The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) is recruiting applicants for the Natural Resource Volunteer Program (NRVP) to serve in the Sacramento area. The NRVP provides conservation and enforcement education through public service while providing biological, enforcement and administrative staff support to CDFW.

The next training academy will be held in Sacramento during September 2013. Graduates are unpaid, but can enjoy fulfilling work as volunteers for CDFW.

NRVP applicants go through a selection process which includes an initial screening and background check. Selected participants will attend a three-day training academy. An additional eight-hour training day each month, through the course of a seven-month probationary period, will prepare them for a monthly service commitment of at least 16 hours. Volunteers will work with a trained mentor implementing their newly acquired skills.

Applicants should be teachable, accountable, have basic computer and writing skills and a willingness to talk about conservation principles to the public both in the field and in a classroom setting. Applicants must show a desire to work well with others in a team environment to do tasks that free up time for paid CDFW staff.

CDFW Natural Resource Volunteers have no law enforcement authority and are trained to be educational ambassadors for CDFW, donating their time in a variety of areas including responding to human/wildlife incident calls, instructing at NRVP academies, representing CDFW at community outreach events, disseminating useful information to the public, and patrolling CDFW lands, ecological reserves, and inland and coastal fishing areas.

Application deadline is Monday, Aug. 19. Applicants should submit information as soon as possible. Contact Lt. Steven Stiehr or Warden Brian Moore at (916) 358-1948 prior to submitting an application.