Sea Turtle, Inc.
Training Manual for Volunteers
Welcome
to Sea Turtle, Inc.! This manual will orient you to the operations of our
facility and serve as a training guide for all volunteers. The information in this guide is important. Carefully reading all instructions and
policies will give you a working knowledge of our facility and help you to act
as an informed representative of Sea Turtle, Inc. Thank you for taking the time to learn this
information.
_______________________________________________________________
Contact Information
Sea
Turtle Inc. (Phone Line & Fax) (956)
761-4511
Kat
Lillie, Volunteer Coordinator email: kat.lillie@seaturtleinc.org
Sea Turtle Inc. website:
www.seaturtleinc.org
Staff Members:
Jeff George, Executive Director (Jeff.george@seaturtleinc.org)
Kat Lillie, Assistant Curator (email same as above)
Chris Devlin, Vet. Tech
(Chris.Devlin@seaturtleinc.org)
Karen
Pfeiffer, Gift Shop Manager()
David Cromwell, Part Time Staffer (Dave.cromwell@seaturtleinc.org)
Mary Laddis,
Part Time Staffer (Mary.Laddis@seaturtleinc.org)
_______________________________________________________________
Table of Contents
Letter from the Curator Page
2
History of Sea
Turtle, Inc. Page
3
Hours of Operation & Policies Pages
4-5
Requirements of Volunteers Page
5
Protocol Pages
6-7
Keeper Assistant Description Page
9
Maintenance Assistant Description Page
10
Show Assistant Description Page
11
Educator Description Page
12
Public Relations Description Page
13
Release Form Page
15
Dear Volunteer,
Thank you for your interest in assisting our organization! We are
grateful to our volunteer team and are pleased that you have chosen to dedicate
your time, talents, and energy to Sea Turtle, Inc (STI). Your contribution is
vital to the success of our mission. STI is a non-profit, 501(c)(3) corporation founded by Ila Loetscher
in 1977. Our mission is to rehabilitate and release sick or injured sea
turtles, to aid in conservation programs in
The information in this handbook outlines the volunteer opportunities
available to you. I encourage you to read it thoroughly and speak with me if
you have any suggestions or questions.
Sincerely,
Jeffrey
A. George, Curator
History of Sea Turtle, Inc.
In 1965, Ila Fox Loetscher, our founder, was
recruited by Dearyl Adams of
ing many curious
visitors. She took every opportunity to speak about the plight of sea turtles
and how visitors might assist in saving them from extinction.
By 1977, Ila was receiving so many guests into
her home that she formed Sea Turtle, Inc. into a non profit. The all-volunteer
organization assisted her in education and rehab work with the sea turtles. In
1994, Ila’s health began to
fail and the volunteers started to take a more active role in the operation of
STI. In 1997, Ila’s health
no longer permitted her to participate in the mission of STI. Volunteers
stepped forward to continue her work in preserving sea turtles. Ila died in January of 2000 at the age of 95.
In January 1999, Sea Turtle, Inc. moved from Ila’s home on
Hour of
Operation & Policies
Sea Turtle, Inc is autonomous from any
other private or government organization. We are governed by a volunteer board of
directors that meets monthly. The public, volunteers and employees may attend a
public session preceding any Board of Directors monthly meeting.
Sea Turtle, Inc. is open to the public
from 10–4, Tuesdays – Sundays (10-5 in the summer months).
We are open to the public, and an
admission donation of $3 per adult & $1 per child aged 4+ is requested. All
donations are tax deductible. Visitors can tour our facility in one of three
ways:
1.
By attending a presentation. These begin daily at 10 a.m.
and continue throughout the day with the last beginning around 3:15 pm.
2.
By scheduling a special show in advance for their group of
10 or more.
3.
By self-guiding throughout the facility.
Facility Policies
1.
Visitors
and volunteers are not permitted to put their hands in the water or touch the
turtles. Only persons listed on the Endangered Species permits are permitted to
do so
2.
