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Fire Island National SeashoreGroup of students pass park sign as they walk down boardwalk to the Wilderness Visitor Center.
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Fire Island National Seashore
Volunteer
 

Current Volunteer Opportunities

Fire Island National Seashore volunteer positions are currently filled and spring training has been completed. Please check back for next year's recruitment events. 

Visitor Center/Interpretation Volunteer
Assist National Park Service rangers in the operation of the many visitor centers: Otis Pike Wilderness, Watch Hill, Sailors Haven, William Floyd Estate, and/or the Fire Island Lighthouse: answering questions, taking reservations for wilderness camping, assisting with phones, and assist with the operation of Eastern National Bookstores. As interest merits, may also assist with interpretive programs or conduct independent programs under the supervision of the interpretive supervisor, may assist other divisions with miscellaneous park operation when needed.

 

William Floyd Estate Interpretive Volunteer
Assist William Floyd Estate staff in conducting interpretive tours of the historic William Floyd house, including the history of the house, the surrounding land, and the Floyd Family. Will be provided a “Room Guide for Interpretations” and need to acquire knowledge concerning interpretive aspects relating to the historic house including the Floyd family’s 250 year occupation, the additions and furnishings reflecting that history, and a basic knowledge of corresponding social, economic and political events that took place both locally and nationally.

Watch Hill Campground Host -All Positions Currently Filled
The Watch Hill campground host provides information and orientation services for campers at the camping sites, as well as provide a contact for visitors needing assistance when staff may not be available. The campgrounds can be very buggy and very hot due to being in the swale area. Hosts must provide their own camping gear and a site will be provide for them. Positions are filled.

Maintenance Volunteer
Assisting the maintenance staff with various of maintenance projects, routine ground maintenance, NPS structural repairs and approved repairs of historical structures. All work will be conducted under the direct supervision of the Maintenance Forman and the District Ranger.

Horse Program Volunteer
The volunteer will be assisting in a variety of stable operations to help the NPS staff in achieving its goals and current work objectives. The volunteer must be knowledgeable in the daily care of a horse, cleaning stalls, providing clean fresh water and feeding. Assist in the grooming, trail riding, cooling down re-groom and placing the horse back in the proper facility. Patrol the Fire Island National Seashore areas on horse, serving as the extra eyes and ears for the ranger staff, providing information and assistance to park visitors while on duty by answering question, explaining regulation, giving direction and/ or directing them to appropriate personnel in emergencies. Be a part of the interpretive division by presenting a program on the NPS Horse Operation. Must have experience and there is a probation period.

Administrative Volunteer
Assist National Park Service in operating visitor contact facility at the park's headquarters building in Patchogue, NY. Perform staff work in support of the practical and technical aspects of office administration including answering phones, data entry, filing, copying and clerical/administrative projects. As interest merits, may also assist other divisions with miscellaneous park operations.

Natural Resource Management Volunteer
This volunteer is assigned to the Natural Resources Management Division of Fire Island National Seashore. The primary duty is to assist the division in collecting and preparing information on the park’s natural resources and resource areas. Volunteers will be working on projects ranging from wilderness area proposals to freshwater delineations to other surveys with the boundaries of the barrier island. Other duties may include, but are not limited to inventory and monitoring the various vegetation communities on the island or at the William Floyd Estate, water quality of the ocean, bays or wetlands; and various wildlife populations. Prepares correspondence, enters collected data into computer data bases, enters data into a GPS program or maps information. Works directly under the park's biologist; daily consultation and field work may be managed by other resource management staff personnel.

Collections Management Volunteer
Assist William Floyd Estate staff and Cultural Resource Manager in routine aspects of collection management, including object cataloging, object storage, data entry and filing. All aspects of collection management will be conducted under the direct supervision of the Cultural Resource Manager.

 

All volunteers are assigned to a specific work site. However, there may be times when special events come up and volunteers are given the opportunity to assist in fairs, outreach programs, or beach clean-ups.

For more information on becoming a volunteer at Fire Island National Seashore please call 631-687-4765 or e-mail the Volunteer Coordinator.

Group of students walk up boardwalk to enter the Wilderness Visitor Center.
Wilderness Visitor Center
provides an orientation to Fire Island with a panoramic overlook view.
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Ranger stands at desk with NPS Arrowhead and books.
Sailors Haven Visitor Center
Park rangers provide information and help you learn more about the Sunken Forest and seashore life.
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One person sits on a bench while others walk on a boardwalk trail with the black-and-white banded Fire Island Lighthouse in the background.
Fire Island Lighthouse Hours
Grounds and exhibits are open all year.
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Couple watches view of sunset from aboard a large motor boat.
Enjoy the sunset from Watch Hill's marina.
Watch Hill, in the middle of Fire Island, lies across the Great South Bay from Patchogue, NY.
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Man reads interpretive sign in front of remnants of brick foundation.  

Did You Know?
The first Fire Island Lighthouse was built at the end of Fire Island in 1826. Today, the Fire Island Inlet is more than five miles west of this foundation. You can see the remnants of the first structure when you visit the present lighthouse, constructed in 1858.
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Last Updated: May 04, 2008 at 15:37 EST