Volunteers in the National Forests Program
We live in a society that always has depended on volunteers of different kinds, some who can give money, others who give time, and a great many who will freely give their special skills, full-time or part-time. If you look closely you will see that almost anything that really matters to us, anything that embodies our deepest commitment to the way human life should be lived and cared for depended on some form, more often many forms, of volunteerism.
Margaret Mead and Rhoda
Metraux—"Aspects of the Present"
(1980)
Volunteers in the National Forests Act
The Volunteers in the National Forests (VIF) program is authorized by the Volunteers in the National Forests Act of 1972 (appendix A). Before passage of the act, the Forest Service did not have the authority to accept voluntary services or to reimburse individuals for personal expenses. The Volunteers in the National Forests Act provided the authority for the Forest Service to work with volunteers and recognized a growing and diverse population who wanted to give their time and skills to public service (figure 6).
Figure 6—A volunteer helps the Forest Service with
wildlife
viewing. Courtesy
of Ginger Hamilton, Forest
Service, Northern Region
Volunteers are enrolled by the Forest Service under this act. Volunteers receive no salary or wages from the Forest Service and give their time and talents to further the mission of the Forest Service.
A volunteer enrolls by signing a negotiated agreement with a Forest Service officer, either agreement form FS-1800-7 for individual volunteers or FS-1800-8 for sponsored or group voluntary services. A sponsored volunteer is a participant in the volunteers program who is supervised by another institution, organization, or by a unit of State or local government.
A volunteer may not begin service or travel on an assignment until the agreement is signed. The agreement is the official instrument for authorization of any reimbursement for incidental expenses.
A volunteer is not considered a Federal employee and is not subject to the provisions of laws relating to Federal employment except for the purpose of tort claims or work-related injuries (Federal Employees Compensation Act).
Civil Rights Responsibilities
The Volunteers in the National Forests Program is a federally administered program that falls under the authority of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended. Therefore, the program must be nondiscriminatory and accessible to everyone who is eligible for volunteer service.
In addition, volunteers represent the Forest Service (example: campground hosts) and, depending on the volunteer assignment, may actually deliver the program to the public. It is critical that volunteers understand their roles and responsibilities to deliver the program, communicate with customers, and comply with the agency’s nondiscrimination policy.
Volunteers do not have the same employment protections as Forest Service employees. Title VII of the Civil Rights Act protects applicants, employees, and retirees against discrimination in Federal employment and benefits, all of whom can file equal employment opportunity complaints if they experience discrimination.
Volunteers and the public are protected from discrimination through Title VI of the Civil Rights Act and related equal opportunity laws. Additionally, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 mandates the agency provide access to programs and activities for persons with disabilities. Therefore, the Forest Service must equitably offer volunteer opportunities to the interested public. If individuals experience discrimination, they have the right to file a Program Discrimination Complaint per Departmental Regulation 4300-3.
USDA Nondiscrimination Statement
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, and where applicable, sex, marital status, parental status, religion, sexual orientation, genetic information, political beliefs, reprisal, or because all or a part of an individual's income is derived from any public assistance program. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication of program information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA's TARGET Center at 202–720–2600 (voice and TDD). To file a complaint of discrimination, write to USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20250-9410, or call (800) 795-3272 (voice) or (202) 720-6382 (TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.
The Volunteers in the National Forests Program Directives
The Forest Service Manual (FSM) contains legal authorities, objectives, policies, responsibilities, instructions, and guidance needed on a continuing basis by Forest Service line officers and primary staff to plan and execute assigned programs and activities. The authority and policies for the volunteers program is found in FSM 1800, chapter 30 at http://www.fs.fed.us/im/directives/fsm/1800/ (click on 1800 or 1830.doc). Under sec. 1830.2, the objectives of the volunteers program are:
- To recruit, train, and use the services of
volunteers to complement regular Forest
Service staff in interpretive functions, visitor
services, conservation measures, and development,
or other activities in or related to areas
administered by the Secretary of Agriculture
through the Forest Service.
- To provide the volunteer with an experience
that is personally rewarding and challenging.
- To maintain and improve the level and quality of service to the public.
For additional information and answers to frequently asked questions on the volunteers program, refer to the Forest Service Web sites at http://fsweb.wo.fs.fed.us/rhwr/yvh/ and http://www.fs.fed.us/volunteer/
