Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary is a private not-for-profit Audubon Sanctuary encompassing 13,000 acres in Southwest Florida’s western Everglades. The Sanctuary is open seven days a week year-round and attracts visitors from all over the world. Being a part of the Corkscrew team means making a difference for conservation. The Campus Host position is a part-time seasonal position assisting with essential end-of-day and after-hours functions related to guest safety and facility support and security. Corkscrew closes to the public at 5:30 p.m. each night (except during special events). Campus Hosts support the Blair Audubon Visitor Center by ensuring that all visitors have made it off the boardwalk at the close of business hours, and securing the gates and parking lot. Campus Hosts support the Facilities Supervisor by serving as on-call resources on weekends and after hours for alarms or unexpected needs that arise from interns or guests such as visiting scientists. Campus Hosts share on-call and closing responsibilities in shifts with others. Campus Hosts can expect to work an average of two hours per scheduled day. When not working, opportunities abound for Campus Hosts interested in volunteering in resource management, facilities, our Visitor Center and public education.
Campus Host positions are filled by RV campers and are required to live on-site in their personal RV on one of Audubon’s two RV pads. RV sites are equipped with water, sewer and electricity hook-ups as well as a private outdoor patio and grill. Corkscrew is a remote sanctuary and is known as a dark-sky site. The RV pads are nestled in the pine flatwoods near the housing area. There are four seasonal positions (up to two people per RV) that require a minimum multi-month commitment between May 1 and Mid-October and is open until filled. Applicants must own and operate their own RV, including having applicable motor vehicle licenses and insurances.
- Conduct boardwalk closing functions to ensure that visitors are off the boardwalk prior to closing the Blair Visitor Center at 5:30 p.m;
- Be on-call during times when the Blair Audubon Visitor Center is closed, which is between 5:30 p.m. and 7 a.m;
- Communicate with Facilities Supervisor as needed regarding any maintenance needs that arise after hours;
- Respond to calls from Audubon’s security company to check on security or fire alarms should they go off;
- Greet and orient the occasional guest or intern that arrives after hours or on weekends, ensuring that they find the right building and get settled;
- Serve as a resource for guests staying onsite should they need a spare lightbulb, flashlight, circuit breaker reset, etc;
- Perform other duties as assigned.
Since there are four positions to conduct this work, staff will rotate through boardwalk closing and on-call duties so that, on average, only two hours per day are worked by one of the four positions.
- Ability to walk at least three miles to conduct the boardwalk closing;
- Must have a vehicle, driver’s license, and a personal cell phone with service provider. (Please check if your provider has coverage. Verizon service works best at Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary.);
- Ability to make sound decisions related to safety and security;
- Must have one’s own RV to live onsite at the Corkscrew RV pads that include water and sewer hook ups;
- Additional interest in volunteering in one of the Sanctuary’s program areas is a plus.