Your Very Next Step newsletter for July 2014
By Ned Lundquist
www.yourverynextstep.com
“Rain is grace; rain is the sky descending to the earth; without rain, there would be no life.”
– John Updike
“The journey of a thousand miles begins with one step.”
– Lao Tzu
“Your Very Next Step” adventure/outdoors/conservation newsletter, published by Ned Lundquist, is a cooperative community, and everyone is invited, no…encouraged, no…urged to participate. Share your adventures with the network today! Send to lundquist989@cs.com.
*** To subscribe for free:
Send us your comments, questions, and contributions to lundquist989@cs.com.
Contact Ned at lundquist989@cs.com.
*** In this issue:
*** Ned’s upcoming travel
*** My flight home from Abu Dhabi:
*** United has moved the goal post yet again.
*** How to Effectively Complain to The Hotel’s Front Desk (As Told By a Former Front Desk Agent)
*** Conch: Let me count the ways…
*** Connecting Stewards with Trails: Meet Libby Wile, American Hiking’s Volunteer Director
*** Volunteer Vacations
*** Boy Scouts of America and American Hiking Society trail stewardship
*** Rail Trail of the Month: June 2014
*** Rail Trail of the Month: July 2014
*** Trail/Outdoor/Conservation volunteer opportunities:
1.) Best Outdoor Summer Volunteer Opportunities
2.) Guide to Volunteering Outdoors in Parks and Wilderness Areas
3.) Volunteer opportunities, Idaho State Parks
4.) Fish Hatchery Tour Guides, Garrison Dam National Fish Hatchery, Riverdale, ND
5.) Bird watching tour guide – Fish and Wildlife Service
6.) Volunteer Map Editor, The National Map Corps, Rolla, MO (Work from anywhere)
7.) History Tour Guide, Lower Rio Grande Valley National Wildlife Refuge, Alamo, TX
9.) Biology Volunteers, Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge, Homer, AK
*** Travel/Adventure/Outdoors/Conservation employment opportunities:
1.) Shisha Boy, Marjan Island Resort & Spa, Marjan Island, Ras Al Khaimah, Subai, UAE
2.) Media Manager, Visit Orlando, Orlando, Florida
3.) Boat Mate, Marriott, St Thomas, VI
4.) Stewardess, Nautic Crew International, Inc., Fort Lauderdale, FL
5.) Canoe Livery Attendant I, City of Ann Arbor, Ann Arbor, MI
…and much more…and it’s all FREE!!!
*** Do you have a travel adventure, conservation or outdoor update to share?
Send me your stories and I’ll post in the “Your Very Next Step” and on the YVNS website (http://www.yourverynextstep.com/).
*** Ned’s upcoming travel, maybe, perhaps:
August 1-3, Auburndale, Mass.
August 17-20, Tacoma, Wash.
August 20 – 23, San Diego, Calif.
September 12-14, Charleston, S.C.
September 20-27, Florence, Italy
October 27-28, Norfolk, VA
October 29-30, Nassau, Bahamas
November 24-27, Doha, Qatar
December 8-10, Aubu Dhabi, UAE
January 27-30 Genoa, Italy
*** My flight home from Abu Dhabi:
When checking out of the Westin, Caterina asked me if there was anything else she could do to make my stay as pleasant as possible. I said, “Can you get me an upgrade on my 15-hour, 50-minute flight to Washington. She immediately got on the phone to Etihad. Turns out there were no seats available, but, wow, the fact that she even tried is remarkable. I gave myself plenty of time so I could have a chance to snag one of the up-until-now unavailable exit row seats. Plus I wanted to have time to enjoy the Etihad lounge and take advantage of my Gold status. Big surprise, upon check-in the exit row seats were already gone, and since I was not first or business class I was not entitled to use the Terminal three lounge. If I wanted to avail myself of my Gold privileges I could trek all the way over to terminal one, but, he told me, I needed to going through passport control by 0830 for my 1100 flight. AUH is a pre-clearance entry, which means after you go through UAE passport control you go through US passport control in the Abu Dhabi airport terminal (not upon entry in the U.S. I was able to use Global Entry to breeze through, and they even stamped my passport).
