Job Description
Volunteer Pontoon/Boat Captains drive the Water Strider, a 25-foot pontoon boat, in Otter Point Creek and surrounding waters and assist the Naturalist on pontoon trips for school groups and the public. Volunteers assist the Naturalist on pontoon trips for school groups and the general public.
Volunteer Commitment
Volunteers are asked to commit to specific trip dates as they become available. Trip schedules are sent to volunteers prior to the first trip. The pontoon boat season is from late March through mid-November; however, volunteers are not required to assist with a specific number of trips per year. A schedule is created seasonally so volunteers have the opportunity to work around his or her own schedule. Additional trips may become available on short notice and will also be offered to volunteers.
Minimum Qualifications
- Volunteers must be age 18 or older
- Hours available during the week or on weekends
- Trips last from 3 to 7 hours
- At least 5 years of previous boat captaining experience
- Strong boat driving and docking skills
- Strong interpersonal skills to interact positively with the public
- Ability to follow direction
Sample Tasks
- arrive early to assist in preparing the pontoon boat for trip
- Captaining the vessel
- help participants with fitting their lifejackets
- in a positive and polite fashion, volunteer should assist participants
- assist Naturalist with program activities
- stay late to assist in cleaning the boat and putting boat and equipment away
Training & Benefits
Volunteers will already have all the skills necessary (see Minimum Qualifications section above), but will receive specific training on our trip logistics and equipment. There are many benefits to becoming an *”active volunteer” at the Anita C. Leight Estuary Center, including seasonal volunteer appreciation trips, the annual volunteer dinner, skill and resume development, meeting new people, and lets not forget, spending time in a natural place (to mention just a few). *Please note: Active volunteer status is reached when you volunteer at least 20 hours a year.