On-Site Volunteer Position - Salmon, ID

SERVICE TERM: 24-32 hours per week/ May 15 – September 15 (moderately flexible)

SPONSORING ORGANIZATION: Sacajawea Interpretive, Cultural & Educational Center and the City of Salmon, Idaho

SPONSORING ORGANIZATION’S MISSION: The Sacajawea Center’s mission is to foster the knowledge and appreciation of the Agai’dika Shoshone-Bannock Tribes, the Lewis & Clark Expedition, Western frontier life, and the natural environment.

The Sacajawea Center interprets the rich cultural and natural history of the Salmon and Lemhi River Country, deepening people’s connection to the unique place this area holds in our nation’s history, which was shaped in part by the Lewis & Clark Expedition and Sacajawea as well as her people, the Agai’dika Shoshone-Bannock Tribes.

The Sacajawea Center is owned and operated by the City of Salmon. While it is on the Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail and considered an information center along the Trail it has no affiliation with the National Park Service.

LOCATION: Serving in Salmon, located in east central Idaho, offers a great opportunity for an individual or couple seeking a summer experience in a unique and interesting setting. Salmon is the gateway to the Frank Church River of No Return Wilderness, the homeland of Sacajawea and the Agaidika, and the self-proclaimed whitewater capital of the world. Here you will find rugged peaks, alpine lakes, the famous Salmon River, and front row seats to prominent parts of American history. This stunning landscape inspires reverence and observation as well as offering unlimited opportunities for hiking, fishing, mountain biking, camping, boating, and many other recreational activities.

The Sacajawea Center is one of a kind. Opened in 2003 to commemorate the Lewis and Clark bicentennial, the Center boasts 71 acres with walking trails, an interpretive center, an outdoor amphitheater, a dog park, the Learning Center with space for meetings, performances, art shows and parties, a rustic 75 seat theater, a community garden, and the Salmon Outdoor School where primitive and ancestral skills classes are held weekly. The Center partners with twelve local agencies and organizations that provide rich layers of content and support and were instrumental in bringing this idea to fruition. Mailing address: Sacajawea Center, 200 Main Street, Salmon, ID 83467

POSITION SUMMARY: Perfect for an individual or couple with their own RV - interested in cultural and natural history! Each summer docent assists in creating positive, memorable experiences for visitors and community members at the Sacajawea Center. Volunteers primarily spend their time in visitor services and/or grounds maintenance but may support all aspects of operations at the Center including educational programming and events. Each docent serves up to 32 hours per week (which may include weekends and holidays). All volunteers will have specific duties and scheduled times of service after discussion with the Center’s director.

GENERAL RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Greet visitors, answer questions and provide tourist information and be readily accessible to the public while on duty
• Staff the Interpretive Center collecting admission fees, selling bookstore items and providing information as needed (at least one, five hour shift each week)
• Maintaining the cash register, closing the till each day
• Working with a team on site maintenance and grounds upkeep
• Fill in for other docents as needed
• Inform visitors of park rules and regulations and notify staff if action is needed
• Walk the trail system, engaging with visitors
• Support groups renting Center facilities
• Provide planning support and participate in special events
• Maintain grounds around RV pad by trimming, mowing, pulling weeds, watering

Other duties as assigned will include:

Cleaning/Maintenance:

• Checking restrooms for cleanliness
• Cleaning sinks, mirrors, toilets, etc. as assigned
• Restocking paper supplies
• Removing litter/debris and emptying trash onsite
• Weeding shrub/flower beds and trimming vegetation
• Mowing and maintaining lawns using riding/push mowers and trimmers as assigned
• Applying mulch and other top dressings
• Watering trees and lawn areas, flower pots/beds with hoses and sprinklers as needed
• Replacing light bulbs and maintaining buildings as needed
• Maintaining and weatherizing outdoor structures: benches, shade shelters, signs, etc.

Interpretation:

• May develop trail-side stations or special programs for visitors

Emergency Operations (as needed):

• In the absence of staff, take appropriate action during visitor or maintenance emergencies:
  • identify problems
  • obtain relevant information
  • notify appropriate authorities (staff, police, ambulance, etc.)

Equipment Operation (only if properly trained):

• During the performance of duties listed above, may operate and help maintain a variety of equipment:
  • manual pick-up truck
  • electric powered golf cars
  • riding and push mowers
  • backpack and walk-behind blowers, power trimmers, and weed eaters

Special Projects (as needed):

• Assist with special projects related to operations.
• These projects can be structured to the volunteer’s interests and talents.

BENEFITS INCLUDE:

• Free RV pad equipped with water, electricity, and sewer hook-ups
• City vehicle provided for work-related driving needs
• Worker’s compensation while serving
• Orientation and training
• Continual evaluation and feedback on performance
• Uniform shirt provided
• Garden plots available for growing vegetables etc.
• Personal vehicle mileage may be reimbursable for project work
• A beautiful location for a seasonal position!

Open until filled