Volunteer Photo Spotlight, Part #2

Continuing with the theme from our last post, I am looking to share some of Ed Hunds's photos that he has taken over the past few years.  In part two of this week's series, we are looking to help you thaw out a little bit more. 

Summer is just around the corner, and even though there is still nearly 15 feet of snow on the ground at Paradise right now, before you know it, you will be getting sunburnt at Panorama Point or while climbing over Second Burroughs.  It's only March, but in the lower elevations flowers and trees are already starting to bloom and you may be woken earlier and earlier by those songbirds outside your window. 

So, get out your lawn chairs, relax with an ice cold lemonade, and enjoy the season just around the corner: Summer.

NPS Photo / VIP Hunds

NPS Photo / VIP Hunds

NPS Photo / VIP Hunds

Just How Busy Were the RAVENs this Summer?

The short answer: very.


The longer answer, in sentence form, with pictures:

This summer, the RAVEN program was off to a very quick start and continued throughout the duration of the summer.  The numbers are in, and the RAVENs were essentially in constant motion from June to September.  Collectively, Les and Gary interacted with over 2,500 visitors, and turned what could have been a vacation ruining experience to a painless and positive time, allowing the guests to continue on their adventures around Mount Rainier.

Together these two assisted with 31 dead batteries, 32 locked doors, and 17 cases of low or flat tires.  Sure, these are important to help get people back on the road, but in addition to the vehicle assistance, the RAVENs also assisted with 7 Search and Rescue efforts, drove the Park's ambulance multiple times, and even provided life giving CPR to a visitor suffering from a heart attack. 

 

These are just a few examples of the extremely valuable service Les and Gary provided while volunteering at Paradise all summer as RAVENs.  Yes, we can look at numbers and hard facts to see how important these two were all summer, but just ask any of the 2,500 visitors they interacted with, and you will hear it firsthand from them how Les and Gary turned their potentially horrible day into a great one.

 

 

We just cannot say it enough.

 

Thank you for a great summer, RAVENs!

Summer?

I thought that I would just take this time to remind everyone that it is still summer.  Although this rain is very welcome to the parched ground, we will see the sun again very soon (hopefully).

Artists-in-Residence

Type: Medium-term individuals
Dates: To be determined
Status: Now in development

Quick summary: Mount Rainier National Park is working on developing an Artists in Residence program similar to those hosted by other national parks.
 
For further information: Details are still being worked out, but if you think you may be interested in participating, contact Volunteer and Outreach Manager Kevin Bacher at 360-569-2211 ext. 3385.
Blog entries about this opportunity

Backcountry Maintenance

Type: Short-term groups or intermittent individuals
Dates: June to October
Status: Now planning for summer projects

Quick summary: With the addition (hopefully) of a Maintenance Volunteer Coordinator this summer, there should be more opportunities than ever for backcountry maintenance projects. Possibilities for groups include wilderness cleanup (removing old telephone cables) and "sherpa projects" (delivering supplies and materials to backcountry locations). Individuals with carpentry skills may help restore or re-roof backcountry cabins, shelters, or fire lookouts, on projects lasting a single day or multiple weeks.
 
For more information, or to offer the services of yourself or your group, contact Carpenter Mitch Anderson at 360-569-2211 ext. 3347, or Volunteer Program Manager Kevin Bacher at 360-569-2211 ext. 3385.
Blog entries about this job
Photos of this job
More photos of this job

Backcountry Patrol

Type: Long-term and intermittent individuals
Dates: Year-round
Status: Not currently recruiting, but open to inquiries; may hire interns this summer through the Student Conservation Association if funding permits

Quick summary: Mount Rainier's wilderness backcountry is extensive. A small team of volunteers supplements seasonal park staff to patrol the park's hundreds of miles of trails, assisting visitors, checking backcountry permits, and performing minor trail and campsite maintenance. These additional eyes and ears are especially helpful during the busy summer, and in remote parts of the park like Carbon River.

