HomeMy WebLinkAbout2012-12-10 PACKET 07.C.Volunteer Park Ranger Program
Purpose: Our goal is to provide a safe and healthy environment in Cottage Grove Parks by
recruiting and training volunteer park rangers, aged eighteen (18) and up, to volunteer and
serve as "Goodwill Ambassadors" in parks, as well as to provide information, instruction and
assist with minor maintenance. These volunteers will serve as extended "eyes and ears" of
the Parks and Recreation Department and will help staff be more efficient and customer
oriented thus improving the park experiences for residents and visitors. This is also a terrific
opportunity for residents to give back to their community through volunteerism while enjoying
the great outdoors in your hometown!
Job Description: Volunteer Park Rangers come forward to offer their assistance maintaining
and marketing Cottage Grove's wonderful park system. These volunteers are asked to
volunteer four to eight hours per week and will receive formal training in the areas of:
1. Customer service and dealing with the public
2. Park area orientation
3. Park patrol procedures
4. Parks and Recreation Department service offerings
5. Park rules and regulations
6. CPR and AED procedures
7. Safety training — PPE, BBP, etc.
8. Play area safety
9. Administering customer surveys
10. Training in natural resources
Once trained, Park Rangers will be designated a service area. Rangers will provide service to
the parks and trails within the district and may move about from park to park based on the
Rangers assessment of need. Standard duties of Park Rangers include:
1. Answering customer questions
2. Litter removal
3. Safety checks /compliance
4. Graffiti removal
5. Data collection
6. Surveying
Requirements: First and foremost, Volunteer Park Rangers should be passionate about
Cottage Grove and an advocate for its parks and recreational system. As ambassadors of the
City, they will maintain a high level of public service, integrity, reliability and ethics. Before
training, volunteers will be required to perform a background check. Following training,
Rangers will be given a uniform and given work assignments.
Schedule: Park Rangers will be asked to work 4 -8 hours per week in one of the eight park
districts from the months of April through September. Rangers will have flexible schedules
with time and findings reports submitted each month. The City does requests that Rangers
perform at least half of their service hours on evenings and /or weekends when parks are at
their busiest. Should special events or survey work take place in a Ranger's park district, staff
may ask Rangers to adjust or add to existing volunteer schedules.