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RVers enjoy volunteer work for U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (July, 2003) — Leon and Carey Ivy were looking for a place to camp for an extended stay. What they found was a place to stay and a new way to help people and the environment. The Ivy’s camp at a beautiful lake and volunteer for US Army Corps of Engineers. Park Ranger Greg Thomas said, "They’re great! They’ve been park hosts, staffed the Visitor Center, painted, trimmed trees, and other maintenance in the recreation areas." Carey Ivy said they heard about the 800 number and called. They received an information packet with a map, application, and points of contact for the region they were interested. They selected a lake where they’d like to volunteer. The 800 number they called was the US Army Corps of Engineers Volunteer Clearinghouse. The Volunteer Clearinghouse links interested volunteers with Corps lakes and projects across the country that need them. The Volunteer Clearinghouse can be reached at 1-800-VOL-TEER (1-800-865-8337), on the Internet at www.lrn.usace.army.mil/volunteer, and by writing to P.O. Box 1070, Nashville, TN 37202-1070. Park Ranger Thomas contacted the Ivy’s to let them know they had been selected for the volunteer position. When they got the call, Ivy said. "We were as excited as if we were going to make $50,000." More than 300 Corps lakes and projects nationwide participate in the Volunteer Clearinghouse to help protect the natural resources and maintain the recreation facilities. Park rangers need volunteers to serve as campground and park hosts, staff Visitor Centers, conduct programs, restore fish and wildlife habitat, maintain park trails and facilities, and more. Some volunteers like the special events, such as shoreline cleanups and National Public Lands Day. Ivy said, "We like working in the Visitor Center best. I love to talk to people when they come in. They come from all over." Some Corps lakes provide volunteers a free campsite with water, electric, and sewer hookups. The job duties, time period, and hours are agreed to between the park ranger and the volunteer. Volunteers are not paid, but receive other valuable benefits. They gain skills, work outdoors at beautiful lakes, meet new people, see new areas of the country, and achieve a proud sense of helping the environment and other people. Lakes, parks and Visitor Centers across the country need volunteers. Volunteers play an important role in protecting the natural resources and maintaining the recreation areas managed by the Corps of Engineers. Nationwide during 1999, 70,000 volunteers contributed over 1.2 million hours of work with an estimated value of $13.5 million.
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