VOLUNTEERS ARE ESSENTIAL IN ENABLING SCIENCE AND EDUCATION AT STONEROSE INTERPRETIVE CENTER, REPUBLIC, WASHINGTON

The Stonerose Interpretive Center in Republic, Washington is a Non-Profit 501-(c)3 corporation whose paid staff consists of a single year-round employee and 2-5 summer positions. Consequently the Interpretive Center relies heavily on the help of volunteers to accomplish our mission. Since 2005, volunteers have provided invaluable help during the summer season in such areas as fossil preparation, visitor service in the Interpretive Center gift shop, and outreach in schools and trade shows. During the 2010 collecting season, Ethan McCollum and Travis Wellman have been the primary volunteers, developing skills in the areas of fossil preparation and identification, customer service, and database processing. In June, we processed a 300-specimen loan of fossil insects with the help of 11 walk-in volunteers from the University of Washington who came and made short work of it. Without the help of volunteers we would be not only short-staffed during the collecting season but many of the programs provided during the offseason would be impossible. 2009-10 winter volunteers made presentations to over 300 students in grades 4, 5, 7, 8 and 11. In April, Stonerose participated in Dino Days at the Burke Museum of Natural History and Culture, University of Washington, Seattle. Over 1,200 people came to the booth and thanks to our 9 wonderful volunteers, each individual got to split open a rock and each child got a fossil. In the last few years Stonerose has attracted many types of volunteers. These include AmeriCorps placements, summer interns and walk-in volunteers, high school students working on community service hours and senior projects. Each one of these volunteer staff members has learned something working here whether it be identifying common fossils or customer service. Additionally each one brings something unique to the enterprise. Every volunteer has the opportunity to gain an extensive knowledge about fossils, as well as business skills. Some long term volunteers have also gained full time paid positions that connect them to the geosciences professional community. Stonerose provides substantial economic stimulus to Ferry County and regional tourism for eastern Washington. Without the help of volunteers we would not be able to provide the wonderful services that allow us to run this unique business.