Volunteer

Volunteers play a pivotal role in protecting, preserving and interpreting the cultural and natural resources in our National Parks. Without their efforts, we could not do what we do. At Minute Man National Historical Park, we serve over one million visitors per year. The success of the park is due in no small part to the growing number of volunteers eager to help us protect and interpret the place where the American Revolution began. But we always need more volunteers. We invite you to come explore the park and the volunteer possibilities. If you are interested in volunteering for Minute Man NHP, and are over 18 years old, starting in late May 2013 until November 2013, Minute Man National Historical Park needs volunteers in the following position:

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Visitor Guide
Introduction Position is located in the following areas in Minute Man National Historical Park:-Minute Man Visitor Center (250 North Great Road [Rte.2A], Lincoln, Massachusetts) -North Bridge Unit (299 Monument Street, Concord, Massachusetts)

Volunteers assigned to this position help park rangers staff the visitor center and North Bridge area and complete additional tasks and projects in accordance with park needs. They work under the direction of the site supervisor and ranger staff. Sometimes Visitor Guides will work in other areas of the park, too.

Tour of Duty
Volunteers are needed to staff the visitor center and the bridge from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. This "window of operation" is usually divided into two four-hour time slots: morning (9 a.m. to 1 p.m.) and afternoon (1 to 5 p.m.). In the case of the North Bridge, it is from 9:30 to 5:30 every day, when talks are offered there, and rangers are assigned there. Volunteers may fill either or both slots on a given day, depending on interest and need. After four hours of work, all staff are allowed a half-hour break.

Commitment
Volunteers are expected to make an initial commitment of two months. Visitor guides are expected to compose and be able to present a fifteen-minute public talk, which they can use as a basis for interpreting the park's story for visitors. In addition to the time spent in staffing the visitor center and the North Bridge, they are strongly encouraged to attend training, meetings and other activities sponsored by the National Park Service, and to keep abreast of news and events affecting the Battle Road.

Uniform
The volunteer will be expected to wear a uniform and nameplate identifying them as a volunteer of the National Park Service. When out of doors, the volunteers will wear headgear and appropriate outerwear. The National Park Service will provide shirt, cap and outerwear.

Major Duties
Primary among the duties of volunteers staffing the visitor center and the North Bridge are the following: * Interact with the public. Greet walk-in visitors, answer any questions, provide directions and refer to other sources of information as needed. Answer telephones and provide information or refer to appropriate source. * Assist Eastern National Parks Association Bookstores. Conduct sales transactions using the cash register, and help staff keep overall visitor center appearance neat and clean. * Assist staff with reserved, scheduled programs. Check reservation lists for all advertised programs, informing participants of time, location and any special details.

* Communicate. Alert NPS staff to concerns involving the public or other employees, park facilities, store operations, programs, etc. Refer issues through appropriate NPS channels when they exceed the volunteer's scope of responsibility or possess the potential for controversy or embarrassment.

Volunteers should reflect a high degree of professionalism while representing the National Park Service. They should be neat, courteous, respectful of others and dependable in the performance of their duties.

If this sounds right for you, please let me know. We interview in person first all who are interested in volunteering, before selection takes place. Our only training session for new volunteers will be in late May and in September 2013. We can provide neither housing nor trailer pads for park volunteers. Most live locally. Volunteers must find and pay for their own local housing. They also must have a current driver's license and personal automobile, since there is insufficient public transport in the area.

If you are in the area, please give me a call at my office number and we can set something up to get together and talk. I am available on Sundays, if that helps. I look forward to hearing from you. Thank you!

Roger Fuller, Park Ranger/Volunteer Coordinator
Minute Man National Historical Park
174 Liberty Street Concord, MA, 01742
978-318-7824
Roger_Fuller@nps.