Personally I am disappointed that I was not able to use the lounge as expected. This is a pretty important value-for-membership benefit, and to have been told that I was not entitled to use it is more than a disappointment.
But all was not lost. When the gate opened for boarding, I happened to be first in line. For whatever reason, the gate agent crossed out 43K and wrote 8C on my boarding pass and smiled as he told me I had a seat change, and was being upgraded to Pearl business class. I could have kissed him.
Business class is really a full reclining chair in an enclosed area with a place to put your legs up so that you really can sleep. It’s a shame because my “sleep strategy” for this flight, which was chasing daylight, was to stay awake. My little area had space to put my stuff, a quilt instead of a flimsy blanket, and a big pillow instead of, well, you know. I had a power plug and a usb to charge a phone or tablet. I was offered a beverage before takeoff and was constantly offered food and beverage throughout the flight. I had the beef tenderloin after take off, and later had the steak sandwich, then scones with strawberries and clotted cream, and still later a chicken salad. We flew over Iceland, and later Greenland, which is rare to see both.
*** United has moved the goal post yet again. They are following Delta’s frequent flier lead in awarding MileagePlus credit based on dollars spent instead of miles flown. It has steadily become harder to retain status or use miles for upgrades or free trips. I think UA is telling me that my loyalty isn’t important to them. Even though I will have more than enough miles for Gold, I will not even qualify for Silver. However, the upside is I can plan my travel now without trying to get on a Star Alliance flight, because, I mean, why bother?
*** How to Effectively Complain to The Hotel’s Front Desk (As Told By a Former Front Desk Agent)
*** Conch: Let me count the ways…
Like many islands in the Caribbean, conch is a staple of the food scene in Turks & Caicos. Every menu features it, and every local seems pretty fond of it. Provo is even home to the world’s only conch farm, raising the endangered Caribbean Queen Conch for wholesale consumption.
Conch appears on menus in a variety of ways, and the toughest part of a trip to Turks and Caicos is avoiding bad jokes (Dude, I’m totally conched out!). Here’s a rundown of how you’ll see conch prepared:
*** Connecting Stewards with Trails: Meet Libby Wile, American Hiking’s Volunteer Director
by Alicia MacLeay
Trailspace Blog
*** Volunteer Vacations
http://www.americanhiking.org/volunteer-vacations/
*** Boy Scouts of America and American Hiking Society trail stewardship
Here are exclusive opportunities to participate in trail stewardship weeks at two of Boy Scouts of America’s high-adventure bases – Philmont Scout Ranch and Northern Tier. Jointly organized by American Hiking Society and BSA, these weeks of trail building will provide you with an unforgettable backcountry adventure, pristine hiking, & camaraderie with fellow crew members.
CONTACT
Phone: Libby Wile at (301)565-6704 ext. 206
Email: LWile@AmericanHiking.org
http://www.americanhiking.org/volunteer-vacations/volunteer-philmont-northern-tier/
*** Rail Trail of the Month: June 2014
Ohio’s Great Miami River Trail
By Laura Stark
http://www.railstotrails.org/news/recurringFeatures/trailMonth/archives/1406.html
*** Rail Trail of the Month: July 2014
Michigan’s Macomb Orchard Trail
By Laura Stark
http://www.railstotrails.org/news/recurringFeatures/trailMonth/archives/1407.html
*** Trail/Outdoor/Conservation volunteer opportunities:
1.) Best Outdoor Summer Volunteer Opportunities
The benefits of volunteering are innumerable. Not only does volunteering give you the chance to help others in your community, but it’s also good for your physical and emotional health, particularly if you are enjoying the volunteer work. If you love being outdoors and giving your time to make your city a better place to live, make a difference with these five causes and volunteer opportunities
http://washington.cbslocal.com/top-lists/best-outdoor-summer-volunteer-opportunities/
2.) Guide to Volunteering Outdoors in Parks and Wilderness Areas
Love being outside? There are a variety of volunteering opportunities for those who love the outdoors. Most of these opportunities require the volunteer to pay for all travel costs. Some require the volunteer to hike and camp as well. Please read the volunteer requirements of each opportunity carefully before signing up to help.
