Volunteer Recreation Host
BLM El Malpais National Conservation Area
Address: near Grants, NM 87020
Contact: Paul Yoder 505.331.2977 Th-Sun 9-4
Availability: 4/1/2014--4/1/2015
Created: 3/9/2014
Suitability: Adults, Seniors
Difficulty: Average
POSITION DESCRIPTION: CAMPGROUND HOST COUPLE for El Malpais National Conservation Areaโs Joe Skeen Primitive Campground. The free host site has a 30 amp 110 volt electrical hook up, a septic drain connection, and a covered table. Closest water is 2 miles away at the ranger station where there is a shower for volunteer use. This free primitive campground features 10 sites with pads and shelters and two vault toilets. The volunteer couple serves 5 days a week including weekends. Duties include: recording campers, staffing the visitor center 2 miles away; advising visitors on area information and rules; cleaning recreational sites and the visitor center; and light maintenance at the campground and nearby recreational sites including lifting of up to 20 pounds. At least a 3 month commitment is required to apply, and preference is given to longer commitments. Preference is given to industrious volunteer couples. Up to $25 per diem is available dependent on experience and current funding. An interested volunteer may also be asked to assist the wilderness rangers perform vehicle and/or foot patrols; assist the interpretive rangers with public walks and hikes as well as school programs; and to perform archaeological site stewarding. Incumbents must have a current drivers license, have a safe driving record, reliable vehicle, and reside in their own functioning RV onsite. Incumbents must operate federal vehicle which is used to haul up to 100 gallons of water to their RV from the ranger station. Incumbents must submit a federal background check once engaged.
LOCATION DESCRIPTION: The campground is located 16 miles south of Grants, NM, east of El Malpais National Monument's stunning lava flows, and perched on a mesa - itself surrounded by majestic sandstone cliffs topped by more lava. El Malpais NCA includes two wilderness areas, more dramatic sandstone cliffs, mesas, canyons, La Ventana Natural Arch, the Chain of Craters Back Country Byway, lava tubes, volcanos, ancestral Puebloan sites including what may be the nation's only ranger-led visits to a working petroglyph sun calendar. The campground is at 6800 feet above sea level. Grants is 6500 and the highest mountain is 11000. Precipitation averages 10 inches annually with most of it coming from rainfall during the monsoon season (July-September), plus occasional light winter snows. Throughout the year low humidities prevail as do sunny skies. Summer temperatures range from 80-100 degrees during the day with nighttime temperatures between 40-60 degrees. Winter temperatures range from 30-50 degrees in the day and rarely dip below zero at night. Vegetation varies from grasslands to piรฑon - juniper woodlands. Wildflowers bloom mainly in the fall after the summer monsoons, with a modest spring cactus and wildflowers. Wildlife includes large mammals (deer, elk), reptiles, amphibians and 190 species of birds. For those that are wondering, no bears have been seen for years. Rattlesnakes are very rarely seen and fare poorly when they are.
MORE INFORMATION:
http://www.blm.gov/nm/st/en/prog/recreation/rio_puerco/el_malpais.html
http://www.fourcornersgeotourism.com/content/blm-el-malpais-nca-joe-skeen-campground/fcaC440C840D1864BF70
Volunteer Activities
โข Campground Host
โข Trail/Campground Maintenance
โข Visitor Information
โข General Assistance
Happy Trails!
