Museum Host(s) - Cave Jct, OR

Smokejumper Museum Tour Leader and Grounds Maintenance

Site Description
The historic Siskiyou Smokejumper Base is the oldest standing aerial firefighter base in the nation and has been restored to its original appearance through the efforts of hundreds of volunteers during the past 10 years. The site is located inside the fenced perimeter of an airport and has a lawn covered area that is used for camping by visiting pilots. One of the historic buildings is used as a visitor center while others have interiors restored to their original historic appearance and are used for guided tours. 

Position Duties
Be on call to lead tours; maintain grounds (watering, mowing, raking, etc); maintain restroom (toilet paper, sweeping, trash removal, etc); conduct cash transactions in visitor center store. 

Requirements
Volunteers are scheduled to work 6 hours for a minimum of 5 days. Schedules can be flexed to allow for longer weekends to get out and explore the region. Skills necessary for this position include: Volunteers must have an ability to work independently and interact with visiting groups composed of people of all ages, abilities, ideologies, and nationalities. Tours may require standing for long periods, especially during times of high visitation. Tours that take place late in the day may require working for periods of time when temperatures are in the 90s. Grounds upkeep includes litter patrol and the physical ability to move hoses, work with hand tools (broom, rake, shovel, etc), and operate powered equipment (lawn mower, weed eater, etc). Restroom upkeep generally involves assuring toilet paper is stocked, floor is swept, and trash is emptied. Volunteers may need to conduct occasional sales of gift and food items in the visitor center and must have an ability to make general cash transactions. 

Housing and Utilities
An RV site with electric, water, and septic hook up is provided. Wireless internet is available on the base. The site is partially shaded by trees in the warmer afternoons. Temperatures generally drop into the 50s at night. A mill is nearby but generally only operates during the day and not evenings. Highway 199 also is nearby but traffic tends to drop off to occasional cars and trucks passing during the night. 

Area Description 
The historic smokejumper base is located in a valley surrounded by the Siskiyou Mountains with a watershed that is one of the most important salmon spawning rivers in the Pacific Northwest. A small state park and unusual botanical area is located half a mile to the south with 3-4 miles of walking routes. There are three wilderness areas within a 30 mile drive and it is about the same distance to Oregon Caves National Monument. The Wild and Scenic Illinois River corridor begins ten miles to the north and the Wild and Scenic Smith River is 20 miles to the south. The Jefferson State Scenic Byway starts three miles south of the base and can be followed for 40 miles to the Klamath River and trails leading into the Marble Mountain Wilderness. Redwood National Park, Tolowa Dunes State Park, Smith River National Recreation Area, and the Pacific Ocean are less than 60 miles to the south. Crater Lake National Park and wilderness areas along the crest of the Cascade Mountains are about 100 miles to the east. The Wild and Scenic Rogue River is located 35 miles north near Grants Pass and raft trips through the remote sections of the river are world famous.