This position is predominantly for those volunteers who are seeking an internship for college. This position allows them to get a well-rounded experience by potentially working with the visitor center staff as well as the maintenance staff.

Description:

This position functions to introduce a volunteer with a diverse interest in the different types of jobs and careers within the Park Service. Simultaneously, the volunteer will provide valuable services and assistance in completing the park’s mission. The volunteer may receive experience in visitor services, interpretation and education, maintenance, and resource management.

Activities and projects may include but are not limited to researching topics of interest related to the park’s interpretive themes, creating demonstrations and education programs, providing programs, demonstrations, and guided tours, creating and providing education programs, staffing the visitor center desk, cleaning interpretive signs, cleaning buildings and restrooms, picking up trash, trail clean up and maintenance, gardening, small tool operations, painting, and other maintenance and resource related work.

Duties:

The volunteer must be able to work both independently and as a team with other volunteers and park staff. They must be reliable and dependable. Below is a list of possible activities the volunteer may participate in, they are not expected to do all.

• Operate Park visitor center, including conduction of sales or merchandise from the cooperating association, starting the park video, and providing informal interpretation as well as information on the park, and responding to visitors’ queries.
• Provide accurate information on the park resources as well as other area attractions, directions, and local accommodation. 
• Rove trails picking up trash and moving small branches, cleaning waysides, and stocking brochures while also interacting with visitors.
• Research, prepare, and present guided tours, formal interpretive talks and programs, demonstrations, and social media post.
•  Research, write, prepare and present lesson plans meeting state standards.
• Lead nature walks, bird walks, spider walks with or without a ranger present and report their sightings.
• Assist with summer camp and other special events.
• Care for the park’s garden areas, weeding, planting, and mulching the herb and native plant gardens behind the log cabin and the plant beds around the visitor center and the administrative building.
• Paint buildings, signpost, and trail markers.
• Assist with the maintenance and repairs if buildings, bridges, boardwalks, vehicles, and landscapes. (Operating under the supervision of maintenance staff, and only operating within training parameters)
• Take photographs of park resources and events (collecting photo release forms when applicable)

Qualifications:

·        Time and ability to commit at least eight hours per week for the semester (if a student). If not a student time will be agreed on between the volunteer and staff.

·        Ability and willingness to acquire a basic knowledge of the history of Ninety Six and the park as it is today.

·        Ability to learn on the job as well as through training.

·        Ability to conduct quality research and write quality programs and present information in an easily understandable manner.

·        Good written and verbal communication skills.

·        Ability to answer repetitive questions with a professional demeanor.

·        Engaging, personable, energetic, and enjoy working with the public.

·        Required to be on time and in proper uniform, which is clean, and presentable.

·        Willingness to adhere to park interpretive themes and guidelines

·        Willingness to adhere to park policies.

·        Ability to walk on uneven surfaces, sometimes while carrying equipment.

·        Some duties may require the ability to pass a background check. 

Local applicants, housing is not provided.