Facility
Location
26010 South Smith Rd
Cheney, WA 99004
United States
Volunteer Position Overview
About This Position
Spend your days in the unique landscape of the channeled scablands at Turnbull National Wildlife Refuge!
Volunteers needed for the following 6-month commitments: May - October 2025. Shorter, 3-month commitments (May-July, August-October) are also being considered.
This position opens, closes and staffs the visitor contact station, which features and information desk and a couple of small exhibits and multimedia displays. This position also assists with the retail management of a small bookstore operated by the Friends of Turnbull National Wildlife Refuge. To learn more about the refuge go to https://www.fws.gov/refuge/turnbull.
As the resident visitor services assistant, you provide orientation, interpretation and answer visitor questions at the main information desk. You would also cover topics regarding the refuge, local natural and cultural resources, safety precautions, rules and regulations, recreational opportunities, and area services. You would also assist staff with operations and maintenance of facilities, including cleaning bathrooms, emptying trash containers, ensuring refuge is free of litter and other more complex maintenance and visitor facility projects within your abilities.
Schedule is typically 4 days on and 3 days off. Day to day schedule varies. Couples will work the same days but may not have the same daily schedule.
The location of the refuge is about 40 minutes southwest of Spokane, WA. The closest municipality is the town of Cheney, WA, which hosts several grocery stores, a university, and other services. Nearby recreational opportunities include Riverside State Park (40 minutes) and Mount Spokane State Park (1 hour). Several other parks, refuges, and public lands exist within a half-day's drive. Many of these locations have opportunities for hiking, water sports, and mountain biking. The city of Coeur d'Alene, ID is next closest major metropolitan area.
RV or motor home utility hook-ups for electric, water, and sewage available. No propane. This position requires 24 hours/week per resident. Exact start and end dates negotiable.
When applying please provide contact information for three references. Two references should be professional. If applying as couple please provide both applicant names.
For questions about this position, please contact:
Joshua Contois
Visitor Services Manager, Inland Northwest National Wildlife Refuge Complex
joshua_contois@fws.gov
(509) 559-3034
Stories About Volunteering
Other Ways to Work with Us
Are you looking for something different than a volunteer opportunity? The Fish and Wildlife Service employs around 9,000 people nationwide and offers great internship opportunities every year.
