The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) is seeking applicants for the Natural Resource Volunteer Program (NRVP) to serve within the newly created Monterey NRVP Chapter. Interested residents of Monterey, Santa Cruz and Santa Benito counties are strongly encouraged to apply.

"The natural resource volunteers do not have law enforcement authority, but they are trained to be educational ambassadors and to provide assistance and support for the department," said NRVP Coordinator Lt. Joshua Nicholas. "The mission of the Natural Resource Volunteer Program is to provide conservation and enforcement education in public service while providing biological, enforcement and administrative staff support to CDFW."

CDFW will hold the NRVP training academy from October 21-23, 2013 in Monterey. Classes will continue from November through February, one day a month. These positions are unpaid. Interested individuals go through a selection process, which includes an initial screening, application, interview and background check. If selected, individuals must complete an 80-hour conservation course to prepare them for a monthly service commitment of at least 16 hours. Volunteers will work with trained mentors to implement their newly acquired skills during a six-month probationary period.

Applicants should be teachable, accountable, have basic computer and writing skills and a willingness to talk about conservation principles to the public in the field and in a classroom setting. Applicants must show a desire to work well with others in a team environment and do tasks that free up time for paid CDFW staff.

Natural resource volunteer duties may include responding to human/wildlife conflict calls, instructing at NRVP academies, representing CDFW at community outreach events, working on CDFW lands, ecological reserves, and coastal and inland fishing areas, and disseminating useful information to the public.

For further information and the application, please visit www.dfg.ca.gov/volunteer/NRVP/.