Izembek Refuge: Izembek Quonset Hut Shuffle

Project Name	Izembek Quonset Hut Shuffle
Project Number	421
Location	Refuge Headquarters in Cold Bay
Dates	Over Labor Day, the end of August and early September
Duration	10 days
Number of Volunteers Needed	1-2 FILLED
Description	Wouldn\'t you be willing to do some heavy lifting, sorting and filing for the Izembek Refuge if it got you there in silver salmon season and for the Cold Bay Salmon Derby. Birding should be excellent as geese arrive in waves to stage their migration in the famous Izembek Lagoon. By day, you would need to sort, organize and lift boxes and gear to make room in their storage sheds for supplies which must be moved out of a WWII era Quonset hut because it is scheduled for demolition. You would have evenings and the weekend to explore the refuge. Izembek is a famous refuge with a tiny staff and they literally have no one to help with this necessary project. You will probably also help with the Salmon Derby as the refuge runs it and if you have woodworking and car mechanic skills, the refuge would put them to good use. The refuge would supply housing in their bunkhouse, food and occasional use of a refuge vehicle. Friends will pay airfare from Anchorage to Cold Bay for one person and the refuge will likely come up with airfare for a second person. Izembek National Wildlife Refuge lies between the highly productive waters of the Bering Sea and the Gulf of Alaska. The heart of the refuge is Izembek Lagoon, a coastal ecosystem that\'s home to one of the world\'s largest eelgrass (Zostera marina) beds. Hundreds of thousands of waterfowl, including virtually the entire population of Pacific black brant, visit the lagoon to feed on eelgrass and rest during migration. From brown bears to caribou to all 5 species of Pacific salmon, more than 200 species call this refuge home. Topography stretches from sea level to rugged volcanic mountains exceeding 9,000 feet, with coastal marshes and berry-producing, low-growing bush tundra interspersed with numerous lakes, ponds and alder brush-lined streams. Call Leticia Melendez at the refuge for more details 907 532-2445. You must be a Friends member and must submit a Volunteer Application.
Skills Needed	No experience necessary but must be physically capable of lifting up to 50 lbs. You must be willing to put in a full day\'s work on tasks which at times might be tedious. You need to be flexible and comfortable sharing bunkhouse accommodations. This is not required but if you have woodworking or mechanic skills on heavy equipment or cars please say so in your application.
Contact	Leticia Melendez, leticia_melendez@fws.gov ; (907)532-2445.