We will conduct special shows for groups of 10+, provided
they have made a reservation. Group tours may be conducted by the staff,
interns or volunteers.
3.
It should be recommended to visitors who have come into
contact with tank water or turtles to wash their hands with antibacterial soap
provided in the bathroom.
4.
No visitors are permitted in the pump/filtration or ATV
areas. All viewing should be from the enclosed deck area.
5.
There is no hunting, camping, fishing, or cooking allowed
on site. Food and drinks are allowed in the seating or gift shop areas.
6.
No vehicles are allowed access to the inside area without
authorization from the curator.
7.
Smoking is allowed outside
8.
Only staff may service the filtration systems.
9.
Volunteers and staff receive a discount on all merchandise
purchased.
_____________________________________________________________
Volunteer Requirements (as of 9/1/11)
• Volunteers must be 16 year of age or older. Persons under 18 must have their consent form signed by a parent or guardian. As of 9/1/2011 we no longer accept volunteers under the age of 16, even with adult supervision.
• Volunteers must attend a Volunteer Orientation Class. These classes will help you become better acquainted with STI. There will be different trainings for the different volunteer areas. If you are not satisfied with the area that you have chosen to work in, you may discuss with the volunteer coordinator about switching. Volunteers may also work in more than one area.
• Volunteers must call ahead to schedule. Please call (956)761-4511 before you plan to volunteer and ask to be put on the schedule of the area in which you volunteer.
• A Sea Turtle, Inc. shirt is to be worn when working during business hours. This will allow the guests to identify you as someone they can ask questions.
• Time commitment will determine where and how you can volunteer. Responsibility is allotted to volunteers based on time commitment. For example, short term volunteers are required to work under direct staff supervision and may not be able to participate in certain aspects of volunteering. Long term volunteers will be able to help with such things as Event Booths, Educational Assistance, Nesting Season Patrol and Allison Life Guarding.
• A commitment to be dependable is required. We depend on volunteers to work their specified assignments as scheduled. STI serves thousands of people each year and we cannot afford to be a part-time, unreliable group. If you are unable to report for your assignment, please contact a staff member as soon as possible so a substitute may be found. A volunteer who fails to show up three times without notification will not be permitted to volunteer again.
• Volunteer hours must be recorded. Volunteers are responsible for recording their own hours in the volunteer sign in notebook. Always record your hours to the nearest half hour. Travel time to and from STI should not be included in your hours. Staff is not responsible for hours not recorded. Volunteer recognition awards will be given to volunteers during our semi-annual volunteer appreciation dinner.
Volunteer Protocol
·
Volunteers
who have problems with an assignment, staff member or guest are to contact the
Volunteer Coordinator immediately. Kat Lillie, kat.lillie@seaturtleinc.org, the
volunteer coordinator will follow up as soon as possible. Any discussions
involving STI volunteers or staff members will be kept in strictest confidence
by all parties involved. Always check with the Volunteer Coordinator with any
questions you may have involving volunteer policy.
·
If
you do not know the correct answer to a question, NEVER make up an answer or
guess. Try
to find the answer in the resources available, or ask a staff member. Because we
are considered a respectable source of information, it is imperative that we
give out correct information.
·
Telephone
Use: Volunteers
are welcome to use the phones as long as they follow these guidelines. Do not
use STI’s phones for long distance without permission
from staff. Do not tie up the phone lines with personal phone calls.
·
Visitor
Injury or Illness: If a visitor is injured or ill, notify a staff member
immediately. If you feel they can walk, escort them to the gift shop. If you
feel they should not be moved go for help or send someone to the gift shop for
help. In a quiet tone of voice, reassure the visitor that help is on the way.
If at all possible, stay with the ill or injured person to help keep him/her
calm. If the person cannot speak and you know for certain why they are ill or
injured you need to give this information to whoever comes to your assistance. DO
NOT OFFER MEDICAL ADVICE and do not make any statements speculating on the
nature of the injury or illness.
