Volunteer Opportunities
*Note that volunteer projects may be cancelled on short notice due to weather or fire conditions. We will try to let you know of any road closures that may affect volunteer projects, and any cancellations due to weather or fire. However, cancellations and road closures may occur on short notice and we may not be able to inform you. Please keep this in mind when planning to attend a volunteer project.
Area Host at Whitewater Draw Wildlife Area
When: On going
Where: Whitewater Draw Wildlife Area located on the south end of Coffman rd. 2 ½ miles south of Davis rd. and 1 ½ miles west of Central Hwy. approximately 21 miles north of Douglas and or Bisbee.
Description: Wildlife area hosts are volunteers who assist manager with a variety of duties, interact with visitors, and maintain the facility.
Example of Duties: Host duties include interacting with visitors, picking up litter, cleaning visitor restrooms, cleaning bunkhouse, yard maintenance, light farm work, replacing full sign in sheets with blank ones, maintaining and updating information on kiosk and information boxes such as history of area, wildlife species likely to be encountered and Department brochures. Other duties as needed – this may include assisting the manager with some shoveling, also lifting and moving 8 inch diameter PVC plastic irrigation pipe. Hosts are on duty from 7am – 4pm on weekends and holidays, and on weekdays when there are large groups of visitors.
Knowledge, Skills & Abilities: Host should have good communication and interpersonal skills, enjoy talking with different types of people, be able to provide excellent customer service, and accept and follow supervision/instruction from manager. Hosts should be able to perform basic cleaning and maintenance duties. Knowledge of birding, Arizona wildlife, and tractor operation is a plus. Ability to lift and carry 50 lbs is also a plus but not necessary.
Training: Volunteer hosts will receive training in the following areas: interacting with visitors, answering visitor questions, and safety training.
Other Notes: A Two-recreational vehicle hook up site is provided. Applicants will need to provide references and will be interviewed via a phone interview with manager.
Contact: Jim Garrett, Whitewater Draw Wildlife Area Manager
(520)642-3763 or whitewater@hughes.net
Range Safety Officers at Ben Avery Shooting Facility
When: Year round
Where: Ben Avery Shooting Facility, located in north Phoenix, just west of I-17 (Exit 223) on the Carefree Highway
Description: Range Safety Officer (RSO) responsibilities include checking the safe condition of customer firearms, observing participants while they are shooting on the range, maintaining safe operation of the shooting line, and providing superior customer service by answering customer questions about firearms.
Contact: wsagebiel@azgfd.gov , William Sagebiel or 623-236-7730
Page Springs Wildlife Area Trail Maintenance
When: Work days can be arranged with the project leader, but usually occur on Saturdays, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Where: Page Springs Wildlife Area, 10 miles south of Sedona
Description: Volunteers assist with trail maintenance, using hand tools such as rakes, shovels and clippers. This is a cooperative project with the Northern Audubon Society.
Contact: Wade Zarlingo: WZarlingo@azgfd.gov or (928)634-4805
Volunteer Shotgun Instructor or Range Officer for Women’s Shooting Program
When: First and third Thursday of every month, 7pm-10pm
Where: Ben Avery Shooting Facility, located in north Phoenix, just west of I-17 (Exit 223) on the Carefree Highway
Description: Volunteers will instruct women of all ages in the shotgun shooting sports as prescribed by the Arizona Game and Fish Department. Coaches will assist beginners in shotgun shooting form and skill. Range Safety Officers will watch over range and ensure safety among all participants. Instructors will teach, and assist in teaching, or proctor the hour-long introductory class. Applicants must be at least 21 years old and participate in a free-of-charge Shotgun Instructor Certification process (2-day class). It is desirable, but not necessary, that instructors have shooting experience, basic knowledge of firearms and firearms safety, and some teaching/public speaking experience. Benefits to volunteers include free shooting at the main range and discounts at local sporting goods locations.
Contact:
