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Smokies seeks volunteers for Clingmans Dome Visitor Contact Station

Tuesday, February 22, 2011

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Great Smoky Mountains National Park is recruiting volunteers to help staff the visitor contact station at Clingmans Dome when it opens on Friday, April 1.

Last year, the building that had served as a comfort station since the Civilian Conservation Corps era was renovated and converted into a seasonal information center and bookstore/sales area managed by Great Smoky Mountains Association (GSMA). The renovation project was funded by GSMA.

The center sits at an elevation of 6,300 feet and will be a point source of information on the national park, in general, and on this high elevation spruce-fir ecosystem in particular. Volunteers are needed to assist in educating visitors about the Park and providing recreational and trip planning information and directions to other destinations.

Many other helpful services will be available, including the ability to purchase guides and maps, outdoor apparel, and other quality products sold by GSMA. “The Association is a significant partner and so are our volunteers. Their volunteer assistance at this location will go a long way in helping Association staff provide essential services to the public,” said Park Superintendent Dale Ditmanson.

Volunteers will be working alongside GSMA employees and each volunteer is asked to work at least one 4-hour shift per week at the information desk and roving the trail to the Dome Tower. The hours will be from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. April – November. Interested persons will be required to attend one of two 5-hour orientation and training sessions which will be given: March 10 at the Sugarlands Training Room near Gatlinburg, Tenn.; and March 19 at the Waynesville Library, in Waynesville, N.C. To register for the training or for more information, contact the Oconaluftee Visitor Center at (828) 497-1904.


Jeff
HikingintheSmokys.com
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Volunteers Needed at Clingmans Dome

Saturday, May 29, 2010

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Great Smoky Mountains National Park is recruiting volunteers to help staff a new visitor contact station at Clingmans Dome when it opens on Saturday, June 19.

The building that served as a comfort station, constructed by the Civilian Conservation Corps, is being renovated and converted into a seasonal information center that will also include a bookstore/sales area managed by the Great Smoky Mountains Association.

The center sits at an elevation of 6,300 feet and will be a point source of information on the national park, in general, and on this high elevation spruce-fir ecosystem in particular.

Volunteers are needed to assist in educating visitors about the Park and providing recreational and trip planning information and directions to other destinations.

“In the past, visitors to this popular destination did not have a chance to obtain information on their high elevation visit or have questions answered, including the most asked, ‘What caused the trees to die?’” said Park Superintendent Dale Ditmanson. “Now with the help of volunteers staffing the center, visitors can inquire and learn about the stands of dead trees caused by the nonnative insect, the balsam woolly adelgid.”

Many other helpful services will be available, including the ability to purchase guides and maps, outdoor apparel, and other products sold by the Great Smoky Mountains Association. “The Association is a significant partner with the Park and is involved in a number of projects to improve visitors’ experience. The funding for the renovations to the building, interpretive exhibit material, and staffing is coming from the Association through its revenue raised from merchandise sales and paid memberships,” said Ditmanson.

Volunteers will be working alongside Association employees and each volunteer is asked to work at least one four-hour shift per week. The hours will be from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Interested persons will be provided orientation and training before beginning at the contact station. The period that volunteers will be needed is during the peak season, June through October.

To sign up for this volunteer work or for more information, contact Florie Takaki at 828-497-1906 or by email, Wednesdays through Fridays.


Jeff
HikingintheSmokys.com Detailed information on trails in the Smoky Mountains; includes trail descriptions, key features, pictures, video, maps, elevation profiles, news, and more.
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