·
Media: Volunteers are not
permitted to give the media any information regarding STI. Please refer all
media to the Curator.
·
If
someone reports a turtle stranding locate a staff member and have them
speak to that person. Be sure to thank the person for their concern.
·
Please
be polite to visitors. Do not get involved in discussions regarding controversial
subjects with our visitors. Do not be impolite, but if they have comments they
want to make, practice good listening skills or direct them to a staff member.
REMEMBER: It is always better to say too little than too much.
·
Separation:
The
Volunteer Coordinator is responsible for dismissing any volunteer whose service
is detrimental to STI’s visitors, staff or mission. A
volunteer may be separated for any of the following reasons:
·
Being repeatedly absent
·
Failing to observe STI policies
·
Abusing drugs, including alcohol while on duty
·
Behaving inappropriately
·
Lost & Found: Any items you
find on property should be turned into the gift shop. Valuable items should be
tagged with appropriate information and stored
·
Personal
Belongings: Do not bring large sums of money with you and make sure your personal
belongings are either out of sight or secured in your vehicle. STI is not
responsible for any lost items.
_______________________________________________________________
VOLUNTEER POSITIONS
In the following pages, you will find
detailed descriptions of the following volunteer positions:
·
Morning Diet & Facility Prep (Training
required- Minimum 10 hours per month)
·
Gift Shop Assistant (Minimum ˝ day per week
for 6 weeks)
·
Allison Lifeguard (Minimum five scheduled
dates)
·
Volunteer Educator (Training required- long
term volunteers only)
·
·
Public Relations & Outreach Assistant (Long
term volunteers only)
·
Maintenance & Building Project Assistant (No
minimum time commitment)
Volunteers may
choose as few or as many of these positions to assist in. Applicable training
is required for each position.
Morning Diet & Facility Prep
Time commitment
Docent training required- Minimum 10 hours
per month for 3 months
Description & Duties
Assist the staff members with feeding the
turtles and pre-opening procedures
Volunteers will be trained for the
following duties:
·
Preparation of diets for sea turtles
·
Proper techniques on how to feed sea turtles
·
Daily maintenance and cleaning of tanks
·
Water quality testing
·
Cleaning of facility
·
Record keeping
Volunteers will work under the
supervision of the staff members. Volunteers may work individually or as part
of a group.
Work Conditions
Duties will be conducted indoors and
outdoors. Outdoor work may involve exposure to heat, cold, wind, humidity, and
insects. Some work may include walking over irregular and/or wet surfaces. Work
will involve bending, lifting, exposure to chemicals, and handling of raw sea
food.
Prerequisites
·
Ability to lift up to 40 pounds
·
Comfortable handling raw seafood
·
Ability to comprehend and follow specific directions.
Training Provided
Training sessions are conducted on the third
Monday of every month. Interested persons must sign up for training at least
3 days in advance.
Dress code
Facility prep is very hands on and can be
messy. We recommend older or worn clothing that you do not mind dirtying with
raw seafood or bleach. Surfaces may be slippery when wet and therefore we
recommend close-toed shoes with reliable traction. Strap on sandals are also
permitted. Wearing flip-flops can cause serious injury and we do not recommend
them in our facility. Please dress appropriately for weather conditions. Sea
Turtle, Inc. cannot provide volunteers with appropriate jackets, rain gear,
etc. (However, these items can be purchased in our gift shop!)
Gift Shop Assistant
Time commitment
Minimum ˝ day per week for 6 weeks.
Description & Duties
To provide assistance to the staff members
in gift shop and to assist visitors at our entrance gate during hours we are
open to the public. This volunteer is necessary for all show times (both
regular and special).
