Campground Volunteer Handbook (PDF)
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CAMPGROUND VOLUNTEER HANDBOOK Vermont State Parks Volunteer Program Revised February, 2013 Vermont State Parks Volunteer Handbook First Printing 1999 Second Edition 2004 (edited annually) Written and produced by State of Vermont Department of Forests, Parks & Recreation Office of Volunteer Programs 100 Mineral Street, Suite 304 Springfield, VT 05156 VERMONT CAMPGROUND VOLUNTEER HANDBOOK TABLE OF CONTENTS WELCOME! .................................................................................................................................................. 1 VOLUNTEER PROGRAM OVERVIEW .................................................................................................. 2 HISTORY OF THE VERMONT STATE PARK SYSTEM ..................................................................... 2 PARKS MISSION ........................................................................................................................................ 4 MISSION ................................................................................................................................................... 4 GOALS & OBJECTIVES TO HELP US ACHIEVE THIS MISSION ............................................... 4 Goals ...................................................................................................................................................... 4 Objectives ............................................................................................................................................... 5 GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATION ..................................................................................................... 6 VERMONT STATE GOVERNMENT ................................................................................................... 6 PARK ORGANIZATION ........................................................................................................................ 7 THE VOLUNTEER AGREEMENT ........................................................................................................... 8 VOLUNTEER RESPONSIBILITIES .................................................................................................... 8 STATE OF VERMONT RESPONSIBILITIES .................................................................................... 8 An Open Channel of Communication .................................................................................................. 8 BENEFITS AND REWARDS OF THE PARK VOLUNTEER PROGRAM ......................................... 9 PARK OF THE YEAR PROGRAM ....................................................................................................... 9 JOB DUTIES ...............................................................................................................................................10 PARK OPERATIONS ............................................................................................................................10 PARK DAILY MAINTENANCE ..........................................................................................................10 VISITOR PROGRAMMING .................................................................................................................10 PARK HOURS AND WORK SCHEDULES ..........................................................................................11 AFTER YOUR VOLUNTEER EXPERIENCE ........................................................................................11 TRAINING ...................................................................................................................................................12 ACCIDENTS & EMERGENCIES ............................................................................................................13 INJURIES ON THE JOB .......................................................................................................................13 WORKERS COMPENSATION PROCEDURES ................................................................................13 IMPORTANT POLICIES ...........................................................................................................................15 VISITOR RULES AND REGULATIONS ............................................................................................15 STAFF GUESTS ......................................................................................................................................16 PETS .........................................................................................................................................................16 PUBLIC RELATIONS POLICY ...........................................................................................................16 TELEPHONE USE .................................................................................................................................17 INTERNET USE…...……………………………………………..…………………………………......17 VEHICLE USE ........................................................................................................................................17 USE OF PERSONAL VEHICLE FOR OFFICIAL BUSINESS .........................................................18 APPENDIX ..................................................................................................................................................19 APPENDIX A. Regional Staff Contacts ...............................................................................................20 APPENDIX B. Volunteer Program Brochure ..................................... Error! Bookmark not defined. APPENDIX C. Volunteer Review .........................................................................................................22 APPENDIX D. Volunteer Time Report ................................................................................................24 APPENDIX E. Volunteer Agreement.....................................................................................................25 APPENDIX F. State Parks Locator ......................................................................................................26 - i - WELCOME! Dear Park Volunteer, Welcome to the Vermont State Parks team! We are proud of our long tradition of offering high quality outdoor recreation opportunities for Vermonters and their guests. Each summer we assemble a team of the very best people we can find to provide our critical front line service more than 900,000 park visitors. As one of our campground volunteers, you play a vital role in our success. It is challenging, rewarding and fun work in an environment that can’t be beat! You are as much a part of our team as anyone else and we are so grateful you have agreed to contribute your time and energy to our good cause. Your success is important to us and we are all ready to support you in any way we can. This manual is intended to be your guide to our organization so you can get a general idea how we operate, what our expectations are and where you can go for support and for answers to your questions. We hope you will refer to it often and that you find it helpful. Good luck and thank you! The Vermont State Parks Management Team - 1 - VOLUNTEER PROGRAM OVERVIEW The Vermont State Parks Volunteer Program was adopted in 1986 to recruit volunteers to assist paid staff with daily operation and maintenance of the park system. Since then, the program has grown from a handful of parks with limited volunteer amenities to nearly 40 parks with spots for campground volunteers to stay on an extended schedule. Each year, volunteers contribute more than 20,000 hours of service to the park system as a whole. Volunteers receive many benefits when committing to performing volunteer service at a park. These include campsites with hookups, uniforms, identification and discounts at various Vermont attractions. Volunteers help with park operations, maintenance, and visitor programming. The program aims to match a volunteer’s skills, interests, and abilities with the needs of parks. Some volunteers that come to Vermont are seasoned veterans who bring a lengthy background of volunteer service. For others, it is their first experience with volunteering in a park. Many volunteers like it so much, they return for years to come. A testament to the growing popularity of Vermont’s Volunteer Program is the lengthening waiting list and many returnees. We strive to be upfront and clear about duties and expectations in order to provide the most rewarding and satisfying experience possible. HISTORY OF THE VERMONT STATE PARK SYSTEM The Vermont State Park system was established in 1924 with a donation of land in the town of Charlotte known as Mount Philo State Park. Mrs. Frances Humphreys gave the land to the people of the State of Vermont for perpetual recreational use and enjoyment. Eight years later, in 1932, the Civilian Conservation Corps started developing the Park system beginning with Allis State Park in Brookfield. Between 1932 and 1942, more than one-third of Vermont’s State Parks were constructed by the CCC, a national work relief project during the Great Depression. The CCC offered employment to young men, provided job training, room and board, and a salary (the majority was sent home to families). The Corps was under direct control of the military, but the U.S. Departments of Interior and Agriculture coordinated the CCC's work projects. The peacetime army undertook assignments that conserved and developed the nation's natural resources. Within the Vermont State Park system, roads, bridges,