Wildlands Restoration Volunteers

COVID-19 PLANNING & RESPONSE

What actions is WRV taking to ensure safety of volunteers and our community during the current COVID-19 outbreak?

Published: 3/13/2020, Last updated: 8/18/2020

WRV is monitoring the developing situation and will meet or exceed all local public health and CDC guidelines in hosting volunteer events. Our main priority is the safety and well-being of our volunteers, staff and community, and we are committed to doing our part to slow community spread of COVID-19 in order to protect vulnerable populations.

WRV has been running small group activities adhering to the State of Colorado’s Safer at Home guidelines since May. At this time we expect all volunteer projects including overnights to continue to run as scheduled this season, with new procedures as outlined below and subject to change. We have redesigned projects to meet group size limits, and all activities will allow for at least a 6-foot physical separation. For example, seed collections and habitat plantings already work best when participants are widely spaced across the landscape, and use of certain tools already requires a 6-foot safety radius. Many of our restoration sites are also closed to the public, providing an opportunity for volunteers to enjoy outdoor recreation safely while not over-burdening our open space areas.

It is important to note that activities such as spending time outdoors, getting exercise, and volunteering for a cause you believe in all convey benefits for our health and well-being. Therefore we encourage you to continue to take precautions, but also to get outside and stay active! As the season progresses, we will continue to listen to our volunteers and monitor guidance from CDC, state and local authorities to make adjustments as circumstances change. Together, our goal remains to heal the land and build community to the best of our ability, especially at times like these.

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What should I know about volunteering with WRV during COVID-19?

Last Updated: 8/18/2020

PLEASE READ

Following are rules and expectations when volunteering with WRV during the COVID-19 outbreak. Thank you for helping us heal the land while keeping our community safe and healthy!

GUIDELINES FOR CHOOSING AN EVENT

Limit social interactions: Under the State of Colorado’s Safer at Home guidelines, Coloradans are called to reduce interactions with others by about 65%. Therefore, we ask that you take this into account when planning your participation with WRV. For example, consider “saving up” by avoiding trips in the days before and after participating on a restoration activity.
Limit travel: Consider picking volunteer opportunities close to home. The State of Colorado’s Safer at Home guidelines state that “travel should occur within an individual’s local community or as necessary to access outdoor recreation areas. If traveling outside their community, Coloradans are urged to honor all restrictions in place at their destination and avoid travel to counties or municipalities that issue travel restrictions.”
Vulnerable populations & seniors: If you are in an at-risk group or age 65+, you are encouraged to continue to stay at home unless necessary. Also if you live with or are in close contact with vulnerable individuals, we ask that you reconsider participating in WRV activities at this time.

PREPARING FOR YOUR EVENT

Let us know if you can’t come: Since group sizes are strictly limited this year, every person counts! If you don’t show up, that has a tremendous negative impact on our ability to accomplish our work. Please cancel online or email info@wlrv.org with as much notice as possible so we can try to re-fill your spot!
Bring work gloves and a cloth mask (can be a bandana or scarf) which covers your nose and mouth. We have some new gloves and masks available if you don’t have one.
Bring your own food and water. We have suspended providing food this season, with just a few exceptions for backcountry and longer projects. WRV will provide drinking water for refills at all events and hot drinks/hot water on overnight projects.
Sign your annual waiver online, instead of a paper copy. For those under 18, please print and bring a copy signed by a parent or guardian.
Update your emergency contact in your profile. WRV will severely limit shared transportation for those not in the same household, so it is important that we can reach someone in your household in the event of an emergency.
Read your Project Details email (usually sent 5-7 days in advance) for directions and a list of other items to bring.
No carpools at this time.
Don’t come if you are sick: If you have any symptoms (fever, dry cough, sore throat, shortness of breath) or have not been fever-free without medication for 72 hours, do not come. If you have been exposed to someone with symptoms within the past 14 days, do not come. Volunteers will be asked to perform a self-health check upon arrival to all events.

