2012 Volunteer Recruitment at Fire Island

Under the direction of Coastal Ecologist Patti Rafferty, volunteers measure and tag horseshoe crabs along the bay shoreline of Fire Island as part of a current citizen science program.

 

Date: March 1, 2012
Contact: Kathy Krause, 631-687-4772
Contact: Paula Valentine, 631-687-4759

Do you have some spare time? Are you a people person or a lover of lighthouses, or perhaps both? Are you immersed in Long Island's rich history or ecology? If so, then this could be for you!

Fire Island National Seashore is recruiting volunteers to assist with a variety of park functions and services ranging from staffing visitor centers and conducting visitor tours and programs, to native plant gardening, monitoring endangered shorebirds and clearing invasive plants.

On Saturday, March 24, 2012 from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., the park will be hosting a volunteer recruitment day for anyone who would like to learn more about park volunteer opportunities. The event will take place at Fire Island National Seashore's Patchogue-Watch Hill Ferry Terminal, located at 150 West Avenue in the Village of Patchogue, New York. For new volunteers who sign up that day, there will be additional follow-up dates scheduled for park orientation and training.

Irene Rosen, Fire Island National Seashore's volunteer coordinator, has identified a number of volunteer positions with immediate openings. "We have openings for volunteer tour guides at the William Floyd Estate and Fire Island Lighthouse," said Rosen, "and we're looking for folks with green thumbs to help us with our native plant butterfly garden. We can also use a few more volunteers who are interested in helping with this year's horseshoe crab monitoring program." Coastal ecologist Patti Rafferty, who is supervising this May-June citizen science program at Fire Island National Seashore, Sagamore Hill National Historic Site and Gateway National Recreation Area, will be available to demonstrate some techniques and answer questions related to her volunteer positions.

With the "retirement" of long-time Watch Hill Campground host Carmen Mejia, there will be an opening in the campground host position every other weekend from mid-May to mid-October this year. After 27 years of volunteer service, Mejia has a few pointers to share. Candidates must have a great love (and tolerance) for the nature of Fire Island and its wildlife and people, and have a lot of patience. "You must always be helpful and happy," said Mejia, "even after your 4:00 a.m. wake-up call from the local birds!"

Fire Island National Seashore's 19,000 acres of ocean-washed beaches, dunes, maritime forests, the Fire Island Light Station and historic William Floyd Estate blend recreational opportunities with treasured natural and cultural resources. Located only one hour east of New York City, the park is a world apart from the bustling metropolis and Long Island suburbia. The 26-mile long seashore has 17 seasonal residential communities within its boundaries, as well as the campground, marinas, visitor centers and 12 miles of boardwalk trails. Natural areas include New York State's only federally designated wilderness area - the Otis Pike Fire Island High Dune Wilderness - and the Sunken Forest, a 300-year-old globally rare maritime holly forest.

For more information, call Irene Rosen at [phone] or e-mail her at e-mail us.

• Volunteer Opportunities at Fire Island National Seashore