.  A minimum 3 month commitment is required to apply, and preference is given to longer commitments. Preference is given to industrious volunteer couples. Reimbursement for meals and incidental expenses of up to $20/day available dependent on experience and current funding, as well as all utilities and mileage for use of personal vehicle.  Volunteers may also be asked to assist the park rangers perform routine vehicle and/or foot patrols, assist in  interpretive hikes and school programs, and perform archaeological site stewarding. Incumbent must have a current driver’s license, reliable vehicle, and reside in their own functional RV/trailer onsite.  Incumbent must operate federal vehicle.

Location Description: The campground is located 22 miles south and west of Taos, NM, down in the Rio Grande Gorge at the southern end of the Rio Grande Del Norte National Monument.  The Rio Grande river flows southward through this majestic canyon, and there is ample opportunity to see many bird and wildlife species, including bighorn sheep, river otter, coyote, bobcat beaver, golden eagle, western tanager, blue heron.  Elevation is approximately 6100’, and daytime temperatures in the summer can reach into the 90’s, while evenings are always pleasantly cool. The area offers a wide range of activities, including hiking, boating, bird watching, mountain biking, picnicking, camping and fishing, painting and photography.

HOUSING & AMENITIES
Type: Trailer/RV Pads
Description: Must have own RV (electric and septic provided), and means to move the RV, and transportation. Potable water available at nearby campgrounds. Laundry facilities available at the visitor center.

Volunteer Activities
• Campground Host

Photo Courtesy of FS

Jack's Creek Equestrian Campground is a great little campground in the Pecos Canyon. It is semi-primitive and in need of a great host or host couple for summer 2019!  

Campground host duties include greeting and providing information to visitors/campers, cleaning restrooms and fire rings, making rounds through the campground in the morning and evening, cleaning up trash, and representing the Forest Service as stellar volunteers!

Jack's Creek Equestrian Campground offers 2 vault toilets, fire rings and picnic tables.  It's a beautiful little campground in the mountains!

The host RV site is suitable for campers up to 30 ft. long.  Water is available in the campground.  A host for this opportunity will need to be self-contained in regards to electric and propane.  No sewer is available at the host site, but the upper campground has sewer available.   

This campground is approximately 45 minutes up the canyon from Pecos, New Mexico.  Host reimbursement for allowed expenses is $50/week, with Mondays and Tuesdays designated as days off. Cell service is not available.  

Dates are flexible.

Please contact Jennifer Sublett if you'd like to enjoy your summer as an equestrian campground host in the mountains!

RV is required for lodging.  

HOUSING & AMENITIES
Type: Trailer/RV Pads
Description: Camp host pad

Fort Union National Monument is looking for a well-organized, detail-oriented person to help maintain and operate its park library.

Duties include caring for books and reference files, checking books in and out, helping maintain a variety of historical files and researching answers to queries from the public and park staff. A long-time volunteer now manages the library. New volunteers would be trained by and work under the guidance of the senior volunteer librarian. The work is indoors and involves periods of time filing, standing and bending. We are looking for a regular time commitment of at least one day (five to seven consecutive hours) every two weeks. Library experience is not required.

There is no housing available at the monument, so this position would only be suitable for people within commuting distance of Watrous, NM. Volunteers may have to pass a federal background check. 

HOUSING & AMENITIES
Not Available

Volunteer Activities
• Campground Host

Photo Courtesy of BLM

BLM Campground Host or Host Couple: Fort Stanton – Snowy River Cave National Conservation Area (NCA), at Rob Jaggers Campground and Equestrian Trailhead

NCA Website:      https://www.blm.gov/visit/fort-stanton-snowy-river-cave-nca

Address:  Rob Jaggers Campground is located 1 mile south of the intersection of Hwy 380 and Hwy 220; OR approximately 10 minutes east of Capitan, NM OR 10 minutes west of historic Lincoln, NM (Billy the Kid sites, etc.)  The campground sits at approximately 6,500’ elevation and visitors enjoy cool summers and moderate winters.

Contact:  Beau Truitt, btruitt@blm.gov or cell: (575) 626-3268

Availability:  3/1/2019—5/1/2019

Created:  12/11/2018

Suitability:  Adults, Seniors

Difficulty:  Average

Direct Link:

Volunteer Activities:

• Campground Host
• Trail/Campground Maintenance
• Tour Guide/Interpretation
• Patrol Rec Areas
• Maintain and stock vault toilets
• Visitor Information
• General Assistance
• Assist with recycling program

Description

Campground Host or Host Couples can inquire to Beau Truitt at the BLM, btruitt@blm.gov or call BLM cell at 575-626-3268. If you have internet access please email Beau and provide a short bio, discuss your background and interests, and any questions you may have. 

Host(s) will reside on site and work 5 days a week (Thursday to Monday).If hosts are a couple, only one person expected to be on duty (and can receive a financial reimbursement for days worked).  RV site has full hook-up, propane, water, sewage, shaded grill area and fenced in yard. Hosts will be expected to go through defensive driving class and background checks. Hosts will routinely operate a UTV in the campground and occasionally may operate BLM vehicle or small equipment.

The main duties will be to engage with the visitors, monitor fee requirements, conduct patrols of the campground and trails, assist with the recycling program, maintain and stock vault toilets, keep campground presentable and grounds maintained to increase visitor's positive experience, and other duties as assigned.  Occasionally assist with special events held at the Jaggers campground as well as patrol the NCA’s other campground (small primitive camping area near the entrance to the NCA cave) as well as the NCA bunkhouse.  Plumbing/mechanical experience is a plus as there is frequent monitoring and maintenance of the aging campground water system (feeds campsites, horse troughs, and irrigation of trees).