WHAT TO BRING

For physically distanced ONE-DAY events, download this checklist or watch this short video on what to bring:

For OVERNIGHT events, download the camping checklist or watch the short video below on what to bring. Important points are that volunteers are asked to bring all personal food, camping and cooking equipment as well as plenty of extra water for cooking and cleaning. If possible bring one face covering per day. Volunteers are encouraged to bring personal eco-friendly soap and review these Leave No Trace camping principles. You will be asked to place your tent a minimum of 12 feet away from others. If you do not have camping equipment, please contact us at info@wlrv.org to see if you can borrow before registering (supplies limited).

DURING YOUR EVENT

Maintain physical distance of 6+ feet between you and anyone not in your household.
Wear a mask as much as possible, and anytime within 6 feet of others.
Wear gloves when touching any tool or other surface which may be touched by others, and don’t touch your face.
Wash your hands at our minimal touch handwashing stations at least upon arrival, all meal times, and after going to the bathroom.
Note: Individuals who resist or ignore any rules will be immediately dismissed!
There may be a volunteer monitor located away from the group for part of the day, whose role is to assess compliance and refine WRV’s COVID-19 protocols.
Finally, have fun, enjoy the fresh air, learn something new, and get to know your fellow volunteers even at a distance!

AFTER YOUR EVENT

Fill out your online survey so we can continue to ensure we are providing safe and rewarding volunteer experiences for our community!
If you experience any COVID-19 symptoms within 14 days, please notify us at info@wlrv.org or 303-543-1411 x1.
Share with others about your experience with Wildlands Restoration Volunteers!

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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS – FAQ

VOLUNTEERING

How is WRV keeping volunteers safe during current wildfires?

WRV is monitoring all wildfire activity and developments in the state on a daily basis as conditions change. Any modifications to currently scheduled events will be shared with those registered for each event. Contact us at info@wlrv.org with any questions. You can also view a map of current fire activity or view a map of current air quality and smoke.

What skills do I need to volunteer?

We provide any orientation and training you will need, unless we advertise for specific skills. We take special pride in helping newcomers learn the ropes so they can make a real contribution from the get-go.

How physically challenging is the project work?

It varies, but most events can accommodate a range of abilities. Project descriptions will include this kind of information. Generally, the high country trail projects are the most strenuous and our seed collection projects are least strenuous. And, there is plenty in between. We need people to help with event management and cooking, which might suit you if you like to get out but prefer not to do too much physical labor.

Easier – Typically require shorter walks on relatively flat but uneven ground. Example events include Native Seeds, Family-Friendly, Youth, and some Weeds projects (Mediterranean sage), as well as occasional indoor Support activities such as seed cleanings, seed bag sewing, or cooking events.
Moderate – Typically require short to medium walks on potentially rocky or steep ground. Example events include Rivers, Habitats and some Weeds projects (tamarisk).
Difficult – A good degree of fitness and stamina is required. Example events include Trails, Forests, Habitats and some Weeds projects (myrtle spurge).
Very Difficult – May involve long hikes, steep elevation changes, and heavy physical labor. A high degree of fitness and stamina is required. Examples include Trails, Forests, and Habitats projects, particularly those at high elevations.

How do I register for an event?

Visit our online calendar to find an event that interests you. You can view the the calendar in monthly, list or pinboard formats. You can search for events by date or by interest including program areas, counties/regions, family-friendly, and more. Click “Register Now” for the events that interest you. For a step-by-step how-to, click here. After you register, you will receive a confirmation email. Full details about what to bring and where to meet are sent five to seven days prior to each event.

How do I sign my waiver?

New for 2020, volunteers need to sign only one waiver annually. The annual waiver is now attached to each project, so you can sign while registering for a project. If you are already signed up for one or more projects, you can sign your annual waiver online or download and bring it with you to a project.

When will I receive project details?