For more information: While the park is not currently recruiting additional volunteers in this area, inquiries are welcome. Direct them to West District Ranger Daniel Camiccia at 360-569-2211 ext. 3419; East District Ranger Geoff Walker at 360-569-6031; or Carbon River Ranger Jim Hull at 360-829-9639.
Photos of this job

Bookstore Clerk

Type: Long-term individuals
Dates: roughly June to September
Status: Filled for 2010

Quick summary: Mount Rainier National Park works in partnership with Discover Your Northwest to provide educational books and other materials for sale in visitor centers throughout the park. These positions receive a modest salary, but also volunteer their assistance to visitors and interpretive rangers.
 
For more information: Bookstore Manager Sherry Paul, 360-569-2211 ext. 3320
Apply online
Blog entries about this job

Campground Host

Type: Long-term individual volunteers
Dates: Memorial Day-Columbus Day
Status: Filled for 2010

Quick summary: Campground hosts assist visitors and perform minor campground maintenance duties at both the Ohanapecosh and Cougar Rock Campgrounds. The season is often split between two individuals or couples, with one serving the first half of the season and the other finishing it. These are some of our most popular and competitive positions.

For further information: Campground Manager Debbie Hannevig, 360-569-6006
Apply online (for 2011)
Blog entries about this job
Photos of this job

Camping Adventures Assistant

Type: Long-term individuals
Dates: 12-weeks, beginning about June 7
Status: Now hiring through the Student Conservation Association

Quick summary: The "Camping Adventures with My Parents" (CAMP) program is an exciting new program offered by Mount Rainier National Park, which provides introductory camping experiences to diverse families from the Seattle and Tacoma urban areas. The Camping Adventures intern will help lead five of these intensive 3-day program over the course of the summer.

For further information: Kevin Bacher, Volunteer and Outreach Program Manager, 360-569-2211 ext. 3385
Apply online
Blog entries about this job
Photos of this job

Citizen Science Coordinator Internship

Type: long-term individuals
Dates: 12-weeks, beginning about June 28
Status: Now hiring through the Student Conservation Association

Quick summary: If you have a background in science and enjoy working with people, consider our Citizen Science Coordinator internship. Recruit, train, and lead citizen volunteers on projects in the park's wilderness, including amphibian surveys, wetland mapping, and soundscape monitoring, to help gather baseline data for park management.

For further information: Biologist Barbara Samora, 360-569-2211 ext. 3372
Apply online
Blog entries about this job
Photos of this job

Citizen Science Team

Type: Intermittent individual volunteers
Dates: late June through September
Status: Now recruiting

Quick summary: Help gather baseline data about Mount Rainier National Park's natural resources, including amphibian populations and wetland resources. Some projects require simple day-trips off park roads, while others may occur deep in the park's wilderness and involve multiple days in the backcountry. (On rare occasions, front-country projects may be suitable for organized groups.)
 
For further information: Biologist Barbara Samora, 360-569-2211 ext. 3372
Apply online
Blog entries about this job
Photos of this job

Climbing Ranger

Type: Long-term individuals
Dates: May to September
Status: Now recruiting

Quick summary: Many of the rangers who patrol the high mountain routes on Mount Rainier and staff the high camps are, in fact, dedicated and highly skilled volunteers. This is one of the most specialized duties volunteers perform at our national park.

For further information or to apply: Contact Lead Climbing Ranger Stefan Lofgren at 360-569-6010 for more information. Please note that only individuals with extensive climbing experience will be considered for this job. Also check out Mount Rainier's climbing blog.
Blog entries about this job

Conservation Leadership Corps

Type: Long-term high school-age individuals
Dates: July and August
Status: Currently recruiting through the Student Conservation Association, pending funding

Quick summary: The Student Conservation Association recruits teams of high school age students, usually from urban populations like Seattle, to participate in guided outdoor leadership-building experiences, culminating with a 15-day volunteer project at a setting like Mount Rainier. While these programs are expensive for us to work with, we consider them a priority because they provide unique opportunities for young people from diverse communities to connect with their national parks and to gain experience that often leads to careers in resource stewardship. We hope to work with three CLC crews at the park this summer. Most crews work on trail maintenance or construction projects, but others have also served on the park's restoration crew.

For more information: Volunteer Program Manager Kevin Bacher, 360-569-2211 ext. 3385, or the Student Conservation Association
To apply: Contact the Student Conservation Association
Blog entries about this opportunity
Photos of youth volunteers

Curation Assistant

Type: Long-term individuals
Dates: Summer and winter seasons
Status: Three volunteers are being sought for summer 2010.

