Interpretation/ Visitor Service Assistant

Fort Bowie is now recruiting volunteers for our 2020/2021 season.  Consider joining our team! 

We are looking for volunteers that can commit to a service agreement from November-April.  These dates are tentative, so all interested applicants are encouraged to apply.

Fort Bowie National Historic Site protects the ruins of a United States military fort that was active from 1862-1894.  The site commemorates the bitter conflict between Chiricahua Apaches and the U.S. military and protects important cultural and natural resources.  Fort Bowie is a unit of the Southeast Arizona Group that also includes Chiricahua National Monument and Coronado National Memorial. 

Duties:

Volunteers staff the visitor center, rove the park, answer visitor questions, and conduct interpretive talks, hikes and tours.  Additionally, volunteers operate a cash register to conduct sales for Western National Parks Association and respond to telephone information requests.  Volunteers must also be able to hike up to 3 miles a day on a moderate trail and should expect to work weekends and some holidays. 

Area:

Fort Bowie is located 13 miles south of the town of Bowie, AZ and is located within the Chiricahua mountain range.  The ‘sky islands’ of southeastern Arizona have an incredible diversity of wildlife. The park elevation is approximately 5000 feet which means that it enjoys cooler temperatures than lower elevations.  Grocery stores and shopping can be found in the towns of Willcox, Safford, or Tucson.

Requirements:

All volunteers must pass a federal background investigation.  The associated costs of the investigation are paid for by the park.

Additional Considerations and Covid-19

The NPS is closely monitoring the current health pandemic related to Covid-19.  Fort Bowie NHS is implementing mitigation policies to safeguard staff, volunteers, and visitors at the site.  All volunteers will be required to comply with park policies related to health and wellness standards.  The park will train all volunteers and provide all necessary equipment and materials to safely conduct required duties.

Any volunteer agreement is subject to change, including delayed arrival date and termination of agreement, as a result of the evolving health situation in Cochise County.  Volunteers may also be asked to self-quarantine in the park prior to the first day of work.

Fort Bowie is located in a remote area that does not have quick access to health services.  The park is approximately 45 minutes from Willcox and 50 minutes from Safford.  Both communities have small hospitals for medical appointments.  Larger medical facilities are located in Tucson, which is approximately 2 hours west of the park.   

Prior to the selection process, all volunteer applicants will be interviewed and will have the opportunity to speak with the volunteer supervisor.  This will give applicants the opportunity to ask questions that are specific to their needs and situation.

We look forward to hearing from you!