You should receive project details five to seven days before the start date of your project. If you have not received details within five days of your project, check the spam or junk folder of your inbox. If you still cannot find your project details, email the WRV Staff Liaison (WSL) for your project, or email info@wlrv.org or call 303-543-1411 ext. 1 during business hours.

Is transportation provided?

Note: Carpooling has been suspended during COVID-19. Generally, we do not provide transportation to projects. However, when you sign up for a project, you will have the option to sign up to carpool. If you do, we’ll share your basic contact information with other volunteers on your project who also want to carpool. You are responsible for contacting them to arrange a ride. Even better, invite a friend with wheels to register!

Can I bring my dog?

Unfortunately, no. We have nothing against pets. It’s just that pets can become a safety risk as well as a negative impact to wildlife and vegetation in the areas where we work.

Can I complete community service hours with WRV?

Yes, we are happy to sign off on your community service hours. Please let WRV staff know in advance if you will be completing community service hours with us by emailing the WRV Staff Liaison (WSL) for your project directly or info@wlrv.org. If your community service hours are court-mandated, please bring your community service log, a government issued ID, and the contact information of your court supervisor.

What does it cost to volunteer on a project?

There are no fees to volunteer.

I’m injured or otherwise unable to work on a project crew. Are there other ways to volunteer with WRV?

Yes. Depending on your capabilities, there are often roles such as greeter, photographer, cook, etc. that are less physically demanding on a project. We also have in-office opportunities for volunteers. Please email us info@wlrv.org and we can let you know what opportunities are available.

Can I volunteer in the office?

Yes, there is plenty to do in the office to support our projects and programs. Email us at info@wlrv.org or call 303-543-1411 ext. 1. We’d love to discuss these opportunities with you!

Do you offer internships?

Yes. For more information on internships, please visit our Staff and Jobs page.

GROUPS

Can my group/corporate group participate in a WRV Project?

Yes. Please see Corporate Groups for details and fill our our group project form.

How do I register a group for a project?

We welcome groups to attend most projects. If you wish to bring family members, just bump up the “number attending” when you register. If you wish to bring friends or organize a group of colleagues, please contact Amy Ansari at 303-543-1411 ext. 104 or e-mail her at amy@wlrv.org. We will add a group registration, and you can have your individual group members then sign up under that group name.

YOUTH

Are children welcome?

We try whenever possible to include children. The minimum age varies from project to project according to the difficulty and safety issues. On most projects, children in small numbers can be accommodated. Children under 18 must be accompanied by an authorized adult whose primary responsibility is their supervision.

What is a ‘Family Friendly’ project?

Note: During COVID-19, the minimum age has been raised to 12 for half-day projects or 14 for full-day projects. Many trail, forestry, and overnight projects have higher minimum ages of 16-18. The Family-Friendly designation is used to indicate projects where children under the age of 12 are permitted to participate in the restoration work along with a parent or guardian. These projects tend to be safer and easier than other projects, but may still involve camping or full-day events. However, project days can be long for young children, so “tag-teaming” is always recommended when bringing children ages 8 and under. “Tag-teaming” means that children come with two parents/adults that can take turns supervising the children and participating in the restoration work. We find that this creates the best project experience for both children and adults. If you have questions or concerns about bringing a child to a particular Family-Friendly project, please call the WRV office at 303-543-1411 x1.

My child is below the minimum age. Can they still come?

Most WRV projects have a stated minimum age. This indicates approximately the youngest child we anticipate can readily complete the work tasks involved in this project. This minimum age also takes into account other factors such as weather exposure and difficulty of access to the work site. Every child is unique, with different propensities for outdoor work and general hardiness out in the elements. If parents are willing to tag team, so at least one person can focus on the needs of the child, and the parents are comfortable in the outdoor setting of the project, then there is a very good chance you can bring a child who is younger than our stated minimum age and have a fantastic experience. Please call the WRV office at 303-543-1411 x109 to discuss how we can accommodate the needs of your family. We love having family participation! For more information, see the FAQ above about “Family Friendly projects.”

