Volunteer - Environmental Education Assistant

Duties: Volunteers work with the S.W.A.M.P., Swamp Water and Me Program, a curriculum-based program with the 6th grade students and their teachers from Collier County public and private schools. Volunteers are assistants to the park rangers and interns during the S.W.A.M.P. field trips to the preserve.  During these trips volunteers are the tail of the group helping with group management, safety, assisting students with experiments and data collection and other activities such as radio telemetry, dip netting and water quality testing. Volunteers may need to lead the groups on occasion if there is an emergency or staffing issue.

The field trips involve hiking into a cypress strand, prairie and pineland. While the hiking is not long in distance it can be physically demanding as it involves long periods of standing, walking through knee to thigh deep water, heat and humidity, mosquitoes, uneven footing and other swamp creatures besides the 6th graders! 

Volunteers also assist education staff with housekeeping duties at the education center including sweeping, mopping and cleaning toilets, preparing and loading all equipment, re-stocking equipment and student backpacks, preparing for the next day and working on projects. 

On days that no field trips are scheduled the volunteers may assist with special events and festivals, workshops, requested outreach programs such as wet walks, canoe trips and bike rides, work on special projects, develop new activities for other programs, or do job related exploration and training.

Requirements:  Each volunteer works a minimum of 30 hours each week.   Volunteers must be flexible as the days assigned may change from week to week depending on when the school groups can be scheduled and to accommodate bus schedule changes, other programs or staffing issues. The workdays will normally be between Monday and Friday with occasional weekend work for special events and festivals.  Volunteers will have all holidays off with extended time during Thanksgiving and Christmas.

Must have own personal vehicle besides RV. The duty station to report to is the Environmental Education Center located on Birdon Road, which will require personal vehicles to be driven the 2.5 miles from the VIP campground along a gravel road to the education center. VIPs must have a valid driver’s license and will drive a government vehicle if traveling to a special event or outreach program.

Volunteers may have the opportunity to assist other divisions with special projects, visit other agencies in the area and have many other training opportunities.

Selection Priority is given to those volunteers that commit to the full term of 9/30/20 through 3/30/21.

Volunteers will be required to have a Federal Background Check and fingerprinted for Access Card.

Skills: Must have enthusiasm!!! Must enjoy and have experience working with children. An education background is preferred. Knowledge of natural science, good communication skills, flexibility, ability to work well as a team member, good physical condition are all necessary qualities.

Compensation: There is no housing available. We will provide an R.V. pad with full hook ups in our volunteer campground in exchange for a minimum 30 hours per week per person. Laundry facilities, pool and weight room are also available.

Park: Big Cypress National Preserve is 729,000 acres of swampland in south Florida. Part of the Everglades ecosystem, Big Cypress is a critical watershed for the Ten thousand Islands area to the southwest. It is home to many endangered species including the Florida Panther. Incredible wildlife viewing opportunities, canoeing, hiking and biking are just some of the activities available during the winter months in the swamp. 

Area: Big Cypress is located in sunny South Florida on Highway 41 just thirty miles east of Naples and seventy miles west of Miami. Temperatures during the winter months are usually in the 80s during the day and 60s to 70s at night. Everglades City is the closest town with a small grocery, convenience stores, gas stations, and restaurants. The fishing is great!

How to Apply: Send the on-line application AND resume including references to: Lisa Andrews, Outreach/Education Specialist Big Cypress National Preserve 33100 Tamiami Trail E., Ochopee, FL 34141 or call Lisa 239-695-1164 or e-mail  [email protected]

Please visit our newly expanded web pages for more information on Big Cypress