CETUS RESEARCH & CONSERVATION SOCIETY - VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES Cetus Research & Conservation Society is a non-profit organization. The Society's mission is to facilitate the conservation of the marine environment by promoting community stewardship, conducting research, and fostering activities that directly preserve marine habitats and biological diversity. Cetus operates two marine mammal education and monitoring programs: Straitwatch and the Robson Bight Marine Warden Program. Cetus is currently recruiting volunteers for Straitwatch and the Robson Bight Marine Warden Program. These programs focus on marine mammal conservation by providing education about local marine mammals and the marine mammal viewing guidelines. Monitoring boater activity around marine animals and the Robson Bight (Michael Bigg) Ecological Reserve is a major component of both programs. These programs are operated in the waters of Johnstone and Queen Charlotte Straits, off Northeast Vancouver Island, BC. The closest community is Alert Bay on Cormorant Island, which is where Straitwatch is based. The Robson Bight Marine Warden Program operates from a remote field camp on West Cracroft Island. This is a great opportunity for individuals to increase field skills, as well as gain research experience and knowledge of the marine mammals inhabiting the Northeast Pacific. All positions are seasonal, with dates ranging from mid June to mid September 2006. Cetus is seeking to fill the following volunteer positions: Research Observer Marine Educator RESPONSIBILITIES INCLUDE: - Assisting marine wardens with data collection at the monitoring site and on monitoring vessels. - Collecting data on marine mammals and vessel activity. Attention to detail with regards to data collection and entry is essential. - Assisting with daily field camp maintenance and responsibilities. SKILLS AND ABILITIES REQUIRED: - Effective communications skills. - Able to live and work comfortably in a remote coastal wilderness environment. - Able to travel in rigid hull inflatable vessels in coastal waters, including rough conditions with limited visibility. - Able to work for 8-11 hour shifts in all weather conditions. - Background knowledge of the marine mammal species in the area is an asset. - Able to carry 20 lbs of gear to and from vessel to base camps (this varies from across the street to down a rocky shoreline). In addition, the Research Observer must also be able to hike between the base camp and the observation site (5 km each way); while there is minimal gear to be carried, the hike takes approximately 1 hour (depending on fitness). Volunteers are responsible for all their costs incurred while participating in these programs. This includes, but is not limited to, travelling to and from Alert Bay, having proper camping equipment, as well as food and accommodation costs. There are no accommodation costs while in the field camp on West Cracroft Island, however, volunteers need to provide their own tent and sleeping gear, as only a tarp is provided. Food for the Robson Bight Warden Program is purchased as a group and costs $10/day while in camp (this money must be prepaid prior to arriving in Alert Bay). Straitwatch volunteers are responsible for all their own food and accommodation arrangements. Please forward your resume, statement of interest, and two references via e-mail by May 15th, 2006. Be sure to indicate the position for which you are applying, as well as the duration and availability of your commitment. Research Observer positions with the Robson Bight Marine Warden Program require a minimum commitment of 2 weeks, with longer commitments encouraged. Marine Educator positions with Straitwatch are flexible in commitment duration, with commitments longer than 1 week encouraged. For more information on Straitwatch and the Robson Bight Marine Warden Program please visit www.straitwatch.org and www.members.shaw.ca/robsonbight, respectively. CONTACT: Andrea Hunter Cetus Research & Conservation Society E-mail: robsonbight@cetussociety.org