Visitor Services - Front Desk Volunteer

Background:

Spanish for ‘the meadows,’ Las Vegas National Wildlife Refuge’s dates as far back as 8,000 BC when early North Americans inhabited the high plains area. The area is full of rich history, and you can even catch a glimpse of the famous Hermit's Peak here!

Strategically located at the base of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains and the edge of El Llano Estacado, the 8,672-acre refuge overlaps three unique landscapes, including the Rocky Mountains and eastern prairies. This combination of habitats provides a haven for many species of wildlife, all of which you can enjoy! 

Las Vegas NWR is part of the Northern New Mexico NWR Complex, which also includes Maxwell and Rio Mora NWRs.

Volunteer Position

The Northern New Mexico NWR Complex strives to maintain a Queer/LGBTQA+ and BIPOC-friendly space and work environment. Working and living at this station requires the ability to work with, take directions from, and live near people of all ages, backgrounds, and personality types. Positive outlooks and flexibility are key to success at this refuge complex. We welcome RV volunteers of all backgrounds to apply!

We are seeking individuals or a couple to serve as Front Desk volunteers for FY 2026. We are flexible on exact volunteer dates. We will consider couples if we can find an appropriate position for your partner. RV pads are the only available housing.

Duties will be as followed for this position:

To assist the visitor services manager to man the visitor center front desk, to keep the visitor center open for visitors to explore the exhibits and learn more about the refuge. The goal of this position is to maintain the visitor center and its facilities for visitors as they arrive at the refuge.

Responsibilities:

·        Punctuality

·        Ability to take initiative

·        Exhibit maintenance

·        Willingness to clean

·        Willingness to learn about refuge and local areas

·        Experience with roving interpretation

·        Ability to take initiative

·        Bird and mammal identification skills

·        Monthly hour reports

·        Wear a uniform

·        Follow rules and regulations that entail with being a USFWS volunteer

The Front Desk Volunteer Position requires that each individual work 24 hours per week (typically three 8-hour days) for a minimum of 3 months. 

Please list at least two volunteer or professional work references on your application.

Important Information to Know:

We have an RV campground at Las Vegas NWR that is available for volunteers with a self-contained RV. There are currently 3 RV pads at Las Vegas NWR. There is no community building, however the Maintenance Shop is near the RV campground and there is a laundry facility, refrigerator and bathroom (no shower) that volunteers have access to. Due to the nature of our site, we require that all individuals using shared amenities be full-time RV volunteers (24 hours/week). The RV campground does have pretty reliable access to free Wi-Fi.

Aside from the standard DOI Volunteer Agreement, we require volunteers to sign a refuge Rules and Expectations Form when staying at the refuge RV campground and a residential agreement.

The nearest city is Las Vegas, NM (15-minute drive). The station is considered connected with decent wi-fi at the Maintenance Shop, but cell service is spotty. Power outages can be frequent (especially during the monsoon season) and this can result in periods of limited cell coverage and wi-fi. As you may be the only residents on-site, it can feel very remote living on the beautiful Las Vegas National Wildlife Refuge.