Rob Jaggers Campground is located within the Fort Stanton – Snowy River Cave National Conservation Area, with views of both the Capitan Mountains to the north and Sierra Blanca to the southwest.  Since the NCA is located in Southern New Mexico the winters are mild despite 6,500’ elevation and summers are cool and pleasant.   It is also only a few miles north of historic Fort Stanton, one of the most scenic and intact military forts in the entire southwest, and just a few minutes west of Lincoln, site of Billy the Kid and Lincoln County Cattle Wars.  There are over 70 miles of non-motorized trails and approximately 22 miles of motorized roads within the NCA.  The NCA receives frequent visitation for horseback riding, hiking, mountain biking, birding, and hunting.  There are also numerous petroglyphs and archaeology from both historic and pre-historic native peoples as well as the US Army.

HOUSING & AMENITIES

Type: Trailer/RV Pad

Description: Full hook-up, RV pad, sewage, water, laundry (available at NCA bunkhouse), propane, fenced yard and postcard views!

HOUSING & AMENITIES
Type: Trailer/RV Pads
Description: Type: Trailer/RV Pad Description: Full hook-up, RV pad, sewage, water, laundry (available at NCA bunkhouse), propane, fenced yard and postcard views!

Volunteer Activities
• Campground Host
• Construction/Maintenance
• Other
• Trail/Campground Maintenance
• Tour Guide/Interpretation
• Visitor Information
• General Assistance

Photo Courtesy of BLM

BLM Campground Host or Host Couple: Fort Stanton – Snowy River Cave National Conservation Area (NCA), at Rob Jaggers Campground and Equestrian Trailhead

NCA Website:      https://www.blm.gov/visit/fort-stanton-snowy-river-cave-nca

Address:  Rob Jaggers Campground is located 1 mile south of the intersection of Hwy 380 and Hwy 220; OR approximately 10 minutes east of Capitan, NM OR 10 minutes west of historic Lincoln, NM (Billy the Kid sites, etc.)  The campground sits at approximately 6,500’ elevation and visitors enjoy cool summers and moderate winters.

Contact:  Beau Truitt, btruitt@blm.gov or cell: (575) 626-3268

Availability:  7/31/2019-1/31/2020 (could be extended if BLM and hosts desire)

Created:  12/11/2018

Suitability:  Adults, Seniors

Difficulty:  Average

Direct Link:

Volunteer Activities:

• Campground Host
• Trail/Campground Maintenance
• Tour Guide/Interpretation
• Patrol Rec Areas
• Maintain and stock vault toilets
• Visitor Information
• General Assistance
• Assist with recycling program

Description

Campground Host or Host Couples can inquire to Beau Truitt at the BLM, btruitt@blm.gov or call BLM cell at 575-626-3268. If you have internet access please email Beau and provide a short bio, discuss your background and interests, and any questions you may have. 

Host(s) will reside on site and work 5 days a week (Thursday to Monday). If hosts are a couple, only one person expected to be on duty (and can receive a financial reimbursement for days worked).  RV site has full hook-up, propane, water, sewage, shaded grill area and fenced in yard. Hosts will be expected to go through defensive driving class and background checks. Hosts will routinely operate a UTV in the campground and occasionally may operate BLM vehicle or small equipment.

The main duties will be to engage with the visitors, monitor fee requirements, conduct patrols of the campground and trails, assist with the recycling program, maintain and stock vault toilets, keep campground presentable and grounds maintained to increase visitor's positive experience, and other duties as assigned.  Occasionally assist with special events held at the Jaggers campground as well as patrol the NCA’s other campground (small primitive camping area near the entrance to the NCA cave) as well as the NCA bunkhouse.  Plumbing/mechanical experience is a plus as there is frequent monitoring and maintenance of the aging campground water system (feeds campsites, horse troughs, and irrigation of trees).

Rob Jaggers Campground is located within the Fort Stanton – Snowy River Cave National Conservation Area, with views of both the Capitan Mountains to the north and Sierra Blanca to the southwest.  Since the NCA is located in Southern New Mexico the winters are mild despite 6,500’ elevation and summers are cool and pleasant.   It is also only a few miles north of historic Fort Stanton, one of the most scenic and intact military forts in the entire southwest, and just a few minutes west of Lincoln, site of Billy the Kid and Lincoln County Cattle Wars.  There are over 70 miles of non-motorized trails and approximately 22 miles of motorized roads within the NCA.  The NCA receives frequent visitation for horseback riding, hiking, mountain biking, birding, and hunting.  There are also numerous petroglyphs and archaeology from both historic and pre-historic native peoples as well as the US Army.

HOUSING & AMENITIES

Type: Trailer/RV Pad

Description: Full hook-up, RV pad, sewage, water, laundry (available at NCA bunkhouse), propane, fenced yard and postcard views!

HOUSING & AMENITIES
Type: Trailer/RV Pads
Description: Full hook-up, RV pad, sewage, water, laundry (available at NCA bunkhouse), propane, fenced yard and postcard views!

Volunteer Activities
• Computers
• Office/Clerical
• Other
• General Assistance

Photo Courtesy of NPS

If you have graphic design skills we would like you to contact us. As a graphic designer you may be involved in the stylization and presentation of existing words or use pre-existing, image, and imagery. We are seeking someone who can utilize designing elements which can be incorporated in both traditional and digital form. This person may be  involved in the use of visual arts, typography, and imagery page layout techniques. As a graphic designer the volunteer will organize pages and optionally add graphic elements. Volunteer will use designers digital tools, such as interactive multimedia. Designers need communication skills to engage a wide variety of audience designs.

HOUSING & AMENITIES
Type: Other
Description: Housing is a possibility prospective volunteer should be willing to work a minimum of 32 hours per week.