Preventative Search & Rescue Volunteer - Linville Falls - Blue Ridge Parkway

The Blue Ridge Parkway is seeking volunteers for a Preventative Search and Rescue (PSAR) volunteer team at Linville Falls (milepost 316.4). PSAR volunteers serve on the frontline, assisting visitors and staff, offering safety information and advice to the public, helping visitors recreate safely while visiting the park, and initiating emergency response (calling 911 & Parkway Dispatch) for emergencies.

The PSAR team will operate from the trailhead at the end of the Linville Falls Spur Road.

Time Commitment

Volunteers are expected to contribute 16 hours of volunteer service per month (Four 4-hour shifts). The NPS Volunteer Supervisor may grant some flexibility with this requirement.

Major Duties

• Assist Park staff with Search and Rescue Prevention through education to park visitors.

• Assist Park staff with creating a larger presence on Park trails.

• Increase visitor understanding of best practices to safely enjoy park resources. Topics may include information about the weather (Lightning/Heat/Cold Risks), best times to hike, ensuring visitors understand the difficulty level of a hike, educating visitors about wearing proper footwear/clothing, proper eating/drinking habits for hiking, safety hazards such as falling risks, venomous snakes, stinging insects, park regulations (no swimming, dogs on leash, stay on designated trail, not entering closed areas), resource protection and interpretation, and Leave No Trace Messaging. 

• Set up & staff an information table/tent at Linville Falls trailhead and/or US Forest Service Information Cabin

• Rove trails & interact with visitors

• Distribute Park maps, trail maps and other informational materials.

• Answer visitor questions.

• Use personal cellphone for communication

• Know Park procedures for emergencies and how to initiate emergency response for lost hikers, injuries and other emergencies. Call 911 first, then alert Parkway Dispatch.

• Volunteer will record the number of visitor contacts they make, fill out a rove log report, and report the number of volunteers hours they work.

• Must wear Park provided Volunteer Uniform at all times to be easily identifiable by the public.

• Attend all required trainings and team meetings.

Working Environment and Safety Considerations

• Volunteer will be expected to work outdoors. Associated Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) should be worn to mitigate identified hazards. Additionally, safety considerations such as proper hydration, heat-related illnesses, hypothermia, insect/animal bites and stings, and tick-borne illnesses should be discussed as appropriate given the local work environment, season, and geographic location. Types of weather may include hot, humid, wet, windy, and cold. Work may occur across uneven terrain, including hills, slopes, grades, and wetlands, in both forested and open areas. Exposure to long periods of sunlight, precipitation, wind, dust, dirt, insects, irritating or poisonous plants may be present.

• Physical Demands range from light exertion to physically demanding work depending on the task. In general, tasks involve frequent stooping, lifting, reaching, bending, carrying, and repetitive motion as well as sitting for long periods. Distances walked may exceed several miles per day while wearing a backpack. At times, tasks may require the ability to lift or carry moderate or heavy weight.

• Volunteer will have frequent interaction with the general public.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Ability to hike several miles per day

• Ability to interact with the general public in a friendly manner

• Ability to recognize and avoid hazardous situations

• Effective communicator

• Ability to work as a team player

• Ability to work without onsite direct supervision

• Knowledge of or willingness to learn basic hiking safety principles, Leave No Trace, park rules and regulations, and resources such as plants, animals and geology

• Prior first aid training and certification preferred but not required