Volunteers will be trained for the
following duties:
·
Prepping the gift shop for opening to the public
·
Running the cash register
·
Restocking merchandise
·
Helping visitors inside gift shop or at gate entrance
Volunteers will work under the
supervision of the Volunteer Coordinator or staff members. Volunteers may work
individually or as part of a group.
Work Conditions
Duties will be conducted mostly indoors.
Prerequisites
·
Ability to speak in front of groups to relay information
·
Ability to mentally calculate admission donation and make
change
·
Ability to comprehend computerized cash register system
·
Spanish skills not necessary but helpful!!
Training Provided
Training is provided individually with
the Volunteer Coordinator or staff members.
Allison Life Guard
Time commitment
Minimum of 5 sessions required (excluding
training session). Each session is a 2 hour commitment from 11am-1pm. You must
be scheduled specifically for this task.
Description & Duties
To assist in the monitoring of Allison,
our one-flippered Atlantic green sea turtle when
swimming in her prosthetic from 11am-1pm (Tuesday through Sunday).
Volunteers will be trained for the
following duties:
·
Proper fitting of the prosthetic onto Allison
·
Proper handling of Allison while transporting from tank to
tank
·
Rescue procedures in the event of Allison’s harness falling
off
·
How to answer basic questions about Allison’s prosthetic
and sea turtles
Work Conditions
You will be standing next to the tank in
which Allison swims equipped with a net for emergency situations. It is outdoors and you will be exposed to sun
and wind. Seating is limited and, at
times, non-existent.
Prerequisites
·
Good communication skills
·
Ability to lift up to 60 lbs.
Training Provided
Allison lifeguards must schedule their initial
training with the volunteer coordinator. You will be trained during her
scheduled swimming session by a staff member and a current Allison lifeguard.
Dress Code
After 5 sessions, lifeguards will receive
an official lifeguard t-shirt. Additionally, please dress appropriately for
weather conditions. Sea Turtle, Inc. cannot provide volunteers with appropriate
jackets, rain gear, etc. (However, these items can be purchased in our gift
shop!)
Volunteer Educator
Time commitment
A specific training session is required
and only long term volunteers may occupy this position.
Description & Duties
Conduct educational presentations to
visitors at Sea Turtle, Inc. Provide information about the organization and
answer questions about sea turtles to the public.
Volunteers will be trained for the
following duties:
·
Conducting presentations for the general public and special
groups.
·
Providing information at individual tanks during open hours
·
Preparing materials and seating area for shows
·
Safety around water and turtles
·
Operating video and TV equipment
Volunteers will work under the supervision
of the Volunteer Coordinator or staff members.
Work Conditions
Duties will be conducted mostly outdoors.
Outdoor work may involve exposure to heat, cold, wind, humidity, and insects.
Some work may include walking over irregular and/or wet surfaces.
Prerequisites
Ability to lift
and carry up to 15 pounds. Excellent public
speaking skills. Must be comfortable with individual and
large group communication. Only long-term volunteers with significant
knowledge of the organization and sea turtles may participate.
Training Provided
A special training session is required. The
training session will be conducted on an as-needed basis. Please contact the
Volunteer Coordinator for more information.
Time commitment
One 8 hour
training and an additional 3 hour training must be
completed prior to being scheduled for 1st patrol.
Volunteer at
least 1 walking patrol per week or 1 ATV patrol every other week for a minimum
of 6 weeks.
Description & Duties
To conduct beach patrols during the
nesting season. Patrollers will locate sea turtle nests by walking a 3 mile
stretch or driving an ATV for 64 miles.
Volunteers will be trained for the
following duties:
·
Identifying tracks of nesting female
·
Identifying tags on nesting female
·
Recording data for nesting females, nest site, and stranded
sea turtles
·
Techniques for holding nesting turtles
·
Safe operation of an ATV
Volunteers will work under the general supervision
of the Volunteer Coordinator or permanent staff members. Volunteers will work
individually after training is completed.