What is a Youth Service Learning Day Camp?

Youth educational day camps are sometimes, but not always, held in conjunction with family friendly projects, and if so, will be listed at the bottom of the project description with an age-range on the WRV website. Day camps provide opportunities for children to participate in age-appropriate environmental activities and service while adults and teens volunteer on the larger project at the same location. Participation in these camps requires separate registration from the larger volunteer project, so check the project description for specific instructions on who to contact.

TRAINING

Do you offer training?

Yes, WRV offers a wide variety of leadership and skill trainings. View our full training calendar.

Are there training fees?

Some trainings are free while others have fees. We offer a discounted price to current members and current volunteers.

What do the training fees cover?

Our training fees cover materials, food (if provided), professional trainers’ time and often rental of space. We have worked hard to make these fees bare bones so that all may attend.

How do I qualify for a discount?

To qualify for a discount on a WRV event, you need to be a “current” volunteer or member. This means you have either made a membership contribution in the last 12 months or you have volunteered on two projects in the past two years. If you don’t currently meet either criteria, you can become a member now, or you can attend two projects this year, after which you can contact WRV for a refund of the difference between the price you paid and the discounted price.

Do you offer scholarships?

Limited scholarships are available for WRV volunteers. Contact WRV at 303-543-1411 x1 or info@wlrv.org for more information.

What is your cancellation policy for fee-based trainings and other events?

Note: During COVID-19, we are offering full refunds if you are sick or feeling uncomfortable about attending a training. The format of trainings is being changed to meet or exceed all CDC and local public health guidelines, including limiting class size and moving some sessions online.

If you need to cancel a registration for a fee-based event, please call the WRV office at 303-543-1411 x1.

Our standard cancellation policy is as follows:

If you cancel more than 14 days prior to an event, 50% of the fee will be refunded to you.
If you cancel within the 14 day period prior to an event, we cannot provide a refund.
If you register WITHIN the the two weeks prior to the event, and then cancel, we cannot provide a refund.

Any amount not refunded will be considered a tax-deductible donation.

ABOUT WRV

How did WRV get started?

Please see our Milestones section under About Us.

What’s with all the acronyms?

We use a variety of acronyms for many of our leadership roles on projects:

WSL: WRV Staff Liaison (pronounced “whistle”) – The staff lead on any given project or training
PL: Project Leader – The staff member or volunteer managing a project
CL: Crew Leader – Volunteers trained in leading crews of volunteers on projects
TA: Technical Advisor – Volunteer or staff responsible for the technical planning of a restoration or trails project
TM: Tool Manager – Volunteer or staff member trained in managing the tools, kitchen gear, and vehicles associated with a project
LC: Lead Cook – Volunteer or staff responsible for all meal planning and preparation on a project
CTM: Cook Team Member – Volunteer assisting the Lead Cook with meal planning and preparation

For leadership training information, check out our training schedule.

Can I purchase WRV merchandise?

Yes. You can stop by our Boulder or Fort Collins offices for official WRV merchandise, please call ahead to make an appointment. We also try to bring merchandise to all social events, and some project events.

When does the project schedule for next season come out?

We build our project schedule during the winter. Check in around March 1 for the completed schedule and the opportunity to register. If you are a volunteer who receives emails, check your inbox around that time. If you are a member, we will send you our complete project schedule and registration links a week before we send out to the general public.

I have a potential project idea for WRV. How can I let WRV know?

We send out project forms to agency contacts, partners, etc. every fall. If you would like to receive a project form, let us know and we will send one to you. Check Tell Us About Your Project for details.

FINANCES

How do you fund your projects?

WRV obtains funding from a wide variety of sources, including foundation and government grants, fees for services, corporate donations, individual donations, and memberships. WRV appreciates our many Sponsors and Partners.
<!––Is my volunteer work tax-deductible? Mileage and material costs are federally tax-deductible, but donated labor is not.–>

What is WRV’s employer identification number (Federal Tax ID)?