Also check with state parks, and local advocacy groups like the Sierra Club or trail volunteers (like the Maine Appalachian Trail Club), for information about outdoor volunteering in your area, or in an area you plan on visiting.
http://www.serviceleader.org/volunteers/parks
3.) Volunteer opportunities, Idaho State Parks
Spread your wings in some of the most spectacular places! Choose to volunteer at a park in an old growth forest, along a trout filled stream, or on the shores of a pristine mountain lake. Or, you may want to help us maintain trails, teach boating safety, or work at a visitor center. As part of our team, volunteers provide essential services with a personal touch. You can make visitor experiences more enjoyable and complete. Your volunteer efforts help preserve the natural treasures of Idaho for generations to come.
How to volunteer….
To volunteer your services and share your knowledge and expertise, please fill out a volunteer application online, or print one out. Selected volunteers will be asked to sign an agreement outlining their responsibilities as well as those of the Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation. Keep in mind that not all parks or programs need all the different types of volunteers.
What you do as a Volunteer…
A person may volunteer as an individual or as a part of a group on short term projects of a day or less, or on a long term project in specialized programs. There are many ways to volunteer your time with Idaho State Parks and Recreation.
You are invited to join our Idaho Team!
THE BEST JEWELS OF THE GEM STATE are in Idaho State Parks! Fish our world famous trout waters, take in the breathtaking beauty of the Snake River and the Sawtooth Mountains, or be amazed by our gigantic Ponderosa Pines all while volunteering for the best park system anywhere.
We are seeking energetic individuals/couples as campground, maintenance, interpretive, and visitor services hosts MARCH- OCTOBER 2014. Full/partial hook-ups provided with a minimum of 30 day, 24 hours/week/person working.
Enjoy free entrance/camping, prime host sites, training, and the friendliest staff in the country! Contact: Kathryn.Hampton@idpr.idaho.gov or
Idaho State Parks has all of the jewels of the Gem State!
THESE PARKS STILL HAVE VACANCIES for 2014:
* Land of the Yankee Fork State Park
* Lake Cascade State Park
* Heyburn State Park
* Hells Gate State Park
* Henrys Lake State Park
Volunteer Activities
• Campground Host
• Construction/Maintenance
• Computers
• Conservation Education
• Historical Preservation
• Office/Clerical
• Trail/Campground Maintenance
• Tour Guide/Interpretation
• Visitor Information
• Natural Resources Planning
• Fish/Wildlife
• General Assistance
APPLY ON-LINE at: http://www.parksandrecreation.idaho.gov/activities/volunteering or
call (208) 514-2493 for more information and an application packet NOW.
http://www.volunteer.gov/results.cfm?states=ID
4.) Fish Hatchery Tour Guides, Garrison Dam National Fish Hatchery, Riverdale, ND
Garrison Dam National Fish Hatchery is one of the largest U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service hatcheries in the nation. We raise a wide variety of fish species from trout and salmon to walleye, pike and the endangered pallid sturgeon. The hatchery is located directly below Lake Sakakawea on the banks of the Missouri River. If you enjoy outdoor recreation, plenty of opportunities exist. Fishing, boating, birding, hiking, camping, hunting…it is all right here!
All in all we have a very interesting program here and are in need of assistance. We rely on our volunteers to help conduct tours of the hatchery. Our tour groups range from a few visitors to bus loads of school kids anxious to see the hatchery. In addition we like to involve our volunteers wherever possible with the fish hatchery programs – spawning fish, caring for trout, managing aquariums, mowing lawns, watering flowers, maintaining hiking trails – anything you feel comfortable doing.
We try to accommodate the volunteers wishes as much as possible. If you decide to stay with us you will be asked to be available to give tours as scheduled. Group reservations are typically set up in advance so you know when they will be arriving. You can set up your own schedule with the other volunteers to allow you the freedom to enjoy your stay here.
There are three camping pads at the hatchery complete with water, sewer and electric hookups. A washer and dryer are located in a trailer house next to the pads for your use. The towns of Riverdale and Pick City are only a couple miles away. We are an hour’s drive from Minot and Bismarck.
