Flagstaff District Volunteer Policies

The Forest Service (FS) welcomes you and thanks you for your interest in our volunteer program. Please let us know if there is anything that we can do for you. Your success is our success!

Volunteers: Things You Need To Know

• Attitude. The Volunteer Program needs people who have a genuine interest in helping the Forest Service pursue its mission: “Caring for the land and serving people.” Volunteers who get the most from the program are those that have a true Volunteer Spirit and do what they do for the satisfaction of knowing they make a difference in the lives of our Forest visitors and to the long-term care of our public lands.
• Status. Volunteers are viewed as regular FS employees; their treatment and job performance should reflect this status. This includes civil rights, ethics and conduct, sexual harassment and representing the Forest Service in a professional, positive light.
• Supervision. Each volunteer will be supervised by one FS employee. The supervisor is the primary contact for the volunteer once assigned and will establish continuity of work assignments.
• Uniforms. Those with regular public contacts should be in uniform or appropriate presentable attire (as designated by the supervisor), presenting a neat and professional public image. When a uniform is required the Forest Service will provide this at no cost to the volunteer.
• Worksite. In order to minimize disruptions to other volunteers and employees, off-duty hours are not to be spent at the work site (field or office).
• Vehicles. Those who drive government vehicles need to take the defensive driving (DD) course every three years and have a valid driver’s license for any State. Until the course is attended, each FS supervisor will train and test each volunteer on vehicle use. This test will be documented.  If the DD course is attended, please provide a copy of certificate card to the volunteer coordinator. Vehicle use is based on job assignments and work needs. All vehicle use is arranged by prior agreement/schedule only.
• Buildings. FS facilities are available to active volunteers for use (e.g. showers, exercise room, etc.).

Personal Use of Government Equipment and Facilities. When in doubt, ask. In general: phones can be used for local calls and for card calls where no amount of the call can be billed back to the Forest Service. However, personal calls should not be made on duty and should be done after normal office hours, as each office has a limited number of outgoing lines. Exceptions can be made for:

• Emergencies and special time considerations. Calls should not interfere with the work of other employees and volunteers. Computers, faxes, copiers, scanners, etc. are not for any personal use. The local library has computers available with Internet access. Office Max across the street has all the other services available.
• Horses. All contact with the horses must be from outside of their corral unless the annual horse training has been attended. Horses are not to be ridden or used outside of assigned duties.
• Safety. Volunteers are not to work alone with heavy or dangerous equipment or in remote settings. Volunteer must attend monthly District safety meetings unless scheduled to be off or at another duty site. Volunteers may also initiate and/or attend Tailgate Safety Sessions. Your regular duties will require you to be involved with several safety meetings over the course of your stay with the Forest Service.
• Radios. It is very important for all persons going into the field to have communications with a District Office or Dispatch at all times in case of an emergency. Instruction will be given on basic two-way radio use and all volunteers will have radios when in the field.
• Termination. FS has the right to discontinue volunteer agreements at any time.
• Probation. Volunteers will be in a probationary period for the first month of their 3 to 7 month commitment. After one month, the supervisor and volunteer(s) will: discuss the probation period; determine if it is working well; identify and address any necessary changes; or if the situation is not in the best interest of either party, then the agreement should be terminated.

Orientation/Training. Each volunteer must attend an annual volunteer/employee orientation to learn FS policy and procedure and how to work safely in the FS work environment. If you are asked to work on a project where you have not had training and/or a safety session, ask your supervisor to get you the proper training, don’t be shy. We want our volunteers to be safe, happy, productive, and having fun!!!

 

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Volunteers Assigned to RV/Trailer Sites

The RV camp, affectionately named Camp Elden, is managed for volunteers, with other use by special exception only. The reason for this management focus is due to a limited number of spaces available, and we are not able to provide employee housing. Trailer space is allocated fairly based on District needs. Facilities such as these are under close scrutiny, and we must be careful how we manage and care for them or we might lose them.

