Volunteering as Lighthouse Hosts -> What Do You Actually DO?
I’m sure all you folks are sitting on the edge of your seats practically bursting with anticipation at how our new job is going. I’ve actually got a few posts lined up on the whole volunteering thing since I know many RVers are interested, and hopefully the readers that are “old hands” at this won’t mind my amateur attempts at explaining how it all works.
For those of you who follow the blog you’ll know we got the job applying to Oregon State Park Volunteer Services in ~mid-May. There were several reasons we chose Oregon and particularly the job of interpretive hosts which I’ll write about in my next post, but for now I’ll just put you through a typical day so you can get a feel of what we actually do here.
Now every lighthouse is a little different and host duties vary some depending on where you go. The Coquille River Lighthouse happens to be the smallest on the OR coast so everything is handled in 2 daily shifts by two “fulltime” lighthouse host couples and two “relief” couples. They take care of opening, hosting and closing the lighthouse each day and are responsible for just about everything to do with welcoming and (hopefully) educating visitors a little about this lovely, historic place. Basically while you’re on duty, the lighthouse is entirely yours and you even get the keys to boot! Here’s a sprinkling of our duties:
1/ Work Hours – The lighthouse hosts operate in 3-hour shifts (so one AM 11-2 shift and one PM 2-5 shift each day). There’s a little work before and after each shift so it ends up being a total of around 4 hours/day. The “fulltime” hosts work Wed-Sun and get Mon & Tues off (during while time “relief” hosts take over).
2/ Downstairs Fog Signal Room & Gift Shop – Coquille has a cool elongated octagonal room attached to the tower that originally housed the equipment for the steam-powered Daboll fog horn. These days the room functions as a history room and small gift shop. My job is to welcome people to the room, tell them a little history about the place and handle gift shop sales. I’ll also organize folks for the tours to the tower.
3/ Upstairs Interpretive Tours – Coquille offers free tours into the tower so Paul’s job is to be there to welcome the tours as I send them up and tell them about the history of the lighthouse and area. He basically spends all day jabbering which, as a former sales person, he is supremely well adapted to do.
4/ Odds and Ends – Outside of the tours & sales there’s a few odds and ends we do such as closing out the register each day, keeping track of the number of visitors, doing inventory once a week, sweeping the path to the lighthouse and wiping down dirt every now and then.
Easy, peasy right?
And indeed after training, reading the volunteer handbook a dozen times and donning the all-important volunteer vest I felt more than ready to handle the task. All this despite the fact that I’m by no means a natural history buff (having a rather pathetically poor memory of dates) and the fact that the sales register at the lighthouse seems to have been built around the turn of the century, requires everything to be entered in magical (or so it seems) code and functions as reliably as a crabby, old cat. No problem, honey…bring it on!
Now, as everyone knows there’s nothing like a bursting confidence to ensure the universe finds a way to give you a good dose of humility.
And that’s exactly what happened….
First day on the job, spanking new and sparkly eager with 5 total minutes to my volunteer name, the ‘ol register decides to give out. Without any warning the cranky machine popped up a random error code and started beeping non-stop in a high-pitched raise-the-hair-on-your-neck kinda tone. Not even “old hands” Gary & Nita (our co-hosts) had seen this one before. There was nothing in the book about this, nothing at all and there were at least 10 people milling around waiting for me to get started…aaaaaaaah….panic time! After fiddling desperately with the thing for 20 minutes or so we give up and move to ‘ol-fashioned pen & paper mode. 20 minutes later and I’m (sorta) in control of the existing crowd, apart of course from the 8 kids that are running around with the display items and the folks asking me a question about the structure outside which I know absolutely nothing about. Two and a half hours later we close the doors and breathe a collective sigh of relief. Phew…we made it…barely!
The next day our shift opens to a more organized (and humbled) yours truly, but manages to set the record of the year for visitors (116 in total). Paul has gotten into a nice groove up in the tower and is managing the day without back pain (a huge bonus) while I’m sorta, kinda, almost in control of the downstairs. I ALSO know what that structure is outside now, and can even throw in a few actual (real) stories about shipwrecks and lighthouse duties. Even the ICR (idiotic cash register) cooperates this day. I get my very first “wow, that is so cool” response which immediately makes me feel much, much more valuable.
So, that in a nut shell is what we do. We’re into our 4th day now and have the routine down to a much more relaxed & enjoyable pace. Visitors (for the very most part) are interested and happy to be there, the weather has been absolutely rippingly lovely, and the view out the office window simply can’t be beat. I’ve even managed to make a tentative truce with the ICR. All in all it’s really a very cool stress-free job which has turned out almost exactly as we hoped. Our co-hosts and co-park-volunteers are fabulous and we get a free campsite in the lovely state park to boot. Great place, great job and great folks…we are VERY happy to be here!
Nina, Shelia and I are so happy for you and Paul (also glad Paul’s back is back.) Sounds like the 2 of you found a niche in your adventure. Enjoy your weather it is going to be in the 100’s down here in the Central Valley. Looking forward to the next installment.
Lee
Ouch…100’s is hot! We feel very lucky to be here. Not only is the job fun but the weather has been simply perfect. It’s holding at around 70-75 each day and sunny too.
Nina
Of course the worst thing has to happen on your first day.
Did you two shadow the couple who left? I would be a bit nervous that people would ask me so many questions that I had no answer to. How did you and Paul handle those? (If you had any.)
Sounds like a fun position. I love meeting new people. You two looks so professional in your new vests…hehe
We DID actually manage to shadow the couple who left for a day or so and it was a huge help. Lovely folks and they very patiently took us through the basic ins and outs (especially helpful with the ICR).