Check us out on the web at http://www.fws.gov/garrisondam/
Fish Production . . . North Dakota Style
Early Spring marks the beginning of the cycle of life for many of our native fishes. Northern Pike, a dominant predator species, are the earliest of the many North Dakota fishes to spawn. As the ice begins to recede from the lake’s edge and snowmelt causes increased flows into the river systems, the pike arouse from their period of Winter dormancy and migrate into the flooded shallows to spawn. Frame nets set by fishery biologists capture the adult fish and they are stripped of eggs and milt at the site. The eggs are brought to the Garrison Dam National Fish Hatchery where they are incubated in special hatching jars. The newly hatched fry emerge from the eggs in about two weeks. It will be another week before the fry are able to swim or feed. The ‘swim-up’ fry spend the last month of their stay at the hatchery in ponds which have an abundance of zooplankton, the food necessary to provide for the rapid growth of the fish. At the month’s end, the northern pike fry, now called fingerlings, are a couple inches long and ready for stocking into area lakes. If the fingerlings are left in the ponds any longer, the zooplankton will no longer satisfy their hunger, and the fish will begin to eat each other!
If you have a taste for the prehistoric, stop by the hatchery in June. The pallid sturgeon, a North Dakota native and an endangered species, are approaching their spawning time. These fish are undoubtably the strangest looking of the North Dakota fish. The fish has a ‘sucker’ type mouth, beady eyes, whiskers (or barbels), and a body covered with ‘scutes’, a scale like structure that gives them the appearance of having a coat of armor. The fish are a long lived fish, probably more than 50 years, reach lengths of six feet and nearly 100 pounds. Both the paddlefish and the sturgeon have changed little since the Carboniferous to early Triassic times. During the reign of the dinosaurs 200 million years ago, their ancestors were the dominant freshwater fish. Jurassic Park is alive and well at the fish hatchery!
If you’re in the area, northern pike spawning begins in mid-April, followed by walleye and sauger. Sturgeon are spawned in late June. Coldwater species, trout and salmon, are at the station year-around, however if you visit the station in October, you will be able to witness the annual migration of chinook salmon up the hatchery’s effluent stream and watch as eggs are collected from these awesome fish.
A visitor center at the hatchery complete with five 400 gallon aquariums will give you the pleasure of viewing the fishes of North Dakota in their environment. A wetlands hiking trail provides an abundance of opportunities for the photographer or naturalist. Waterfowl, fish and a variety of birds and mammals can be viewed in their natural surroundings year-around. An observation blind provides the perfect opportunity for watching the waterfowl migration. The visitor center is open Labor Day through Memorial Day from 8:00 – 3:30. The hatchery is open year-around. Admission is free. Group tours are available year-around with prior reservations and we are handicapped accessible.
The Garrison Dam National Fish Hatchery is located in mid-central North Dakota, an hour’s drive north of Bismark on Highway 83. Contact: Rob Holm, Project Leader, Garrison Dam National Fish Hatchery Complex, (701) 654-7451.
http://www.fws.gov/garrisondam/
http://www.volunteer.gov/results.cfm?ID=13954
5.) Bird watching tour guide – Fish and Wildlife Service
www.fws.gov/deerflat/pdf/llbirdtour.pdf
6.) Volunteer Map Editor, The National Map Corps, Rolla, MO (Work from anywhere)
The US Geological Survey (USGS) is recruiting volunteers to collect and update USGS geographic data. Similar to how other online crowdsourcing cartographic applications allow anyone to collect, edit, and use geographic data through an online map editor, the USGS has developed an online editor customized to our data needs that allows volunteers to contribute data to The National Map.
We are looking for people like you to work with us to collect data for the USGS. The data you will collect during this project will be loaded into The National Map.
If you have access to the Internet and are willing to dedicate some time editing map data we hope you will consider participating!
You do not need to live in any particular area to participate. Our editing guidelines explain how you can contribute data from anywhere.
http://www.volunteer.gov/results.cfm?ID=13593
7.) History Tour Guide, Lower Rio Grande Valley National Wildlife Refuge, Alamo, TX
http://www.fws.gov/refuge/Lower_Rio_Grande_Valley/
http://www.volunteer.gov/results.cfm?ID=11280
8.) RESIDENT VOLUNTEERS , U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service national wildlife refuges and national fish hatcheries
Resident volunteer housing opportunities are available at many U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service national wildlife refuges and national fish hatcheries. Resident Volunteers provide their own “homes” (some type of recreational vehicle), or they stay in refuge or hatchery housing if available. The field station typically provides such amenities as an RV pad with septic, water and electricity hook-ups. In some cases, there will be a “common area” provided with laundry facilities, Internet access, phones, etc. Government housing may consist of shared spaces such as houses, bunkhouses, cabins, mobile homes, trailers, and even field camps at some Alaska refuges.
