The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) is currently seeking applicants for its Natural Resource Volunteer Program (NRVP) in the Humboldt area.

Motivated individuals with an ability and willingness to convey conservation principles to the public are encouraged to apply. Applicants must be confident and capable of speaking with the public one-on-one and in group settings. They must also be able to work independently and as a team member to complete tasks. Assignments will be in field, office and classroom environments.

“Our volunteers provide invaluable support to numerous CDFW staff, including biologists, wildlife officers and administrative employees,” said CDFW NRVP Coordinator Lt. Liz Gregory. “These are non-sworn, volunteer positions, without law enforcement authority, but their contributions to our daily workload are meaningful and help keep our operations running smoothly.”

NRVP positions are unpaid and require a service commitment of 16 hours per month. Duties may include responding to human/wildlife conflict calls, representing CDFW at community outreach events, working on CDFW lands, disseminating useful information to the public, instructing at NRVP academies and other assignments to assist staff as needed.

Applicants must be at least 18 years of age, possess a California driver license and produce a California Department of Motor Vehicle driver’s report. The selection process includes an initial screening, application review, oral interview and a background check including a Live Scan fingerprint clearance.

Successful applicants will receive 40 hours of conservation training at the NRVP academy from Aug. 6–10, 2018. Volunteers will then work with a trained mentor to implement their newly acquired skills during a six-month probationary period.

For additional information and to download an application, please visit www.wildlife.ca.gov/explore/volunteering/nrvp. Applications must be postmarked no later than June 4. For more information, please contact Lt. Gregory at (916) 358-2939.