Shiawassee National Wildlife Refuge seeking volunteers for its new Wildlife Drive

by Janet I.Martineau

April 15 marks a pivotal milestone in the history of the Shiawassee National Wildlife Refuge, located south of Saginaw off M-13.

That is the day the 7.5-mile Wildlife Drive opens for business, allowing vehicles to visit the refuge on a daily basis for six months of the year, and with it the book store inside the refuge headquarters.

And to assist with the operation of both, the Friends of the Shiawassee Refuge is seeking people willing to serve as Wildlife and Interpretive Guides-- a contingent of volunteers who love being outside in nature or inside selling books, T-shirts and other wildlife-oriented items.

Wildlife Drive Guides along the Wildlife Drive are needed to:

• Work at one of the three viewing platforms along the drive, answering visitor  questions about the refuge and its wildlife and helping to identify any wildlife within view.
• Shifts are 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays, mid-April to mid-October, with some flexibility of hours.
• Each volunteer will need to have a personal cell phone and provide his or her own comfort items (chair, water, food, shade, sprays) as well as a pair of binoculars or a spotting scope. The Friends and Refuge will provide field guides, first aid kits, and notebooks containing refuge information.
• Volunteers can work solo or team up with a friend or family member for their shift.
• Each volunteer is required to attend a half-day training session (date to be determined).

Interpretive Guides at the Refuge Headquarters are needed to:

• Sell merchandise and keep sales receipts as well as answer visitor questions about the refuge and its wildlife.
• Shifts are 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays, mid-April to mid-October.
• Volunteers can work solo or team up with a friend or family member for their shift.
• Each volunteer is required to attend a half-day training session (date to be determined).

If you are interested, send an email to suhunsco@aol.com with the following information: name, address, phone number, e-mail address.