Visitor Services Specialist

Address:
789 Myrick Park Dr.
LaCrosse, Wisconsin
54601

Actively Recruiting
:
Yes
Position title
:
Visitor Services Specialist
Type of Position
:
Intern / Individual Placement
Town, City, Park, etc
:
Necedah
State / Territory
:
Wisconsin
Benefits
:
Education Award, Housing – Primarily Non-Camping, Industry-Recognized Certifications, Student Loan Forbearance
Project/Program Focus
:
Education/Interpretation, Visitor Services

Our primary focus is to engage young adults through hands‑on service opportunities in environmental stewardship, accomplished through partnerships with land management agencies and environmental education organizations across Wisconsin and the Upper Midwest.

Service Time: April 20 – August 29, 2026 (675‑hour Ameri Corps term, 19 weeks total, 40 Hours/week).

Benefits: Living stipend for the entire term equals $9,500 ($500/wk). An Ameri Corps Education Award of approximately $2,800 will be issued upon successful completion of service.

Onsite shared
housing
is available. Members should be prepared to live communally with other people.

OVERVIEW: Once part of Glacial Lake Wisconsin, Necedah National Wildlife Refuge is now made up of an ancient, exposed lakebed where shallow surface water streams life into the Great Wisconsin Swamp, historic oak savannas and sand prairies. After seeing its importance for migratory birds, Franklin D. Roosevelt set aside the Refuge in 1939 to protect breeding and resident wildlife and for generations of people to enjoy.

Necedah National Wildlife Refuge is a diverse ecosystem including open tallgrass prairies, sprawling savannas, and numerous wetland types including sedge meadows. The refuge is home to more than 230 bird species including whooping cranes, red‑headed woodpeckers, golden‑winged warblers, and bobolinks. It is also home to black bears, gray wolves, American badgers, bog haunter dragonflies, Blanding’s turtles and many more plants and animals.

The Necedah Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center was opened in 2011 to connect people to nature through environmental education, interpretive media, hands on discovery, and active stewardship. The visitor center and its programs are supported by the Friends of Necedah National Wildlife Refuge, a group of dedicated volunteers that maintain a 501c3 non‑profit that supports the needs of the Refuge.

SERVICE

DESCRIPTION:

The Visitor Services Specialist is primarily responsible for assisting with environmental education programming, public events, and sharing information about the Refuge and its conservation message to visitors and the public. The Specialist may occasionally assess and make repairs to trail infrastructure and assist with land management. Their expected schedule is Tuesday through Saturday, 7:30 am to 4:00 pm.

• Support implementation of youth education programs and lead associated lessons.
• Learn age‑appropriate camp curriculum for children entering grades K‑3, 4‑6, and 7‑9.
• Prepare and lead educational programming for children ages 5 to 15 in a day camp setting.
• Lead themed nature hikes, teaching visitors about the Refuge.
• Assist with group tours and interpretive tables as needed and participate in special events.
• Assist in developing brochures, programs, activities, and related materials to enhance educational experiences.

• Interact with visitors daily and answer questions about the Refuge.
• Greet visitors, perform customer service, and answer phone calls while operating the visitor center front desk.
• Assist visitors by providing them with information about specific recreation opportunities and activities.
• Inform visitors of the rules and regulations applicable to the various areas within the Refuge.
• Assist visitor center staff with daily open and closing routines, exhibit repairs, and public social media posts.
• Assist with developing and presenting interpretive and educational programming for special events, school groups, and other community outreach activities.
• Support program registration and serve as the visitor center point of contact on assigned days.

• On rare occasions, the Visitor Services Specialist may choose to assist land management staff in various projects throughout the summer such as wildlife surveys, wildlife banding, and restoration unit checks.
• Occasionally assist with field data collection and input utilizing a tablet or GPS unit.
• Periodically assess trails, observation decks, photo blinds, and kiosks, and complete associated repairs.