**Only one person per ATV is permitted and safety equipment
must be worn. Failure to abide by these two requirements will result in
immediate suspension of patrol duties.
Work Conditions
Duties will be conducted rain or shine
during daylight hours between April 1st and Aug 1st.
Working conditions are hot and physically demanding.
Prerequisites
Walking patrols:
·
Physically fit
·
Ability to walk long distances in sand in direct sunlight
·
Must be able to see nesting female turtles or tracks in the
sand
·
Ability to control a crowd and take control of a situation
(if you see a nesting turtle you must keep the public away from it while it
nests)
For ATV patrols:
·
Physically fit
·
Valid
·
Ability to drive on ATV for up to 10 hours in hot, sunny
conditions
·
Must be able to see nesting female turtles or tracks in the
sand
·
Ability to control a crowd and take control of a situation
(if you see a nesting turtle you must keep the public away from it while it
nests)
Training Provided
A special training conducted by STI and
Padre National Seashore is required. STI will announce training dates for all
new volunteers (typically it is in March)
Public Relations & Outreach
Assistant
Description & Duties
To assist STI in
supporting our mission statement through public relations.
Volunteers will be trained for the
following duties:
·
Newsletter publication
·
Maintaining signage
·
Maintaining bulletin board
·
Writing articles
Volunteers will work under the supervision
of the Volunteer Coordinator or staff members. Volunteers may work individually
or as part of a group.
Work Conditions
Duties will be conducted mostly indoors,
working with the general public and media personnel.
Prerequisites
Good writing organizational and
communication skills.
Training Provided
Training is provided through volunteer
orientation programs or individual training with the Volunteer Coordinator or
staff members.
Time commitment
Minimum of 1 hour per week
Maintenance Assistant
Description & Duties
To provide
assistance in the upkeep of our facility and equipment.
Volunteers will be trained for the
following duties:
·
General landscaping including trimming, weeding or mowing
of vegetation.
·
Maintenance of signs, decking and handrails
·
Painting tanks, signs, buildings, etc.
·
General safe practice and maintenance of filtration
equipment.
Volunteers will work under the
supervision of the Volunteer Coordinator or staff members. Volunteers may work
individually or as part of a group.
Work Conditions
Duties will be conducted indoors and
outdoors. Outdoor work may involve exposure to heat, humidity, and insects.
Some work may include walking over irregular surfaces or through wet areas and
coming into contact with plants. This volunteer may also have contact with
general public.
Prerequisites
Ability to walk
at least one mile and lift up to 50 pounds. Familiarity with basic tools and landscaping equipment.
Training Provided
Training is provided through volunteer orientation
programs or individual training with the Volunteer Coordinator or staff
members.
Time commitment
Minimum of 1 hour per week
Volunteer
Release Form
Completion of
this form is required prior to conducting any volunteer activities at Sea
Turtle, Inc.
I have read my volunteer manual and
understand my duties and obligations as a volunteer at Sea Turtle, Inc.
Furthermore, I will perform my volunteer duties to the best of my abilities in
order to promote the mission of Sea Turtle, Inc.
I understand that I will be required to
complete safety training for performing my volunteer duties and, therefore
release Sea Turtle, Inc. from any liability in the event of an accident.
If you are under the age of 18, please have
a parent/guardian co-sign this release.
A parent/guardian is required to accompany any minor volunteering at Sea
Turtle, Inc.
Signature:
______________________________________________
Parent/Guardian Signature (if under 18):
________________________
Printed Name:
___________________________________________
Date: ______________
ATV PATROL
CONSENT
I have completed the
safety training required for my duties as a staff member or volunteer of Sea
Turtle, Inc. I am comfortable with my duties and the safety requirements
involved. I understand that to operate an ATV I must wear provided
USDOT-approved helmet at all times.
Signature:
_______________________________________________
Date
Completed: ______________
Training
Supervisor: _______________________________________
Supervisor
Signature: ______________________________________