Keeper's Quarters Docent

Description:

Keeper Quarter's Docents are front-line representatives of Cape Lookout National Seashore in North Carolina. The Keeper's Quarters is the original 1873 Assistant Keeper's Quarters for Cape Lookout Lighthouse. Upstairs is the living quarters, and downstairs is a museum for visitors. The living quarters feature a kitchen, private bathroom, and small Livingroom. While there is electricity, air conditioning is not available due to its location.

Docents may see over 500 people a day. The Visitor Center features information about Cape Lookout Lighthouse, the Life Saving Service, and marine species. Volunteers will answer questions about the park, talk about Cape Lookout Lighthouse, and clean the museum each day. Applicants must be able to work in a harsh environment. June, July, and August are the hottest months.

Schedule:

The Keepers Quarters is a live-work position. The work schedule is set up for seven-day shifts beginning and ending on Friday. Wednesdays are designated as lieu days. On these days, docents may return to Harkers Island via the ferry to utilize laundry facilities, go grocery shopping, etc. Volunteers may also opt to utilize Wednesdays as an on-island lieu day. If leaving the island, docents should open the museum as normally scheduled and leave it in a “self-service” state. Be sure to lock upstairs doors and put the rope across the stairs. Volunteers must plan to return on or before the last ferry of the day to close the museum down.

Major Duties

• Opens (9:30 AM) and closes (4:30 PM) the Keepers’ Quarters Museum. Raises and lowers the US Flag prior to opening and after closing the quarters.
• Presents daily informal programming on the history of the lighthouse, keepers, life-saving service, park resources, park history, etc. Volunteers may present this program or use the information provided to create their own program. Programs are given on the museum porch, or informally through conversation while inside the museum.
• Answers questions, provides information, and is otherwise available to visitors in the museum area. (One person must always be in the museum or on the museum porch.)
• Cleans museum and exhibits. Instructions and supplies are on the first floor closet. Reports larger maintenance needs to supervisor.
• Encouraged to check in with campers, beachgoers and others in the vicinity of the Keepers Quarters and offer information on park resources and rules.
• Carries park cell phone 24-hours a day to report an/or respond to emergencies.

Housing:

• Volunteers will live on the second floor of the Lighthouse Keepers’ Quarters on the barrier island.
• Mainland housing, which includes laundry facilities, is available on Harkers Island on the day before your first duty assignment.
• Park employees and visitors may not use volunteer housing.
• Children and pets are not allowed.

Requirements: 

• On-site orientation, training, and a uniform will be provided and required to wear while on duty. 
• This position requires two people. Each applicant should apply.

Physical Demands & Work Environment 

• Standing for long periods of time, walking, bending, lifting of moderately heavy items, and sedentary work is required.
• Work is performed outdoors and indoors in both a visitor center and museum setting.
• While outdoors, the volunteer may be subject to working in adverse weather conditions, uneven terrain, lifting heavy objects, and biting insects. 
• Volunteers are required to carry their own supplies to the island. A beach cart is provided to transport items from the ferry landing to the Keeper's Quarters.

Personal Contacts 

The volunteer has daily contacts with the visiting public, other volunteers, park staff, researchers, and concessions staff. These groups represent a cross section of the nation and of other countries of the world. Visitors are of all ages, and from all social, ethnic, and economic groups. The volunteers have contact with park visitors for the purpose of providing information about area facilities, services, activities and recreational opportunities. Public contacts occasionally include dealing with visitor complaints and conflicts, although these are typically referred to the supervisor. 

Seeking volunteers for March 15th, 2027, through October 29th, 2027. Volunteers are limited to 7 days. If selected, volunteers MUST attend an in-person training on March 5th, 2027.