Assistant
Ranger III Purser
Backcountry Campground Host
Maintenance Worker
Museum Technician
Natural Resources
Park Ranger Assistant
Photography
Resource Center/Librarian
Trail Crew
Visitor Center Assistant
Visitor Services Assistant
Assistant
Ranger III Purser
Assist the Purser on the NPS vessel RANGER III on voyages to and from Isle Royale;
complete backcountry camping permits, provide visitor information and trip planning
assistance; conduct interpretive programs on board during the voyage. Position is based in
Houghton and overnights twice a week on Isle Royale at Rock Harbor.
(back to top)
Backcountry
Campground Host
Volunteer will live and work in a remote backcountry campground and assist Ranger staff
by:
Maintenance
Worker
Duties - Perform minor electrical, plumbing, carpentry, painting, and ground work using
hand tools. Volunteer will help with moving and loading supplies and materials. Position
normally will be stationed in one location, but may go to different locations for projects
and will be required to camp up to a week.
(back to top)
Museum
Technician
Volunteer will assist the Cultural Resources
division in care of the museum collection in Houghton. Duties will include computer
entry and updating of catalog records, museum inventories, responding to research
requests, monitoring storage environment, and limited conservation work. Position is
based in Houghton.
(back to top)
Natural
Resources
Assists Natural Resource Management staff in some or all of the
following projects:
Applicants should possess some knowledge of
ecology, chemistry, biological sampling techniques, principles of natural resource
management, and first aid.
(back to top)
Park Ranger
Assistant
Volunteer will gain job related skills and knowledge, while assisting the Park's Resource
Protection and Emergency Services Rangers in a variety of work assignments, both indoors
and in the field. These rangers are responsible for all emergency operations including
search and rescue, emergency medical services, law enforcement and resource protection.
They also educate and monitor visitor use in a wilderness and maritime environment.
(back to top)
Photography
Volunteer will assist Cultural Resource Management staff in operating the park darkroom
and maintaining the park historic photo collection. The applicant must be able to
independently operate a darkroom with black and white film development, print and
enlargement capabilities. Ability to take documentary photographs of cultural sites,
objects, and National Park Service operations is required.
(back to top)
Resource
Center/Librarian
Locate and provide resource information and materials for Visitor Education and
Interpretation staff in support of the park-wide interpretive program. The volunteer is
responsible for the park library and interpretive resource center, including cataloging,
shelving, and overseeing book loans; inventorying and maintaining audio-visual equipment;
and cataloging and filing 35mm slides. Applicants should be well organized and willing to
work on a wide variety of staff support projects. There is an opportunity to present
interpretive programs at a campground and work at a visitor center desk on occasion.
(back to top)
Trail
Crew
Volunteer will assist maintenance division with maintaining trails and rehabilitation of
campsites and privies. Performs erosion control, trail tread and bridge work, brushing,
sign maintenance and tool sharpening. Experience with using hand tools such as pulaskis,
chainsaws, fire rakes, pruning saws, loppers, axes, and drawknives will be helpful.
Generally spends days at a time camping in backcountry sections of the park.
(back to top)
Visitor
Center Assistant
General staffing of visitor centers at Rock Harbor, Houghton and/or Windigo, including the
following duties:
Applicants should have some experience in
visitor center operations and public speaking.
(back to top)
Visitor
Services Assistant
Assists Interpretation in Houghton during the winter in
some or all of the following projects:
Applicants should have some education or experience in
interpretation or visitor services
(back to top)
For all positions:
Work may require travel throughout the park's backcountry, so camping,
backpacking, and small boat handling (canoe and power boat) experience is desirable (except visitor services assistant). Enthusiasm is
an important qualification! We will work with you to complete internship requirements If
you are interested in receiving college credit for your service.
Transportation to Isle Royale from Houghton, Michigan is provided, as well as a meal stipend. Some positions will be required to wear a uniform, for which an allowance will be provided to defray costs.
Time Commitment:
Summer, 12 weeks, full-time (40 hours/week).
Winter, variable depending on project or on educational requirements.
Housing:
Volunteers on the island share a dorm room with one other person, depending on
location, and cook in a communal kitchen. Backcountry campground host lives in a cabin in
a park campground. Park housing is not provided for the Assistant Purser, although a rent
stipend may be available.
Contact the Isle Royale Volunteer Coordinator for Application Information or download an application form from the internet:
Volunteer Coordinator
Isle Royale National Park
800 East Lakeshore Drive
Houghton, MI 49931-1869
Go to Virtual Visitor Center for Isle Royale National Park
Go to Home Page for Isle Royale National Park
We welcome your comments and suggestions to editor: Smitty Parratt