Volunteers Needed for the Pony Patrol

Contact: Sabrina Godin, 252-838-8906

HARKERS ISLAND, NC - Cape Lookout National Seashore, the N.C. Coastal Reserve and National Estuarine Research Reserve, and the Foundation for Shackleford Horses, Inc., are partnering again this year to offer a volunteer opportunity known as the Pony Patrol. These volunteers help to raise community awareness, protect wild horses, and increase visitor compliance with regards to wild horse rules and guidelines at Shackleford Banks and Rachel Carson Reserve. In 2024, this program was successfully run on Shackleford Banks and Rachel Carson Coastal Reserve with volunteers conducting 254 patrols and interacting with over 3800 visitors.

Pony Patrol volunteers will work three to four-hour shifts, walking Rachel Carson Reserve and/or Shackleford Banks and talking with visitors about how to best experience the beauty and natural behavior of the horses. Pony Patrol volunteers will receive training in effectively communicating with visitors; in understanding the importance of giving wild horses space to be 'wild'; and in the knowledge and skills to protect both the visitors' safety and the wild horses' welfare, so that they can answer questions about the horses and their natural barrier island homes.

Candidates must be at least 18 years old, a US Citizen / Permanent Resident, and be physically able to walk the islands in a dynamic setting, consisting of sandy terrain, extreme sun, heat, humidity, wind, and buggy environments. Pony Patrol volunteers will be expected to work three to four-hour shifts, at least three times per month. The positions will be competitive because there are limited spots available.

Interested candidates should apply on-line at: https://tinyurl.com/PonyPatrol2025

The application period is open on Tuesday, January 21, 2025 and will close on Friday, February, 21, 2025. Applicants must apply to both locations if they want to volunteer for Rachel Carson Reserve and Shackleford Banks. Selected candidates will be contacted for an interview in early March. For more information on Cape Lookout National Seashore, go to: www.nps.gov/calo. For more information on Rachel Carson Reserve, go to: www.deq.nc.gov/coastalreserve. For more information on the Foundation for Shackleford Horses, go to: www.shackleford-horses.org.