All volunteers
must be 16 years or
older. If under 18, a parent or guardian must accompany the
minor at all times while volunteering in the field or in the
lab.
Please complete steps 1- 4 listed
below:
-
Please print and complete the
volunteer application
and
liability waiver.
-
Mail your completed paperwork to (or bring
it with you to orientation):
Dr. Steven Wallace
Gray Fossil Site
C/O Physics, Astronomy &
Geology
70636 ETSU
Johnson City, TN 37614
-
Attend Volunteer Orientation (usually 2 hours).
Once completed, you can decide whether you want to work in
the lab and/or in the field.
-
Schedule time to volunteer:
Field work
- The “field season” typically runs
May-September.
Lab Work
- The lab is open to volunteers year round.
Please call Jeff
Supplee or April Nye at 423-439-7428 if you want to volunteer.
Space is limited, so always call ahead when you wish to
volunteer. For safety and logistical reasons, only 5 volunteers can participate at a
time in the lab (10 max in the field) to ensure the quality of the experience.
General routes a perspective
volunteer can take:
· If you are not sure exactly what
volunteering entails, then attend one of our Volunteer Overviews
before your official Volunteer Orientation.
The overview is an optional session that can be attended on the third Tuesday
of each month. Please call for reservations.
· Or if you are certain that you only want to
work in the field (or the lab), you MUST still attend a Volunteer Orientation.
In either case, call April Season Nye,
one of our lab supervisors, at
423-439-7428 to schedule the two-hour MANDATORY Volunteer Orientation.
Volunteer Overviews – This gives
a perspective volunteer more information about opportunities
to become involved with the Gray Fossil Site and typically lasts
about 1 ½ hours. We will meet at the Lab (B23 Brown
Hall - ETSU Campus) the third
Tuesday of every month at 9am, 1pm and 6pm. Please be sure to call the lab and ask for April Season Nye,
our lab supervisor, at
423-439-7428 to reserve your space.
Volunteer Orientations - This step
is required whether you go to an overview or not,
and is designed to improve the volunteer's experience both in the lab and in the field. April
Season Nye will oversee prospective volunteers during this two-hour
training. The volunteer will learn about lab
techniques; how to differentiate bone from wood, rock or
other material commonly found at the dig site; how to use
lab and site tools; and how to best assist the staff. It will be a
fun time and a great learning experience for all.
Other
Field Season typically runs from May
through September, Monday through Friday. We will work Saturdays
on occasion based on need and volunteer interest (so if you wish
to work Saturdays, arrangements can be made).
The lab is open to volunteers
Monday-Friday (9am-5pm), and until 8pm on Tuesday
evenings. Again, we are able to accommodate 5
volunteers at any given day or time, so please call ahead.
Please remember that although the
field season comes to an end, the lab is available to
volunteers all year.
Updated: April 2006
