Description
We are seeking Guide In The Hide Volunteers at WWT London to provide a warm and friendly welcome to our hides for visitors of all ages and backgrounds. As a Guide In The Hide Volunteer, you will play a crucial role in engaging visitors and communities with wetlands.
The role involves:
- Providing a warm welcome to all visitors coming into the reserve hides
- Talking to visitors about what they can see from the hide
- Helping visitors to locate, observe, and identify nearby species of interest
- Assisting visitors to use optical equipment and identification guidebooks
- Informing visitors of events, talks, and activities at the site which may be of interest
- Familiarising yourself with the latest wildlife sightings around the reserve so you can inform our visitors what they might see during their visit
- Updating the hide sightings board and letting the reserve and welcome team know about any exciting sightings
- Tidying the hide, including cleaning surfaces, light sweeping of floors and windowsills, litter picking, putting away chairs, organising learning materials & equipment, reporting damage, and dusting rafters to remove cobwebs
- Topping up bird feeders as appropriate (Headley Hide only)
- Familiarising yourself with WWT’s wider conservation work and key conservation messages
As a volunteer, you will receive a very warm welcome, full induction & training, and be provided with any necessary equipment, uniforms, and anything else needed to thrive in your role.
This role would suit you if:
- You have a strong basic knowledge of UK bird species (additional training & support for species identification can be provided)
- You feel confident in talking to and engaging with members of the public
- You can adapt your communication style to suit your audience, particularly having a friendly and approachable manner with our first-time and younger visitors
- You love birding and want to share your enthusiasm with others
- You are friendly and approachable with a positive attitude
- You have an interest in and enthusiasm for the work of WWT
- You enjoy working as part of a team of staff and volunteers
- You are willing to spend prolonged periods of time in a potentially cold space (coats will be provided)
We are looking for volunteers who are available to help out at least 2 full shifts (or 4 half shifts) a month on a set day (Thursdays & Sundays in particular). Full day shifts run from 9.30am-3pm with a 15-minute morning break and 60-minute lunch break at 12.30pm. Half day shifts run from 9.30am-1pm with a 15-minute morning break.