Things You Need To Know:

• Facility Manager. The RV/trailer site manager will be designated at the beginning of the field season and will be responsive to maintenance needs.
• Work Hours. Schedules vary dependent on the program each volunteer is enrolled in and are discussed in negotiations with the Volunteer Coordinator and the Volunteer’s Supervisor.
• Time Keeping. Volunteers will be required to track their work hours on forms provided by the Volunteer Coordinator. The Volunteer’s supervisor or the Volunteer Coordinator will provide direction of hour hours are tracked for Forest Service purposes.
• Period of Stay. Minimum of three months stay between May and September for the summer program. Occupancy must correspond directly with volunteer work.
• Storage. Stored personal equipment will be kept to a minimum, as approved by the site managers, and in such a way that it is not an eyesore or detracts from the overall visual appearance of the facility.
• Decorating. Sites will be maintained in a neat manner, and improvements, additions, signs, decorations, gardens, etc. must be approved by the site manager prior to their being constructed or installed.
• Standards. The RV camp will be managed to FS facility standards. The Forest Service will provide information and direction for improvements, utilities, natural resource protection, and personal equipment.
• Appearance. The site will be managed so as to appear to be a natural forest setting, (e.g., as a FS campground would appear) and vegetation will be protected as necessary to meet that goal.
• Utilities. Because of the susceptibility of below-ground utility lines (water & sewer) to damage due to freezing and other factors, the engineer and facility manager will determine standards for utility system management, including necessary protection measures, seasons of use, etc.
• Mail. Personal mail (letters, magazines, packages, etc.) cannot be accommodated through Forest Service Offices. If volunteers wish to receive mail during their service time they must make their own arrangements through a local post office or private mail service. Due to past difficulties with local mail services needing proof of a volunteer’s situation and location of temporary residence, the Volunteer Coordinator has a letter that you can request, addressed to the Post Master, which makes this process much easier. (A similar situation exists with the local Library for use of computers and issuance of library cards for book checkouts. A letter can be requested for this as well.)
• Pets. Camp Elden is located within Coconino County and adjacent to the City of Flagstaff; pertinent county pet laws and leash laws will be followed. Problem animals may be reason to discontinue volunteer agreement. Pet owners are required to clean up after their pets within the camp. Pets that must be kept outside at all times or during the course of the owner’s work day will not be permitted.
• Community Respect. Because all our RV/Trailer facilities are arranged in a way that all residents are close together, in close proximity to an administrative work site, school and private homes, it is imperative that each resident respect the community atmosphere, each person’s privacy, and understand that everyone has different work-time/off-time schedules and personal preferences.
• Visitors. Overnight visitors are limited to a one-week stay in camp with notification given in advance to the volunteer’s supervisor and the Volunteer Coordinator, unless other arrangements are made (i.e. finding accommodations in town). Visitors should respect the nature and purpose of the RV/Trailer camp, respect all other residents’ space and keep noise to a minimum especially in morning and evening hours. Visitors will not be allowed to work with volunteers and should not be visiting administrative facilities where the general public is not allowed.
• Fire Restrictions. It is not uncommon for this area to be placed under various levels of Fire Restrictions and Forest Closures in the summer season. Camp Elden is part of the Peaks Ranger Station Administrative Site, which sits on part of the boundary between the City of Flagstaff and the Coconino National Forest. Camp Elden will be subject to the same fire restrictions as the public. One example would be if campfires and barbeques with wood or charcoal were prohibited on the Forest, they would also be prohibited in Camp Elden. Camp Elden has a group barbeque and fire pit for get-togethers and individual use by District volunteers and employees.

Note: Fire restrictions and Forest Closures can significantly alter volunteer duties some years. Volunteers may be limited in their duties or duties may change to aid the closure or restrictions effort. Volunteers will not be put in law enforcement or firefighting situations, nor will they be put near a fire setting where specially trained, certified, and paid employees are required. Any changes in a Volunteer’s duties must be agreed upon by the Volunteer, her/his Supervisor, and the Volunteer Coordinator.