Volunteer On An Island For The Summer

To answer some of your questions,

The Duties of a Volunteer at CCSP depend on the time of the year and what is needed such as: Tram Driver, exotic plant removal, wood work, working in the visitor center, camp ground host, ext.

Time requirements for a volunteer to stay on island in a primitive tent site, is at least 20 hours a week.

You could stay for as little as a couple days or a couple months but no more than Four months.

Summer is the hardest time of the year to find volunteers

Volunteers come out to the island by the state boat that the staff comes out on every day at no cost.

I hope this answers some of your questions but I would strongly recommend calling Mary Olsen 239-633-1654 she lives out at Cayo and works with the volunteers every day and would be a good source of information about details I wasn’t able to answer.

Thank you for your interest and email me anytime. Thank you

Here are answers to your questions

We book 8 volunteers or volunteer couples at a time. Six are zone/campground hosts and two are maintenance/construction.

We have 1 live on your boat in the marina volunteer.

We have 3 volunteers in the various campgrounds.

the first one is a tent or popup only campsite and has water and 20/30amp service. It is close to the bath house in the Sandspur campground and many consider it our most desirable spot.

The next two spots are in the Buttonwood campground and have water, 20/30/50 amp and are close to the dump station. These sites are for trailers and motorhomes or tents.

The next 4 sites are by the shop and they are full hookups.

The last position is in the marina with 30 amp, water and a pump out station with a concrete dock and all new dock posts.

The minimum hours are 3 days per week with 8 hour shifts for 24 hours per week.
Most of our volunteers work additional time on programs, projects, beach cleanup, toll booth.
The state of FL maximum is 120 days in a Park each year. You can volunteer in more than Park.
We normally book for 3 months especially the first year as the basic training takes three weeks.

We have an ice machine, the volunteer group owns a clothes washer and a clothes drier and two freezers.

Volunteers receive a free kayak rental and a free trip on the concession snorkel boat to Lew Key, one of the best snorkel spots in the US.

Volunteers receive a volunteer hat, a maintenance t-shirt, a silver name badge with hours served and can have guests after 100 hours of service.

Currently volunteers can receive a free day use pass to all FL State Parks after 500 hours of service.

Volunteers can based on their desire and training time available receive certifications for boating, snorkeling, first aid, cpr, AED, lion fish removal, exotic species removal and training on equipment they want to learn how to use.

Volunteers receive video and classroom training on ADA, blood borne pathogens, harassment, and the newest certification for chemicals that is in place MSDS sheets.

Volunteers receive private tours about the history of the park service and Bahia Honda State Park. Volunteers can be involved in the turtle nesting program, surveys and the many special events we have. Volunteers are encouraged to go to the Ranger programs and the special programs we do on weekends.

The volunteers have a private picnic area. Pot lucks, pizza parties and fish fries are the norm.

We are normally booked two years out except we have openings for the marina spot as we have just started promoting this position. We some times receive late summer cancellations.

This is not an official document as I wanted to get you general information in a short time on a busy holiday weekend.

Anclote Key Preserve State Park No
Caladesi Island State Park Yes, boat sites
Egmont Key State Park No
Honeymoon Island State Park Yes, RV sites
Skyway Fishing Pier State Park NO

I know some are only accessible via water and you probably do not have campsites for volunteers but it would be nice to know that as well.

Mostly, people need to know what kind of campsites you have (tent/rv/boat)

Is there electric/water/sewer and/or showers? There is electric water and sewer at the RV sites on Honeymoon. Electric and water at the Caladesi Boat sites

What are the duties? The duties are varied from facilities maintenance, working the tollbooth, grounds maintenance, equipment maintenance.

What hours you require each week? 20 hours per week per person

What length of stay you allow? 4 Months

What other amenities you might offer the volunteers? (free ice, laundry facilities, free firewood, discounts on merchandise and services, etc.) Honeymoon has a washer and dryer.