Isle Royale National Park General Ranger Volunteer

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This position is located at Isle Royale National Park, located in northern Michigan. Primary duties are patrolling backcountry hiking trails and campgrounds, assisting visitors in backcountry campgrounds (answering questions, helping find campsites, dealing with overcrowded evenings, regulation oversight and education) and, providing first response to medical and search and rescue situations within scope of training. The position will require a tolerance for living and working in a remote area, a high level of physical activity, experience backpacking and camping, being comfortable in and around boats, have strong communication skills, and a willingness to engage with the public. Those with significant prior boating experience will be given preference.

MAJOR DUTIES

As a uniformed volunteer with the NPS, the volunteer serves as a front-line representative of the agency along backcountry trails and backcountry campgrounds. Volunteer works a minimum of 32 hours a week including potential nights, weekends, and holidays. All duties must be performed in a safe, professional, and respectful manner.

Wilderness Information and Education Duties:

• Motorboat operation (requires MOCC certification) may be a prerequisite.
• Communicate with park staff using radios.
• Participate in day hike patrols, hiking up to 15 miles.
• Participate in overnight patrols, backpacking up to 10 miles a day, camping in backcountry campgrounds for 2-5 days or nights.
• Contact visitors in campgrounds and along trails to extend information on NPS policy, park regulations, Leave No Trace ethics, Wilderness education, and other general information.
• Contact backcountry visitors before they enter Wilderness to lessen negative park impacts on the resource as well as improve visitor safety.
• Relays enforcement issues to dispatch for follow up.
• Be comfortable speaking to people and able to engage with a broad spectrum of visitors.
• Maintain contact statistics.

Emergency Response and Search & Rescue Responsibilities

• Communicate with park staff using radios.
• Provide first response to medical situation encountered while on patrol, responding within scope of training.
• Provide first response to search and rescue situations encountered while on patrol, responding within scope of training.
• Assist with emergency response and search and rescue operations under the Incident Command system within scope of training.
• Respond to incidents within scope of training as directed by supervisor or dispatch.

Additional Duties and Responsibilities

The volunteer may also perform any or all of the following duties in the course of completing their work. These duties are secondary to the primary duties and typically constitute 20% or less of the duties of the position.

• Performing roving contact at a variety of park locations.
• Assisting other park staff at special events.
• Going into the field to familiarize self with area resources.
• Computer use may be required.

FACTORS

To perform the duties of this position, the volunteer must have the following knowledge, skills and abilities:

• Ability to perform strenuous activity including backpacking and camping overnight in a rugged, wilderness
• Ability to communicate effectively and deal with personal contacts in a courteous, friendly, tactful, and intelligent manner
• Ability to work independently in a remote backcountry setting
• Knowledge of NPS and park mission and goals
• Knowledge of Leave No Trace principles and Isle Royale NP regulations
• Ability to bend and stoop frequently; able to lift and carry 50 pounds over long distances
• Comfortable in and around boats and cold water

Supervisory Controls

The volunteer works under the direct supervision of a district protection park ranger. After receiving specific instructions, the volunteer performs routine assignments independently. The supervisor is not always available when problems or unusual situations arise. Park dispatch will be fully utilized for all duties in accordance with standard procedures. Supervisor spot checks routine work for accuracy, with closer review performed for more difficult or non-routine assignments.

Complexity

The volunteer contacts visitors in a remote backcountry setting. The volunteer must work independently and make judgments relying on personal experience and training. Work environment can be challenging to accomplishing goals. Flexibility and adaption are essential.

Scope and Effect

The results of the incumbent's activities contribute to visitor enjoyment and understanding of the park area and the public’s appreciation of the National Park Service mission. These activities affect the NPS and its employees, visitors, land managers, and neighbors.

Personal Contacts

The volunteer has daily contacts with the visiting public, other volunteers, park staff, researchers, and concessions staff. These people represent a cross section of the nation and of other countries. Visitors are of all ages, and from all social, ethnic and economic groups. The volunteer has contact with park visitors for the purpose of providing information, services, activities and recreational opportunities. Public contacts occasionally include dealing with visitor complaints, conflicts, and medical situations.

Physical Demands & Work Environment

Isle Royale is a remote island in Lake Superior. Volunteers must be self-sufficient and able to plan for backcountry food, water, and safety considerations. Long-term volunteers will have groceries delivered to living areas. Short-term volunteers must provide for all essentials prior to island arrival for duration of duty. No pets are allowed.

Physical demands include backpacking up to 10-15 miles a day, camping in backcountry campgrounds for 2-5 days or nights., hiking on uneven surfaces, bending, and lifting of heavy items over 50 pounds. Work is generally performed outdoors in a wilderness setting around Lake Superior. The volunteer may be subject to working in adverse weather conditions while outdoors. Temperatures can fluctuate from 30’s in the spring and fall to the 90’s in the summer. Lake Superior can create cold, foggy, and rainy conditions at anytime which can contribute to hypothermia concerns. Working in and around boats is essential; boats are used to travel to work areas.

Some volunteers, though not all, may be trained in motorboat operation (MOCC) on a case by case basis.

Start Date - 2025-05-12

End Date - 2025-09-25