As for not knowing the answer to stuff, I pretty much just tell people I’m new and don’t happen to know that one, but I can tell them another story which is really interesting and I’ll find out the answer to their question for next time they return. It’s not too bad and you learn more and more each day.
Nina
sounds like there is a bit of a learning curve!..but I am sure by the end of a few weeks..the two of you will be old pros!!
Yup, there’s a bit of a learning curve but you get into a groove pretty fast. After 4 days in we’re already feeling much more relaxed and knowledgable about the history and the job.
Nina
welcome to the hosting family, enjoy! =)
Thanks! We’re really enjoying it so far and can see ourselves continuing to volunteer in the future. It’s a fun and rewarding way to spend time in interesting places.
Nina
Hang in there and you will be a pro in no time…
We’re already feeling a lot more relaxed. Took a few days, but I think we have more or less the hang of it now 🙂
Nina
Indoctrination by fire or by an ICR in this case. Builds character, eh?! Glad to hear you are enjoying it and that Paul’s back is improving.
Haha…yeah, I had to laugh at the situation. Figures the one thing that could go wrong would happen on our very first day. I’ve always liked jumping straight into things head on so I guess it’s in line with my personality LOL. We still had fun, despite the ICR and it sure did build character 🙂
Nina
Paul & Nina, we love your blog! Have fun!
Love having you along for the ride too!
Nina
Very interesting. When we were there we thought the lighthouse was forever close. So is it open only on summer months then ? Glad that both of you are liking your volunteering job and have fun with the ICR.
Yes, it’s mostly summertime -> the lighthouse is open in April Wed-Sun and then daily May through October. It closes for winter.
Nina
It all sounds wonderful and you are doing a great job of rolling with it. Thanks for sharing what you do!
Thanks Marcia….it’s always best to roll with the waves 🙂
Nina
Can’t you just imagine the ICR thinking….hmmmm how about a really nice loud noise to start her off with the proper respect. This just looks like a great job. You two have the luck that’s for sure. What a view, they might have to throw me out in October.
Hehe…I think you’re right! I swear that machine has a life of it’s own.
Nina
glad it is working out…first days are always a killer no matter where or what..you know murphy’s law…if it can it will…and since I have been there I can picture it all…and when I was there all my questions were about birds…:) didn’t I pick the right ones to ask…
You did pick well indeed..we wouldn’t have ANY answers on birds. Going smoother and smoother everyday at the job…hit another record today (130 visitors)
Nina
You have such a cute way with words, really enjoyed your post. What a great experience…good for you both! 116 degrees in the shade here at Slab City…I would be freezing in 70 degree weather, hehe :^)
You’re spending SUMMER in the SLABS!!!! OMG!! You are made of much tougher stuff than I.
Nina
Loooove the uniforms, by the way.
I can’t believe you got so many visitors! Before I got to that section in your blog, I’m thinking that you might get up to 6 visitors a day, perhaps even none on quiet days!
And it looks like such a tiny lighthouse, like one or two storeys high??? Or perhaps that’s just the photo? Or perhaps I’m used to staring at HK skyscrapers all day long?
Yeah, yesterday we hit ANOTHER record (130 in the PM shift)…amazing how many folks come out to see this place.
And yes it IS a tiny lighthouse. Pretty much just a small room downstairs and a small 40-foot tower.
Nina
Nina, I absolutely loved your post on Coquille River Lighthouse Hosting! Especially your description of that cranky, idiotic excuse for a cash register, I wanted to chuck that rascal into the ocean and tell Ranger Chris, “the Tsunami ate it!! Honest!” 🙂 Wonderful pictures of your two! I wonder where you got the idea?! LOL
BTW the structure right outside the lighthouse was a stand for a storage building for the oil used in the lighthouse. It needed ventilation and not stored IN the lighthouse.
Kathy Webb
Haha…I think everyone has their struggles with that cash register. Glad to know you enjoyed the post and I was able to share a little “insider” chuckle on that ICR.
And for the first pic we were most DEFINITELY inspired by the lovely shot on your blog. Of course ours is not nearly as nice. There is something really special about the shot you have.
Oh…and I did find out about that outside structure by the time I came back for my second day. Learning more and more everyday 🙂
Nina
Very interesting job. It sounds like you having a great time with it. Love your blog!
Thanks! Glad you’re enjoying the blog.
Nina
Love your blog, we enjoy following your travels and tips. Hope you know there are some geocaches just across the road from the lighthouse. We were trying to remember where we stopped last year when we were up the Oregon Coast and had to look at the geocaching map to see if we stopped near you. We did not but we will have to put that on the list for the next trip. Sounds like you are having fun!
Oh THANKS for reminding me about geocaches in the area. I’ve been so busy I completely forgot to look them up. Will definitely go hunting for some caches after my cousin leaves.
Nina
I sure enjoyed reading about your first day on the job…was it the 4th of July??? Must have been a very busy day. Hope to see you mid-August.
Yup our first day was 4th of July. Nothing quite like jumping in the deep end 🙂
Of course we’ve broken our visitor record twice since then. Things have really been heating up with summer visitors.
Nina
I remember when we stayed at Bullard’s about ten years ago visiting my wife’s dad. It was Memorial Day but cold, foggy and rainy. We could hear the fog horn day and night. Is it at the lighthouse or is it across the river? I’ve been down to the ocean on the other side, but can’t remember. Hope it’s not keeping you awake. Can’t wait to see more posts.
The new automated fog horn is across the river from the lighthouse (on the South Jetty). It’s quite a ways from the campground and honestly hasn’t bothered us at all. We don’t hear it inside our rig and I find it rather soothing when I hear it outside. We’ve had lovely weather here since we arrived, but I know it can get REeeealy chilly and foggy too. I’m sure we’ll get to experience it while we’re here 🙂
Nina