Rescue & Stranding Response (R&SR) Program Additional Information and Requirements:
IMPORTANT NOTE: In order to participate as a volunteer in the Rescue & Stranding Response (R&SR) Program, volunteers will be required to demonstrate an increased level of time commitment and physical fitness and must also purchase required personal equipment.
Volunteers in this program are also REQUIRED to have access to a truck or full-sized van. No exceptions are allowed.
Volunteers in this program MUST BE U.S. CITIZENS due to requirements to access certain government facilities. No exceptions are allowed.
As a volunteer in our Rescue & Stranding Response (R&SR) Program you will be performing activity that has a direct impact on the health and conservation of Hawaiian monk seals, sea turtles, seabirds, dolphins and whales.
Below are the types of activities to be conducted by volunteers in the Rescue & Stranding Response (R&SR) Program. Applicants for this program will be interviewed prior to acceptance into training. Members of the Rescue & Stranding Response (R&SR) Program team must be willing to commit to additional time for training, a greater level of monthly activity and the willingness to complete necessary training and certifications.
As a volunteer in this program, you will be asked to do the following:
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Have access to one of these required types of vehicles. Because of the nature of the work conducted in the R&SR Program,
only
these vehicles will be acceptable. There are
NO
exceptions.
Ford Ranger, 150, 250, 350 or 450 truck
Toyota Tacoma or Tundra truck
Chevrolet Colorado or Silverado truck
Dodge Ram 1500, 2500 or 3500 truck
GMC Sierra or Canyon truck
Nissan Frontier or Titan truck
Honda Ridgeline truck
Ford Freestyle or Transit van
Dodge Ram ProMaster van
Mercedes-Benz Sprinter van
GMC Savana van
Nissan NV van
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Respond in the field to reports of live or dead Hawaiian monk seals, sea turtles, seabirds, dolphins or whales.
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Assist with or perform animal assessments, disentanglement, recovery, stranding response or other intevention activity.
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Conduct surveys for protected marine animals in nearshore waters or on offshore islets.
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Assist in natural disasters or environmental incidents affecting animal health.
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Transport live or dead seals, seabirds, sea turtles, dolphins, and small whales.
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While performing the above activities, conduct outreach to the public.
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Be on call and ready to perform ALL of these activities during your volunteer shifts.
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Maintain the minimum activity requirements for this program (see below).
Additional volunteer requirements for the Rescue & Stranding Response (R&SR) Program:
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Meet all of the general HMAR volunteer requirements listed above.
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Due to the need to access certain government facilities, participants in the Rescue & Stranding Response program must be U.S. citizens.
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Able to walk in sandy, rocky and unstable shoreline conditions for at least 2 miles.
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Demonstrate the ability to lift and carry 75 pounds for 100 feet in beach and rocky conditions.
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Demonstrate the ability to swim for 100 yards and tread water for 10 minutes.
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Ability to conduct outdoor activity during hot, rainy or windy conditions.
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Able and willing to work on your feet in these conditions for a minimum of 6 consecutive hours.
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Ability to maintain a calm demeanor in potentially stressful conditions.
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Rescue & Stranding Response (R&SR) volunteers must be willing to transport live or dead marine animals in the bed of their truck or in their van.
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Possess a valid driver’s license and vehicle insurance with minimum Hawaii liability coverage.
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Possess a digital camera (a smartphone is not sufficient) with at least a 35X zoom. The digital camera must have the ability to upload photos taken to your smartphone so they may be emailed from the field in real time. This can be accomplished using WiFi, Bluetooth or through the use of a data card upload cable.
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Possess a set of binoculars with at least 10X magnification.
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Open ocean small boat operations experience highly desired.
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HAZWOPER and ICS training and certifications.(This must be completed within the first 12 months of program participation.)
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First aid, CPR and AED certifications.(This must be completed within the first 12 months of program participation.)
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Lifeguard certification. (It is highly desired that you complete this training within the first 12 months of program participation.
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State of Hawaii boat operators certification. (This must be completed within the first 12 months of program participation.
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Pinniped, sea turtle or seabird handling experience or training desired.
IMPORTANT NOTE: Some Rescue & Stranding Response (R&SR) Program activities will involve interactions with animals that are expired and in various stages of decomposition. Participants must be able to see and do unpleasant things without feeling sick.
Volunteer activity requirements:
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Volunteers on this team commit to a minimum of 1 six-hour activity session each week, preferably on the same day and time period each week.
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Minimum activity requirement is 2 years.
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Only applicants agreeing to the minimum activity commitment will be accepted into the Rescue & Stranding Response Program.