Quick summary: Volunteers are essential for maintaining the park's massive collection of historical artifacts and documents. We are currently in the midst of a major project cataloging historical photographs. It's often tedious work, often engrossing, and essential to preserving the rich history of the national park.
 
For further information: Museum Curator Brook Childrey, 360-569-2211 ext. 2364
Apply online
Blog entries about this job
Photos of this job

Emergency Roadside Assistance

Type: Long-term individuals
Dates: June through mid-September
Status: Now recruiting

Quick summary: At Mount Rainier's busiest locations, Paradise and Sunrise, volunteers help by patrolling parking lots and local roads and trails, assisting visitors, directing traffic, and helping with lockouts, emergencies, and jump starts. Volunteers also help to extend the season at Sunrise in the fall, when the availability of seasonal rangers is short.

For more information and to apply: Apply online at volunteer.gov. At Paradise, volunteers will be supervised by Jordan Mammel, 360-569-6073. At Sunrise, volunteers are supervised by Uwe Nehring, 360-825-6585 ext. 3608257210. New volunteers are not needed at the present time, but inquiries are welcome.

Environmental Education Internship

Type: Long-term individuals
Dates: March 22 to September 20
Status: Now hiring through the Student Conservation Association

Quick summary: This six-month position will help with visiting school groups in the spring and early fall, as well as teacher training programs and curriculum development throughout the summer.

For further information: Education Specialist Fawn Bauer, 360-569-6037
Apply online

Exotic Plant Removal

Type: Short-term groups
Dates: May to August
Status: Now recruiting groups

Quick summary: Mount Rainier is very fortunate not to have huge fields of thistle, oxeye daisy, or other exotic species to contend with. Keeping that from happening, however, requires constant vigilance. Volunteer groups can help during the growing season to "weed out" the problem. Scheduling a project requires flexibility, as the exact dates depend on many factors that influence the plants' growing season.
 
For further information: Restoration Specialist Will Arnesen, 360-569-2211 ext. 3374
To inquire about volunteering your group: contact Volunteer Program Manager Kevin Bacher at 360-569-2211 ext. 3385
Blog entries about this job
Photos of this job

Financial Support

Type: Individuals and groups
Dates: Year-round
Status: Now accepting donations

Quick summary: In addition to supporting Mount Rainier through the investment of time and energy, that is, participating in volunteer projects, both individuals and groups can also support the park through financial contributions. Contributions facilitate volunteer projects by providing for supplies, housing, uniforms, and other incidental needs that supplement the donated labor. Over the years, our program has been supported by both individual donors and donations from larger groups. REI, Boeing, and many others have been instrumental in keeping our program running strong.

For further information: Volunteer and Outreach Program Manager Kevin Bacher, 360-569-2211 ext. 3385
To contribute: While contributions can be received directly by the volunteer program, it's easier to give through Mount Rainier's partners, especially Washington's National Park Fund, which has a full list online of projects it supports. A complete list of partners that receive donations on behalf of the park is on Mount Rainier's website.
Blog entries about this opportunity

Geoscientist-in-Parks Internship

Type: Long-term individuals
Dates: May 24 to August 16
Status: Application deadline February 1

Quick summary: Every year, Mount Rainier hires interns through the Geological Society of America to work alongside other interpreters assisting visitors in the park's visitor centers, leading guided walks, and presenting programs. Our geomorphology program sometimes hires an additional intern to help with field research. These positions are specifically targeted to students or educators in the field of geology.

For more information: District interpreter Lee Snook, 360-569-6043
Apply online

Greenhouse Assistant

Type: Intermittent individual volunteers
Dates: Year-round
Status: New volunteer commitments are always welcome

Quick summary: Mount Rainier's revegetation and restoration program depends on native seeds cultivated in the park's greenhouse, located at park headquarters west of Ashford. Throughout the year, a small but dedicated team of employees and volunteers tends to the growing plants, weeding and repotting them as necessary until they are ready to be replanted. The program seeks individuals who are willing to return on a regular basis.
 
For further information: Greenhouse Manager Josh Drown, 360-569-6070
Apply online
Blog entries about this job
Photos of this job