About Us |
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Vision |
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Oregon Parks and Recreation Departement offers a variety of volunteer programs supported by two statewide coordinators who work closely with team leaders and park managers by helping them to identify projects, develop volunteer opportunities, help recruit and place volunteers, track program results and provide volunteers with appropriate recognition for their contribution to Oregon's park system.
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Mission Statement |
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OregonParksand Recreation Department
Volunteer Program Mission Statement
The mission of the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department Volunteer Program is to actively promote a mutually rewarding relationship between volunteers who offer their talents, skills and time and staff who will support them in their efforts to cooperatively foster stewardship of our parks, resources and programs.
Objectives
- Actively promote, recruit, orient and train effective volunteers.
- Professionally administer the volunteer program by providing training, support and services to field staff in their work with volunteers.
- Foster and build relationships with community and non‑profit partners.
- Advocate for current and future volunteer opportunities within the Department.
- Communicate the role of the volunteer program to staff and volunteers in the accomplishment of the Department’s 2014 goals.
- Evaluate the on-going effectiveness of the Department’s volunteer program using internal and external evaluation strategies
- Identify growth opportunities that enhance and strengthen the volunteer program in order to proactively meet the Department’s increasing volunteer needs.
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Organization |
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Annual Performance Measures
Volunteer Program History
1979 Host program begins
1986 Enabling legislation allowing OPRD to enter into formal relationships with nonprofits
1988 First statewide Volunteer Coordinator hired
1991 First Park Host Rendezvous held for park hosts
1993 Partners in Parks program begins, changed to Adopt-a-Park in 1997
1995 Standard system for managing volunteers developed and implemented
1996 Standard training materials, orientation and Coop manual written
1997 Northwest Ambassadors program begins
1999 Second Statewide Volunteer Coordinator hired
2000 Volunteer tracking software installed and park staff trained
2001 The Volunteer Voice newsletter published
2002 Youth Service Award program developed and implemented
2004 Criminal history and driving checks required for camp hosts and misc. volunteers
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Programs |
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Volunteers are a crucial component of Oregon Parks and Recreation Department's workforce. Public safety, visitor information, maintenance, and store sales are all measurably better because of their involvement. They extend the interpretive and educational porgrams in the parks. Their worth is not measured in just dollars and cents, which is significant, but in visitor satisfaction, and the pride and joy they give and receive.
Camp Hosting
Cooperating Associations (friends groups)
Adopt-a-Park
Youth Service
Group Projects
Special Events
Internships
AmeriCorps
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