Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park Volunteers’ Handbook A Guidebook to the Volunteers-in-Parks (VIP) Program 2010 Edition Table of Contents WELCOME ........................................................................................................................ 4 Preface to the 2009 Handbook ............................................................................................ 5 Introduction ......................................................................................................................... 6 The Purpose of National Parks ....................................................................................... 6 A Brief History of the National Park Service ................................................................. 8 A Brief History of the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park ............... 8 1971 Enabling Legislation; The Park’s Mission Statement ............................................ 9 Volunteer Service in the C&O Canal National Historical Park ........................................ 10 Mission of the C&O Canal National Historical Park’s VIP Program .......................... 10 Volunteer Positions in the C&O Canal National Historical Park ................................. 10 Who Can Volunteer?..................................................................................................... 14 NPS Employees and Family Members as Volunteers .................................................. 15 What Can Volunteers Do? ............................................................................................ 15 Rights and Responsibilities: .............................................................................................. 18 The Volunteer Bill of Rights......................................................................................... 18 Reasonable Expectations of All Volunteers ................................................................. 19 Volunteer Program Operations ......................................................................................... 20 Legal Protections for Volunteers .................................................................................. 20 Use of a Volunteer’s Personal Equipment .................................................................... 21 Volunteer Agreement (VIP Agreement Form (10-85).................................................. 21 Volunteer Uniforms ...................................................................................................... 23 Orientation and Training ............................................................................................... 23 Reporting Volunteer Time, Activities and Statistics .................................................... 24 Recognition and Rewards ............................................................................................. 24 Termination of Voluntary Service ................................................................................ 25 Emergency Responses by Volunteers ............................................................................... 27 Emergency Preparedness .............................................................................................. 27 Training Classes ........................................................................................................ 27 Preparedness Checklist ............................................................................................. 27 Emergency Equipment and Supplies ............................................................................ 27 First-Aid Equipment and Supplies ............................................................................ 27 Communications Equipment ..................................................................................... 28 Emergency Situations ................................................................................................... 28 Critical Incident ........................................................................................................ 28 Threatening Incidents................................................................................................ 28 Weather Emergencies ............................................................................................... 28 Volunteers as First Responders ..................................................................................... 29 Safety of Volunteers ................................................................................................. 29 Protecting the Scene .................................................................................................. 29 Entering and Leaving the Scene ............................................................................... 29 Witnesses and Bystanders ......................................................................................... 29 1 Making Notes ............................................................................................................ 30 A Checklist for Volunteer First Responders ............................................................. 30 Threatening Incident Scene ........................................................................................... 31 Safety of Volunteers ................................................................................................. 31 Fire Scenes ................................................................................................................ 31 Burned-Out or Extinguished Fire .............................................................................. 31 An Active Burning Fire ............................................................................................ 31 Making Notes ............................................................................................................ 31 A Checklist for Volunteer First Responders ............................................................. 31 Weather Emergencies ................................................................................................... 32 Safety of Volunteers ................................................................................................. 32 Monitoring the Weather ............................................................................................ 32 Severe Weather Watches .......................................................................................... 32 Severe Weather Warnings......................................................................................... 33 NOAA Weather Radio All Hazards (NWR) ............................................................. 33 Monitoring NOAA Weather Radio in the Park ........................................................ 34 Advice for All Park Visitors ......................................................................................... 36 Helping Visitors Planning a Long-Distance Towpath Trip ...................................... 37 Frequently-Asked Questions about the C&O Canal ................................................. 40 Frequently Asked Questions about the C&O Canal National Historical Park: ........ 43 Other National Park Service Sites that are Accessible from the C&O Canal:.......... 44 Communication for Volunteers......................................................................................... 46 Preferred Method of Communication ....................................................................... 46 Communication Training for Volunteers: ................................................................. 46 Communication by Cell Phone ................................................................................. 46 Communication by Radio ......................................................................................... 47 Internet Resources and E-mail Communication ....................................................... 57 Appendices ................................................................................................................ 59 C&O Canal NHP....................................................................................................... 65 Great Falls District .................................................................................................... 65 Chesapeake Ohio Canal National Historical Park - Important Phone Numbers .................................................................................................................. 66 The C&O Canal NHP Volunteer Bike Patrol – ................................................................ 69 A Brief History ................................................................................................................. 69 Mission of the Bike Patrol ........................................................................................ 69 JOB DESCRIPTION: BIKE PATROL VOLUNTEER .......................................... 70 CONDUCTING BIKE PATROLS ........................................................................... 72 2 Park Rules and Regulations ...................................................................................... 78 Communication for Bike Patrol Volunteers ............................................................. 79 Bicycle Maintenance and Repairs ............................................................................. 80 2008 Billy Goat Trail Stewards Manual ........................................................................... 84 Appendix 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