Fort Laramie NHS Interpretation Assistant

Description

Time Commitment: 

• Individual volunteers from the local commuting area are asked to contribute a minimum of 3 hours per week.  

Time Frame: 

• January to December but most needed May through September.

Major Duties: 

 Interpretation Assistant Volunteers can assist in any combination of Visitor Center or interpretative programming at Fort Laramie National Historic Site. These forward-facing positions are visitor oriented. Visitor center operations help orient visitors to the park's history, programs, directions, and safety warnings. Interpretative programming can range from to dressing up as a living historian, giving public programs/ tours or even helping to fire off a cannon!

Major duties include staffing historic buildings or visitor center and providing general information, orientation and safety messages to the public. Volunteers will provide visitors with information about the fort, programs, how to become a Junior Ranger, and directions to points of interest such as the historic buildings with museum spaces; field phone calls on a number of topics; and track statistics for annual reporting. 

In addition to staffing the visitor center, volunteers will have to opportunity to deliver interpretative, informational talks outside on park grounds, and informal “roving” contacts to meet visitors out in the preserve along our scenic drives and boardwalks outside of scheduled programming.  

Also, volunteers will have the opportunity to be a living history volunteer by dressing in various period clothing, participating in ranger led programs, being a part of the cannon crew, or firing black powder firearms for historic weapon programs.

Working Environment:  

Visitor center operations are inside a climate-controlled building. There will be a fair amount of standing in this role. For outdoor programs, weather can vary with cold, windy programs in early spring and late fall. For summer outdoor programs, the temperature can exceed 100 degrees.

Qualifications: Must have enthusiasm!!! Must enjoy working with people of all ages and have a passion for the environment. Knowledge of history, wildlife (or willingness to learn), good communication skills, flexibility, ability to work well as a team member, are things that the Fort Laramie Interpretation team values highly. This volunteer position requires wearing a uniform.  

Compensation, Housing and Community: This is an unpaid volunteer opportunity. There is no housing or RV pads at the park. The volunteer must have local lodging.

Required training or certifications:  

• Valid driver’s license and ability and willingness to drive government vehicles 

Whether personal property is required (list items):  

• Must provide own transportation to and from worksite.