Santa Ysabel General Store needs volunteers

Santa Ysabel General Store will open to the public on Oct. 6, and the Wildlife Research Institute (WRI) is looking for volunteers to help run it.

When Save Our Heritage Organization (SOHO) purchased the historic general store late last year, WRI joined a coalition of nonprofit agencies to operate the site as a nature interpretive center, mercantile and visitor center.

Volunteers are needed to staff the store at 30275 State Route 78 in Santa Ysabel on Saturdays and Sundays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Scheduling can be flexible. Volunteers will work with WRI research associates and board members who will also volunteer.

Responsibilities will include educating the public about WRI, answering questions about the backcountry, and selling WRI merchandise. The institute will hold an orientation/training day the week of Sept. 16.

To sign up, call 760-789-3992 or email wildliferesearchinstitute@gmail.com by Sept.10.