Hi,
If you are reading this you must be interested in becoming a Tram Driver/Interpreter at Santa Ana NWR. Volunteering for the Tram is a fun learning experience where you meet many new people each day. The refuge is a wonderful place to spend time and work, and the Rio Grande Valley is a great place to spend the winter months.
Please read the following Qualifications, Responsibilities, and “Other Facts” before deciding if this is the right volunteer job for you. It is a very rewarding experience, but can also be strenuous and demanding at times. We want to make sure that you feel comfortable with the requirements before we continue our conversation. The Tram is a big part of Santa Ana and its operation is of the utmost importance.
We hope that you will decide to join our team, and in doing so you join a great crew of very dedicated people that love nature, and strive to protect it.
Operated in partnership with the Valley Nature Center (VNC) – Weslaco, TX
1. The Season:
The season stays extended as last year. To accommodate for the extra length we split the season into two, asking for two groups of interpreter with three couples for each half.
The first half will run from Nov 15 to Jan 31.
The second half will run from Feb 1 to Apr 30.
Tram Interpreters will need to report to the refuge on the following approximate dates depending on the year:
1st group of 3 couples - no later than Wed, Oct 20 for 1 ½ weeks of training.
2nd group of 3 couples - no later than Wed, Jan 20 for 1 ½ weeks of training.
Each group of 3 couples work for 3 months and 1 ½ weeks, including the training period.
2. Training:
Staff from VNC and SANWR will take part in the training.
There will be two training sessions, one each for the respective season halves:
1st training session: Oct 20 – Oct 31
2nd training session: Jan 20 – Jan 31
Training by VNC staff:
VNC orientation
Going through the tram manual
All wildlife and plant training: Birds, butterflies, mammals, reptiles, and native plants
Contracts and responsibilities: What the job and responsibilities are
Interpretation, incl lessons on how to deal with difficult riders, school groups, etc.
Local conservation efforts and intro to wildlife corridor, etc.
Training by SANWR staff
USFW & Santa Ana orientation
Visitor center training: including ticket sales, cash registers and daily rider computer entries
Law Enforcement on the refuge
Basic Tram Skills: loading, PA, trailer hitch, handicapped access, etc
Fueling & Driving the tram
Practice Driving
Refuge Driving Test
All interpreters will get at least one ride along with staff to get an idea of what the tram tour is like. VNC and SANWR will share this responsibility.
At least two performance evaluations of the interpreters will be conducted by VNC staff who will ride along the tram to evaluate all interpreters within the first month of their season. This is to help interpreters, not to be critical.
A Tram Manual will be mailed to you several months before your season starts. This will allow you to familiarize yourself with all the issues for the tram volunteer duties, the interpretive spiel, etc.
3. Job Description:
Volunteering for the Tram is a fun learning experience where you meet many new people each day. The refuge is a wonderful place to spend time and work, and the Rio Grande Valley is a great place to spend the winter months.
Please read the following Qualifications, Responsibilities, and “Other Facts” before deciding if this is the right volunteer job for you. It is a very rewarding experience, but can also be strenuous and demanding at times. We want to make sure that you feel comfortable with the requirements before we continue our conversation. The Tram is a big part of Santa Ana and its operation is of the utmost importance. We do hope that you will decide to join our team, and in doing so you join a great crew of very dedicated people that love nature, and strive to protect it.
Qualifications
• Two people (“a couple”) residing in one RV unit. Three couples are needed for each half of the season as outlined above.
• Knowledge of the plants and animals of the Lower Rio Grande Valley (LRGV) is extremely helpful. You will need to learn these if not already familiar. (You will be trained during A SHORT, BUT VERY INTENSIVE training period.)
• A deep respect and love for nature is a definite must, and an outdoors/naturalist type person will enjoy this job. You will spend most days on tram duty outside.
• Ability to withstand harsh weather conditions. It can be very warm (hot), and extremely windy at times. Some winter days can be cool or even cold, and wet.
• Ability to address groups of adults and school children as a tram interpreters (informational guide), and to represent both the refuge and the VNC in a professional manner with professional language, appropriate attire (VNC shirts/caps and name tags provided), and a professional and happy attitude.
• Being a “people person” and enjoying speaking to a crowd is an absolute must. Being able to handle school groups is also important.
• Having a valid driver’s license. A Class B commercial license with passenger endorsement (any state) is preferred. **However, this is not needed if the individual can demonstrate safe driving techniques with the tram to refuge staff by the beginning of the tram season. (One to two weeks of drivers training for the tram is provided).
• Both partners of each team MUST be willing and able to drive the tram, as well as give the interpretive talk.
• Computer literate. You must be able to enter daily records in a computer program. Training will be given, but basic computer skills are a must.
• Be available to arrive at the refuge at the set times outlined above. Training starts one to two days after arrival.
• You must commit to the entire length of the season you choose. No late arrivals or early departures can be facilitated.
Responsibilities include:
• Driving the Tram in a safe and professional manner. There are three tours per day, seven days a week. Each tour is about 1 ½ hours long, and leave at 9:30am, 12:00noon, and 2:00pm. There are two stops where you disembark and give a talk and short walk.
• You work three days on, and then have four days off. Two of those days are normally regular tram days. One day is normally refuge volunteer work, mostly staffing the visitor’s center. Some weeks you will have three tram days in a row.
• Workdays are normally from 8:00am to 4:00pm. You will be assigned scheduled workdays that rotate more or less each month.
