Discover Your Forest
Location
Bend, OR | United States
Job description
INTRODUCTION
This temporary position is at the Cascade Lakes Welcome Station (CLWS). The incumbent is a uniformed employee responsible for providing visitors with information, education, and interpretive services for a visitor center that the Forest Service administers.
Rate: $20.00/hour @ 32 hours per week
Work Schedule: Friday – Monday
Mid-April – Early September
Please send Resume to [email protected]
MAJOR DUTIES
The Incumbent will perform any of the following duties:
Cascade Lakes Welcome Station
Rangers will staff an information desk and retail counter. You will answer often repetitive questions daily in person and over the phone. You will eagerly greet visitors, respond to inquiries, guide the public on rules and regulations, and attempt to gain public cooperation in protecting natural resources from damage and pollution. You will monitor and report visitor statistics for annual visitor use data.
Rangers will perform regular daily activities for the visitor centers, including but not limited to daily opening and closing of the facility, raising and lowering the flag, and maintaining the front desk. Monitor public areas and update the status of exhibits. You will instruct visitors on effective security and safety procedures and inform supervisors of visitor needs. You will operate various audio/visual equipment and maintain lost and found. Rangers coordinate with Discover Your Forest bookstore employees with sales, including stocking, sales, inventory, and reporting.
Rangers will check for current information via email to provide the public with the latest, most accurate, and appropriate information. You will create and post informational handouts and flyers concerning safety, events, and other items of importance—update information such as road and recreation closures.
Rangers will sell Federal Recreation passes, including the Northwest Forest Day Pass, NWFP Annual and Interagency Annual passes, and other merchandise, in accordance with handbook requirements. You will be responsible for submitting and accounting for sold passes and collected monies using written records.
Interpretation
· Lead guided hikes
· Patio talks
· Drop-in programs
· Junior ranger programs
· Roving trails
You may arrange informational interpretive displays in the reception area, visitor centers, and kiosks. Vary or change the displays to coincide with seasonal changes and unit program emphases. Provide interpretive answers to various visitor interests, such as identifying local flora and fauna or the location of camping areas and hiking trails. You will visit and become familiar with trails, campgrounds, roads, and other areas on the unit to provide accurate, descriptive information. You will rove popular trails to connect with visitors, complete litter sweeps, and check for proper use.
Rangers will plan and present interpretive talks, guided hikes, drop-in programs, and junior ranger activities for visitors and other groups. Subjects may include but not be limited to geology, flora and fauna, fire safety, environmental awareness, recreation activities, and litter prevention/Leave No Trace. Use various tools, such as drawings, activity-specific tools, and audio/visual equipment, as interpretive presentation aids.
Maintain the inventory of existing publications for public use. Prepares or assists in preparing informational exhibits, including photos, displays, maps, etc. Maintain the site’s audio-visual equipment.
Misc
Support the site by performing such duties as monitoring field-going personnel for safety purposes; fleet use maintenance and reporting, and other projects and duties as assigned by the supervisor. Monitor the status of office and security equipment and use various office and computer equipment to accomplish project and unit goals.
Help maintain facilities by performing light maintenance, cleaning sites as needed, and regularly cleaning visitor centers.
FACTOR STATEMENTS
Factor 1. Knowledge Required by the Position
Knowledge of many reference sources to locate answers to visitors' questions and ability to use good judgment to recognize when to refer questions to a qualified professional.
Knowledge of the Forest Service mission, general Forest Service policies, and specific unit programs to properly present information to the general public. Understanding of the relationship between Discover Your Forest and Forest Service partnership.
Skill in written and verbal communication to successfully communicate with visitors and staff, to assist in developing written interpretive materials, and to prepare and present interpretive talks that will be interesting to the public and consistent with Forest Service programs and policies.
Skill in using computer programs such as Microsoft Office Suite to create documents and information materials.
Factor 2. Supervisory Controls
The work lead assigns work in terms of project objectives and essential priorities.
The Incumbent draws upon experience and training previously received to perform work assignments. The incumbent resolves routine problems, and unusual or complicated situations are referred to the work lead or supervisor for guidance.
Completed work is reviewed for technical soundness and compliance with instructions by the supervisor.
Factor 3. Guidelines
Guidelines include Forest Service Manuals and Handbooks, written policy and directions, verbal instructions, and Forest Service-provided training.
Guidelines provide general policy in some cases and specific direction in others. The incumbent is required to exercise judgment in locating, selecting, and translating guidelines into actions. The supervisor is available to provide guidance in unusual situations.
Factor 4. Complexity
The work includes various information, environmental education, and internal communications duties. These duties require planning and coordination with several other unit staff members.
The Incumbent decides what needs to be done and how to accomplish it by analyzing the issues involved in the situation and the unit's needs, priorities, goals, and commitments. The incumbent must check and evaluate facts and instructions before distributing information. This responsibility requires data assimilation and determining appropriate action or attitude for effectively responding to the public.
In addition to routine decisions, significant judgment and interpretation are required when confronted with situations that could be clearer-cut or well-established, i.e., guidelines may have to be adapted or modified to one-of-a-kind situations. Incumbent must select from many alternatives to solve various procedural and operational problems in the functional area.
Factor 5. Scope and Effect
The incumbent must provide information to a wide range of visitors and groups while maintaining and applying a sound understanding of the Forest Service mission and Discover Your Forest partnership.
This work contributes to the better understanding and acceptance of Forest Service activities and policies by the general public.
Factor 6. Personal Contacts
Contacts include fellow employees, special interest groups, unit visitors, and interested persons from the general public.
Factor 7. Purpose of Contacts
Contacts are to provide a service, resolve operational problems, and receive, direct, and give information regarding various duties involved. The contacts require considerable tact, diplomacy, patience, courtesy, and credibility.
Factor 8. Physical Demands
The work varies from sedentary to very active. The incumbent must be able to handle long periods sitting at a desk or standing at a counter. However, active physical activity, such as hiking over rough and varied terrain and lifting, bending, standing, and carrying moderate-weight objects, is also required.
Factor 9. Work Environment
The job requires both office and outdoor work. At this monument, you will encounter various extreme weather, including ice, snow, rain, hail, heat, and smoke. Extended activities in uneven and varied terrain will be required, including underground.
Job Types: Full-time, Temporary, Seasonal
Pay: $20.00 per hour
Expected hours: 32 per week
Benefits:
Schedule:
Ability to Relocate:
Work Location: In person
Job tags
Salary
