Carl Sandburg Home NHS House Tour Guide

Main Goals for This Position to Accomplish:

·        Welcome visitors to the house and visitor center.

·        Give tours of the historic Sandburg house.

·        Honorably represent the National Park Service.

Description of Work to be Performed:

·        Create a welcoming atmosphere for visitors.

·        Give 30-minute tours to groups of up to 10 visitors.

·        Providing accurate information to visitors about Carl Sandburg and his family.

Scope of Visitor Contacts:

·        Give interpretive guided tours of the main house and conduct short talks with groups according to desire and ability.

·        Talk with visitors, answer questions and direct visitors to alternative sources of information.

·        Enforce Park policies regarding resource protection and preservation, reporting any concerns or specific incidents as they occur. Monitor visitors for potential safety concerns.

Physical Requirements of Work:

·        Wear a volunteer uniform while performing duties.

·        Standing for possibly several hours at a time; walking and climbing stairs in a historic 3-story house.

·        Work under adverse weather conditions at times, including excessive heat and cold.

Qualifications:

·        Familiarity with Carl Sandburg and his family (This knowledge may be obtained through NPS training.)

·        Ability to be flexible in a work environment that changes often.

·        Ability to work independently and in cooperation with other volunteers and rangers.

·        Ability to interact with all types of people and maintain a professional appearance and manner.

·        Willingness to adhere to prescribed schedules for house tours.

·        Ability to adhere to a prescribed schedule of work and to report to work in a timely manner.

·        Ability to conduct personal research using interpretive materials regularly used at the park to gain an understanding of the park and its resources. Research may include books, pamphlets and exhibits as well as ranger programs, etc.

Length of Commitment:

·        Daily shifts are two to five hours in length, covering tours that start at 11am, 12pm, 1pm, 2pm ,3pm. Shifts are available currently on Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday when the house is open to the public.     

·        If you are unable to fill a shift, you will be responsible for letting staff members know at the earliest possible notice so a fill-in may be found.

Supervisory Controls:

·        The volunteer will work under the guidance of the park staff and interns assigned to the barn.