• Using a script as an interpreter (guide) you will present natural and human history information to riders in a knowledgeable and courteous way. You will also answer questions about the natural history of Santa Ana NWR and the area. The interpretive (guided) talk’s many points of interests need to be remembered so that a convincing presentation can be given.
• Computer record-keeping of daily ride records are entered each day after the last tram ride.
• Assisting refuge staff with ticket sales and collection and front desk duties in the Santa Ana Visitors Center. Includes answering questions about the refuge, nature, etc, from visitors at the front counter. Also answering phone calls.
• Cleaning, re-fueling, and inspecting the tram for safety concerns. Daily or as needed.
• Conduct a pre-safety tour-route drive each morning before you start the first tram ride. Includes opening and shutting gates.
• Deliver the money bag and weekly records to the VNC each Thursday afternoon that you work. This includes a 25 minute drive to the VNC in Weslaco using a refuge vehicle.
• On days you are assigned to the tram, and it does not run for what ever reason, you will be re-assigned to help as refuge volunteers. This includes a myriad of duties listed here:
Learn and operate cash registers in the visitor center and the fee booth (tram register, bookstore register, and entrance fee register)
Work behind the front desk in VC (provide professional customer service, welcome and orient visitors, answer questions in person and by phone)
Lead school field trips (walking tours, auditorium talks)
Schedule interpretive programs, book school and tram tours
Trail and garden maintenance, landscaping (weeding, pruning, planting)
Vehicle cleaning (interior and exterior)
Litter removal and trash removal
Recycling duties (gathering and transporting recyclables to local transfer station)
Occasional facility cleaning (vacuum carpets, clean restrooms, empty trash, etc.) - we have a cleaning service come three times per week, but occasionally need to clean in between
General opening and closing duties: raise/lower the flag, feed fish and animals, feed the birds, clean aquariums, sweep/use blower on outside patio and sidewalks, water the plants, clean the windows, replace light bulbs, etc.
If the tram drivers have special skills and an interest in doing other things, we're open to matching refuge needs with their skills and interest, depending on where they are needed most. But we can't promise that they won't be asked to any particular duty.
Tram interpreters might be asked to visit local trailer parks every week or so with a power point presentation about the refuge, local wildlife, the tram, and mention of the VNC. The VNC will pay the daily stipend on these days. The tram interpreters driving/working schedule needs to be worked out to make time for this.
Other Tram Interpreter Facts:
• Your will be official Volunteers of the Valley Nature Center (VNC) while on tram duty. You will normally also be designated to work as volunteers for the USF&W refuge system one day a week.
• The tram operates at Santa Ana National Wildlife Refuge, located on Old Military Highway 281, about 5 miles south of Alamo, TX. www.fws.gov/southwest/refuges/texas/santana.html
• The tram is operated through a cooperative agreement (MOU) between USF&W and VNC. Both VNC and USF&W handle certain parts of operation of the tram program.
• The Valley Nature Center is located in Weslaco, TX. This is about a 25 minute drive NE of the refuge. You can learn all about what we do at: www.valleynaturecenter.org
• The tram operates every day expect for Christmas Day, New Year’s Day, and Easter Sunday.
• There are three volunteer couples that handle the Tram Interpreting (driving and talking). The couple on duty works together on the tram. One drives, while one gives the talk. Only one couple drives the tram per day.
• A small stipend is paid to each person for each “tram day” worked. ($10 per day) This includes tram training days. This does not include the day you work as USF&W volunteer. However, it will include days you were scheduled to drive the tram but it was canceled for any reason. It also includes days you make presentations at local RV parks.
• Tram Interpreters (each couple) will have one RV pad. The pad is concrete, but the drive is caliche. (crushed lime stone) The pads are furnished for free with water, sewer hook-up, electricity, land phone line, free propane re-fills, ice machine on premises, and free laundry facility.
• The tram volunteer’s RV pad section is located in a new section of the refuge. The RV pads are located about 2 miles from the headquarters of the refuge, on the Marinoff Tract. This tract is part of the refuge system and is a native brushland tract. The Re-veg Department from the refuge is located adjacent on this same tract. The pads were built two summers ago so vegetation is not yet lush and tall around the pads. But birds are still all around you.
• The second half of the season might require the new couples in training to park their RV’s at an RV park about 10 -15 miles from the refuge during the 1 1/2 week training period. The VNC will find 3 trailer spaces in Alamo for the interim 1 ½ weeks free to the volunteers. The refuge will try to have spaces freed up, but in case this will be the scenario.
• A rough 2 mile bike path on a dirt levee leads to the refuge head quarters, or you may drive the paved state highway as most prefer.
• The tram is housed at the refuge headquarters, in the “wear yard” next to the visitor’s center. It departs from and returns to the visitor’s center.
• The refuge normally has volunteer gatherings and a meeting once a week at the headquarters.
• The tram interpreters are not required to volunteer at the VNC on their days off, or at the refuge. However, you are more than welcomed to do so if you so wish.
• The VNC wish to involve you with our own functions and hope that, even though you are located at the refuge, we can include you in our own staff functions, gatherings, etc.
Well, I hope you still want to be part of the tram experience! & Please do not be scared by the outline above. It is meant to make sure you realize completely what the volunteer position entails before you take the next step. It might sound intimidating, but if you have any feeling that says… I think I can do this… give us a call. The training normally reassures interpreters that they have found an enjoyable place to help and spend some quality time.
Contact:
Martin Hagne
Executive Director
956-969-2475
info@valleynaturecenter.org
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