It is important to note that providing a daily or flat rate allowance, per diem or subsistence pay to volunteers for the intent of covering their expenses is not allowed. Volunteers may be reimbursed for substantiated and actual expenses directly related to their contributed services.
Each field station will have a unique set of opportunities and requirements. Most sites require a minimum of 40 hours per week for a couple, and 32 hours a week for a single person living on an RV pad. Some sites may require more or fewer hours. It’s important to make sure both the volunteers and the field station are very clear on the hour-requirements BEFORE the volunteers commit to the site. Guidelines suggest that the number of hours required and the value of the type of work assigned should roughly equal the “going rate” for a camper pad in the local area. For this reason, the requirements will vary widely from place to place.
Resident volunteers are encouraged to give more time and energy than the “minimum required.” The more of yourself you invest, the more fulfilling will be your experience. At some locations, the minimum hours might be assigned to a specific job at a specific time in order to keep the basic operations of the refuge or hatchery covered. For example, if sea turtles are hatching, you may have the opportunity to participate in “Turtle Watch” in the evenings, but those hours will not take the place of your assigned duties.
Resident volunteers especially enjoy working side-by-side with refuge or hatchery staff and becoming part of the refuge or hatchery family. They have a beautiful place to live for a period of time and are able to explore and experience the refuge or hatchery, as well as the local area. And, in return, the refuge or hatchery gains valuable volunteer assistance.
http://www.fws.gov/volunteers/VolResidentOpp.html
http://www.fws.gov/volunteers/residentVolPrograms.html
9.) Biology Volunteers, Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge, Homer, AK
Please send a resume and a cover letter indicating the kind of positions you are interested in and any special skills you have such as bird surveys, isolated field camps and/or skiff and outboard operation, by e-mail alaskamaritime@fws.gov or mail to the Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge, 95 Sterling Highway # 1, Homer, AK 99603.
http://www.fws.gov/refuge/Alaska_Maritime/what_we_do/volunteer.html
*** Travel/Adventure/Outdoors/Conservation employment opportunities:
1.) Shisha Boy, Marjan Island Resort & Spa, Marjan Island, Ras Al Khaimah, Subai, UAE
As a Shisha Boy you are responsible to provide basic support and service task to the outlet aiming for the highest possible customer satisfaction and your role will include key responsibilities such as:
•Ensure that the service to the guest is as per hotel standards in order to maximizeguest satisfaction and departmental profit
•Interact positively and professionally with guest, colleagues and other departments as appropriate and required
•Welcome guests on arrival and help to seat them
•Recommend and suggest specialties to guest and up sell whenever possible
•Take order from guests, put item through micros and follow through service in compliance with hotel standards, clearing and resetting tables once the guests have finished
•Collect supplies from store and ensure all side stations are correctly stocked, tidy and clean
•Report any breakage to Superiors
•Attend all regular departmental briefings and contribute to an open communication within the assigned team
•Be familiar with the company’s internal policies and safety procedures.
http://www.catererglobal.com/job/10892473/shisha-boy/
2.) Media Manager, Visit Orlando, Orlando, Florida
http://careers.prweekus.com/jobseeker/job/18606022
*** From Mark Sofman:
3.) Boat Mate, Marriott, St Thomas, VI
4.) Stewardess, Nautic Crew International, Inc., Fort Lauderdale, FL
5.) Canoe Livery Attendant I, City of Ann Arbor, Ann Arbor, MI
*** Send your job opportunities to share with the YVNS network to lundquist989@cs.com.
*** Your Very Next Step is a service of the Job of the Week Network LLC
© 2014 The Job of the Week Network LLC
Edward Lundquist, ABC –
Editor and Publisher
Your Very Next Step
7813 Richfield Road
Springfield, VA 22153
Home office phone: (703) 455-7661
lundquist989@cs.com
www.nedsjotw.com
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