photo: National Park Service
Overview
Assist park management in balancing wildlife protection and visitor recreation, specifically by helping to protect threatened Western Snowy Plovers from disturbance during the nesting season and creating awareness among park visitors on the beach and at trailheads.
Duties
Collaboratively or independently staff a trailhead information table at North Beach, Kehoe Beach or Abbott’s Lagoon.
Rove the beach within the plover breeding habitat independently or with another docent for the purpose of making contacts with visitors
Staff a snowy plover viewing area with a spotting scope or rove the beach at Abbott’s Lagoon with the Snowy Plover Docent Program Manager or Plover Monitoring Biologists
Educate visitors about the natural history, plight, and protection of the snowy plovers
Inform dog owners about beach restrictions and provide information on areas open to dogs, when necessary
Use a two-way radio to communicate with the Snowy Plover Docent Program Manager and law-enforcement rangers when necessary
Provide general park information and assistance to visitors
Use interpretive materials to help communicate information
Professionally represent the National Park Service by wearing an identifying docent vest and interact with visitors in a friendly, courteous, tactful, and helpful manner
Knowledge/Skills/Experience Desired
Snowy Plover Docents must possess very good oral communication skills with a diversity of people, be able to work independently, and be non-confrontational. Docents must also be able to spend a majority of the time standing, walking, and/or hiking; tolerate wind, fog, cold, and blowing sand; and be comfortable around people and dogs. Knowledge of the park and teaching experience is helpful.
Schedule and Time Commitment
Workdays are scheduled for 7 hours from 10:00 am until 5:00 pm. Docents are expected to work at least once a month between Memorial Day and Labor Day.
Training
Training is scheduled for Saturday, May 11, 2019, from 9:00 am to 12:30 pm, at Bear Valley in addition to on-the-job training.