The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) is currently seeking applicants for its Natural Resource Volunteer Program (NRVP) in the Sacramento 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’s NRVP Coordinator Lt. Liz Gregory. “These are non-sworn, volunteer positons, 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 interaction 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 and possess a California driver license (a California Department of Motor Vehicle driver’s report is required). The selection process includes an initial screening, application review, oral interview and a background check including a Live Scan fingerprint clearance.

Successful applicants will attend the NRVP training academy and receive 80 hours of conservation training. The initial phase of the academy is scheduled from March 13-24, 2017. The training process will continue with one class day per month from April through September. Volunteers will work with a trained mentor to implement their newly acquired skills during a six-month probationary period.

Applications must be postmarked no later than Feb. 3, 2017.

For additional information and to download an application, please visit wildlife.ca.gov/explore/volunteering/nrvp/apply.

Interested applicants are encouraged to contact Lt. Gregory at (916) 358-2939.