Duties: Volunteer work will include habitat restoration, native plant propagation and out-planting, removal of invasive plants both by hand and through chemical application of herbicide, monitoring seabird, plant, and Laysan duck populations, marine debris removal, data entry, and equipment maintenance, along with other tasks depending on current projects and refuge needs. Volunteers are expected to work 40 hours/week with additional weekend work when necessary.
Requirements: Must be physically fit and able to confidently ride a bike, hike up to three miles in the sand or on uneven terrain, lift 50 pounds and be willing to spray herbicide with proper protective gear. Successful applicants must also be willing to handle albatrosses and other seabirds for banding and monitoring studies, and be willing to perform all duties in sub-tropical wind, sun, rain and humidity extremes. Preferred skills include ability to swim/snorkel. Volunteers should have a strong work ethic along with the ability to live and work closely with a small group of people for six months.
Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge is a remote site and accessible by plane twice a month. Because of the isolated nature of this work, safety is of the utmost importance. Volunteers should be aware that evacuation for emergencies or medical issues can typically take at least 24 hours and be potentially very expensive. All volunteers will need to carry medical-evacuation insurance.
A current passport is required for travel to and from Midway. Volunteers are responsible for their own travel to Honolulu. One round-trip flight between Midway and Honolulu, meals and housing at Midway are provided. Volunteer living quarters include individual bedrooms, a common living area, and a full kitchen. Volunteers are responsible for the proper upkeep of their living quarters. The “Clipper House” on Midway serves cafeteria-style food with a wide variety of dishes, including vegetarian options and a full salad bar, courtesy of Midway’s hydroponic garden. There is also a small convenience store on Midway that provides some basics: toiletries, refreshments, etc. Because Midway is a small community where volunteers will be working and living with FWS employees and contractors, we cannot stress enough our zero tolerance policy for harassment or abuse of any kind, including alcohol or drug abuse.
Selected applicants will be sent a packet of additional information on the island, duties, and suggested items to bring, as well as required forms. These items must be submitted before the volunteer arrives for duty in Honolulu. A current physical, tetanus shot and TB test are also required.
Volunteer time periods and application deadlines: Exact start times may vary depending on plane schedules. Selected individuals should coordinate with Midway staff prior to making travel plans:
Summer season: March 25,2016-September 27, 2016, applications due by December 15, 2015
Because of the large number of applications received, preference will be given to those with an educational or professional background in science/biology, plant propagation and weed control experience, remote field experience, and/or bird handling experience.
TO APPLY: If you are interested in applying, please email a single .pdf file that includes a cover letter, brief resume outlining relevant education and work experience, and three work-related references (with phone and e-mail), as well as your dates of availability to: meg_duhrschultz@fws.gov. For more information please call: 808-954-4819.
The National Wildlife Refuge System has owed its very existence to concerned citizens eager to protect America's natural resources. Over 42,000 volunteers and more than 200 nonprofit Refuge Friends organizations support national wildlife refuges. Friends and volunteers are crucial to conserving and protecting our nation’s wildlife and teaching millions of Americans that their actions today determine the conservation legacy of tomorrow.