Volunteer Service Opportunities at Cape Lookout National Seashore

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News Release Date: March 27, 2014
Contact: Wouter Ketel, 252-728-2250 ext. 3014

HARKERS ISLAND, NC – Are you interested in learning about the plants, animals, and history of the Southern Outer Banks and sharing what you know with park visitors?Come join the National Park Service (NPS) as a Volunteer-In-the-Park (VIP).We are seeking friendly and energetic people who can assist for two or more hours at the Town of Beaufort Visitor Center and those who are able to assist as caretakers and docents for two days or several weeks at visitor centers and cabin camps out on the Seashore's barrier islands.

Volunteers serve as front line representatives of the park and work side-by-side with park staff to greet visitors, answer questions, provide information, and otherwise make visitors feel welcome to the Park, in addition to specific duties noted below.All necessary training is provided.In 2013, 95 volunteers contributed over 23,000 hours of service to welcome visitors to Cape Lookout National Seashore.Some volunteer opportunities fill up fast, so apply early to schedule the best time for you!

Interested individuals may apply through Volunteer.gov (under KEYWORD type "Cape Lookout") or print an application from the park website (https://www.nps.gov/calo/supportyourpark/volunteer.htm).Call Volunteer Coordinator Kerby Price at 252-728-2250, extension 3008, for more information.

Seashore Volunteer Opportunities

Beaufort Visitor Information Center (Opening in May 2014)-

2-8 hours a day; daily

• Suitable for 1 or 2 people

Substitutes at the Keepers' Quarters Museum-

2 days/2 nights (Mondays and Tuesdays each week); from late March to October

• Volunteers may also present programs on the history of the lighthouse, maintain the Light Station Visitor Center or assist rangers with the lighthouse operations.
• Housing is provided on the second floor of the historic Lighthouse Keepers' Quarters.
• Requires 2 volunteers

Harkers Island Visitor Center-

32 hours (4 days) per week for two months; all year

• Housing is available in the winter (December to February).RV pads are available throughout the year.
• Suitable for 1 or 2 people

Keepers' Quarters Museum (at the Cape Lookout Lighthouse)-

40 hours (5 days) per week for 4 weeks; from late March to October

• Volunteers may also present programs on the history of the lighthouse, maintain the Light Station Visitor Center or assist rangers with the lighthouse operations.
• Island housing is provided on the second floor of the historic Lighthouse Keepers' Quarters.Shared Harkers Island housing is available during days off.
• Requires 2 volunteers

Cape Lookout Light Station Visitor Center

40 hours (5 days) per week for 4 weeks, from May to September

• Volunteers operate the Visitor Center and bookstore and do minor maintenance
• Island housing is provided in one of the historic cabins in the Cape Lookout Village.Shared Harkers Island housing is available during days off.
• Requires 2 volunteers

Portsmouth Village

40 hours (5 days) per week for 4 weeks; from April to October

• Volunteers also present programs on the history of the village and island, open/close and perform light cleaning and minor maintenance of historic buildings.
• Housing is provided in the historic Life-Saving Service Summer Kitchen in Portsmouth Village.Shared Harkers Island housing is available during days off.
• Requires 2 volunteers due to the remote location

Camp Caretaker at Long Point or Great Island Cabins

40 hours (5 days) per week for 4 weeks; from mid-March to November

• At the Great Island and Long Point Cabin Camps, volunteers greet visitors arriving on the ferries, maintain camp facilities, and assist renters and rangers after office hours.
• Housing is provided in a private cabin in cabin camp.Shared Harkers Island housing is available during days off.
• Suitable for 1 or 2 people

Other Volunteer Opportunities

Variable times, available all year

• Volunteers with special skills—painters, carpenters, graphic designers—are encouraged to discuss potential service opportunities with the Volunteer Coordinator.
• At certain times of the year, the park will sponsor or co-sponsor special events, like Portsmouth Homecoming and guided lighthouse tours.Volunteers can assist park rangers and partners with event set-up, by greeting visitors and providing information, or in cleaning up after the event.
• Beach clean-up events may also be held by the park. Volunteers and rangers will work side-by-side to remove trash and debris and help preserve the natural beauty of the seashore.
• The Seashore also welcomes participation and service projects from youth groups such as schools, churches, and scout troops.
• Contact the Volunteer Coordinator for more information on any of these opportunities.

Tags: volunteer

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