46-0505155. This number is needed for some donations such as putting WRV in a will.

POLICIES

Smoking Policy

Smoking is discouraged at all WRV activities. WRV shall affirmatively enforce smoking restrictions where smoking is not permitted by law, or restricted by fire bans. WRV project smokers should exercise due care to extinguish smoking materials safely and should avoid annoying other participants with second hand smoke.

Alcohol Policy

Alcohol may be provided on some projects by WRV. On overnight projects, participants are allowed to bring their own alcohol, contingent on this being acceptable to the applicable land management agency. If alcohol is going to be served at a project, other non-alcoholic beverages will also be available. Drinking is allowed only after work is complete for the day. If project participants consume alcohol, they are requested to drink moderately and responsibly to avoid illness and injury, and as a courtesy to other volunteers.
WRV project participants are reminded that under section 12-47-901(1) Colorado Revised Statutes, it is unlawful for any person: (a) To sell, serve, give away, dispose of, exchange, or deliver, or permit the sale, serving, giving, or procuring of, any alcohol beverage to a visibly intoxicated person or to a known habitual drunkard; (a.5) (I) To sell, serve, give away, dispose of, exchange, or deliver or permit the sale, serving, giving, or procuring of any alcohol beverage to or for any person under the age of twenty-one years.
Underage drinking is not permitted. If alcohol is going to be served at a project, to the extent possible, notice will be given to any youth groups planning to attend the project. WRV leadership shall take affirmative actions to prevent consumption of alcohol by minors on WRV activities.
If WRV holds a function at which it intends to sell alcohol by the drink, it will procure an appropriate license as required by applicable law.

Illegal Substances Policy

Illegal substances are not permitted on WRV projects. Marijuana is an illegal substance under federal law.

Quiet Hours

Overnight projects are a treasured opportunity to socialize with new and old friends in a beautiful outdoor environment. Many volunteers, however, want to go to bed early to be ready for the next day’s hard work. WRV asks that all project participants be considerate of other project participants and keep noise levels down in the evening and early morning. From 10:00 pm to 6:00 a.m., project participants are asked to avoid making any unnecessary noise that will carry to sleeping areas.

Harassment Policy

Wildlands Restoration Volunteers (WRV) values all people and believes all people can become stewards of their natural environment. We believe the stewardship community is strengthened and improved by the participation and contributions of people with a diverse range of backgrounds, perspectives and skills.
In our dealings with volunteers, employees, applicants for employment and all other constituencies, WRV is committed to equal opportunity and equal treatment for all qualified individuals based on individual merit and capability. We do not discriminate against applicants, employees, volunteers or any other constituents on the basis of race, disability, color, creed, religion, gender, gender identity, age, sexual orientation, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, military status, or any other status protected by federal, state or local law.
This policy applies to all activities of WRV.

General Contest Guidelines

Wildlands Restoration Volunteers (WRV) conducts its contests as described in these general contesting rules. By participating, each participant agrees as follows:

Prize(s). The prize(s) that may be awarded to the eligible winner(s) are not transferable, redeemable for cash or exchangeable for any other prize. All prizes must be redeemed within thirty (30) days of the contest end date unless otherwise stated in the contest’s official rules. If a winner cannot be contacted or is disqualified for any reason, the WRV reserves the right to determine an alternate winner or not to award that winner’s prize, in its sole discretion.
Eligibility and Limitations. Employees of WRV, WRV board members and members of the immediate family of any such persons are not eligible to participate and win. The term “immediate family” includes spouses, siblings, parents, children, grandparents, and grandchildren, whether as “in-laws,” or by current or past marriage(s), remarriage(s), adoption, co-habitation or other family extension, and any other persons residing at the same household whether or not related.
Release. By participating in the Contest, each participant and winner waives any and all claims of liability against the WRV, its employees and agents, the Contest’s sponsors and their respective employees and agents, for any personal injury or loss which may occur from the conduct of, or participation in, the Contest, or from the use of any prize.

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