Visitor Center Interpretive Hosts (Local Commuters)

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Do you enjoy interacting with people from around the world? Is sparking an interest in learning what motivates you? Would you like to volunteer in a beautiful setting close to many recreational opportunities? Come join our team!

To be a volunteer here is to help visitors relate to the site, tell the Corps’ story, and provoke learning of the many aspects of Bonneville Dam as well as the amazing Columbia River Gorge. Volunteers assist the Ranger staff with these goals by greeting and orienting visitors at the information desks, running the register in our bookstore, providing personalized visitor interactions while roving throughout the visitor centers, staffing interpretive locations, and being our assistant on powerhouse tours.

THE SITE:

Located in the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area 40 miles east of Portland, Oregon; Bonneville Lock and Dam is a National Historic Landmark operated by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Our site includes two powerhouses, a navigation lock, fish passage, and two visitor centers, one accessible from Oregon via I-84 and one accessible from Washington via SR 14. Volunteers rotate between working at each location. Bonneville Dam is capable of providing over 1,200 megawatts of power to the Northwest, and nearly ten million tons of commodities pass through the navigation lock per year.

MISSION STATEMENT:

The mission of the Bonneville Lock and Dam Interpretive Services Program is to tell the Corps’ story, to provoke learning, help visitors relate to the site and reveal messages about the Corps in the region.

SCHEDULE:

· Initial one-on-one training will be scheduled to work with your availability. Group volunteer training will take place in early April 2024 for seasonal RV volunteers and you are welcome to attend that as well.

· 2-6 hours per shift.

· Facilities are open 7 days a week. Our busiest days of the week change seasonally. We can work with you to find volunteer shifts that are mutually beneficial.

COMPENSATION:

Mileage reimbursement is offered at the current federal rate. Volunteers will be awarded a federal parks pass upon volunteering for 250 hours.

Start Date - 2023-11-02

End Date - 2024-10-31

Activities include: General Assistance;Tour Guide/Interpretation;Visitor Information