In Episode 264, Tanner Huckaby describes volunteering at the USACE Keystone Lake project
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This week, I will be interviewing a representative from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers about volunteer opportunities to work near Tulsa, Okla.
Tanner Huckaby is natural resources specialist for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. It’s a job he has held for three years. Tanner works at the Keystone Lake project, just west of Tulsa. It is a sprawling lake spanning 26,000 water acres, and is well known for fishing.
He is looking for a variety of volunteers who like working outdoors to help with beautification and improvement projects. They do things like make garden beds, help maintain trails and even install fish habitats in addition to routine work, like picking up trash and trimming trees.
Army Corp of Engineers projects are a hidden gem in the outdoor recreation industry. The parks are always beautiful and often built on or near lakes and rivers, which makes a plethora of outdoor recreation opportunities possible.
The Keystone Lake project is no different. In fact, that U.S. Army Corps of Engineers district also includes Heyburn Lake and Arcadia Lake as well.
Tanner said Keystone Lake emphasizes the quality of campsites over quantity. It is something I have witnessed at U.S. Army Corps of Engineers campgrounds I have visited.
A unique aspect of volunteering at the Keystone Lake project is that work schedules are completely flexible. Workampers commit to volunteering 24 hours a week in exchange for a free full-hookup RV site. But, they can determine how and when they schedule those hours.
They can work a few hours every day, or pack all the hours in over a few days in order to have more time to explore the region. Another unique thing about Keystone Lake is the project contracts with third-party companies to clean the bathrooms and mow the grass, which means Workampers don’t do that.
There are not many administrative jobs for volunteers to do at the project, so Tanner wants people to know they will be involved in activities to enhance the quality and beauty of the project.
Tanner said Workampers can commit to volunteering for a few weeks, a few months, an entire season or all year, if they wish. The project accepts singles, couples and families. He would like to work with volunteers who have integrity and a good work ethic.
There is plenty to do in that area. Tulsa is only a few minutes away, and Oklahoma City is about 90 minutes away. The project is located four hours from Dallas, and about three hours from Springfield, Mo., and 90 minutes from Arkansas.
Visitors can still enjoy remnants of the original Route 66, and scenic beauty is prevalent in the area. That means there is plenty of opportunity for hiking and biking in addition to visiting museums and many state parks.
For more information on the project, people can visit the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers website or call Tanner directly at 918-340-9754. The project also has a page on Facebook at www.facebook.com/usacetulsa.
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Opportunities exist for solos, couples and families, whether they are full-time, part-time, seasonal and even long-term jobs. Some are income opportunities and others involve volunteering at locations throughout the United States. Go to workamper.com/fe to meet the featured employers today.
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That’s all I have for this week’s show. Please tune in again next week for another fun interview. Thanks for listening to the Workamper Show.
