Volunteer position in southern Idaho

Terry Esslinger · January 27, 2015

Hagerman National Fish Hatchery in Hagerman, Idaho has one or two openings for the summer season 2015. Primary duty would be to give interpretive tours to visitors and school groups. They would prefer someone there in April to September but that is entirely negotiable. Their really busy tour season is end of school around April and May and it tapers off after that. Training iis provided. Other duties could include (depending on your desires) painting, sign repair and construction, mowing using riding lawn mowers (training provided), trash pick up around fishing lake and stocking restroom, fish culture which can include feeding the fish, cleaning tanks, picking morts, picking up steelhead eggs and delivering them to the hatchery (not from the stream <_< ), helping repair equipment etc. They ask for 20 hours each per week (we always worked at the same time) and days off are easy to schedule. I assume they still have a $20.00 each stipend available for each day worked. They have two concrete, level pads with new 30-50 amp electric supply, good water (what do you expect), and a new better than ever septic system just for the volunteer pads. The pads are under tall trees that are well maintained but present a bit of a problem for satellite attached to the roof. We used a Tailgater with great success. They will even place it on the roof of one of the hatchery buildings for you. The trees provide some much appreciated shade as it does get somewhat hot in July-August with temps occasionally in the 100s. Most work is outdoors. The campsite is really like a little green park and is quite private and safe. Deer, rabbits and SKUNKS may wonder through your yard. They wont bother you if you don't bother them. This is not a rip roaring visitor facility. Typical visitation will be 500-900/month during school, tapering off to 200-300 otherwise. They have new (free) laundry facility on site and even have showers you can use if you like. This is a steelhead conservation hatchery as opposed to a game fish hatchery. If you want to see large fish this is not for you....unless you count the 5 six-foot sturgeon they keep in a demo pond. This is always a highlight of the tours you give when the children (and an occasional adult :blink: ) are allowed to 'pet' them as they swim by! .