Volunteer Policies and Agreement
Signing on as a volunteer with the Helen Schuler Nature Centre means accepting certain responsibilities as outlined below as well as those discussed during training and on-boarding. The Helen Schuler Nature Centre is a department of the City of Lethbridge.
Time Commitment
Volunteers are expected to contribute a minimum of 6-8 hours a month roving in the Exhibit Room, assisting as a Program Assistant, and/or roving as a Trail Rover. It is the responsibility of each volunteer to record the hours they have contributed using the method outlined in training.
Training
Volunteers are expected to complete necessary training, ask questions about anything they are unsure about, and to participate in continuous improvement of the Nature Centre by providing feedback and assisting in training of new volunteers.
Scheduling
Schedules are made up in advance on a monthly basis. The Volunteer & Resource Development Coordinator will ensure that volunteer opportunities are posted at MyVolunteerPage.com so volunteers can be aware of the monthly volunteer opportunities. If you cannot keep a commitment made to the Centre, first you must contact the Coordinator by phoning 403-320-3064, or other staff member should the Coordinator be unavailable.
Security
The Nature Centre contains many valuable pieces of equipment. The last volunteer to leave the building must check all windows and doors to ensure they are locked. If you are the last volunteer of the day, every door in the building should be locked when you leave.
Access to the Building
Volunteers may be working shifts in the building when a staff member is not present. Nature Centre staff will ensure that volunteers in these circumstances will be made aware of the necessary protocols to secure the building and ensure personal safety.
Safety
All volunteers must agree to act in a safe, respectful, and responsible manner while on duty representing the Nature Centre. Accidents to yourself or the public must be reported in full immediately to onsite staff. Incident Report Forms must be completed within 24 hours of any incident.
First Aid
First Aid certification is not mandatory, but highly recommended. Once a volunteer has completed 100 hours of service to the Centre, they are able to complete a Standard First Aid Course of which the Nature Centre will pay for half of the cost of the course. Volunteers needing re-certification of the First Aid Certificate that have utilized the ½ payment will eligible after another 250 hours of donated time.
Minimum Age
Normally all volunteers of the Nature Centre must be at least 16 years of age or older and are accepted to the team on a case-by-case basis depending on maturity, interest, and fit with the team. In the case of family volunteers, we accept volunteers under the age of 16 provided they are accompanied by an adult at all times while volunteering. Generally, independent volunteering at the Nature Centre requires volunteers to be at least 16 years of age or older.
Criminal Record Check
All volunteers and staff of the Nature Centre (18 years and older) are required to complete a Police Information Check and Vulnerable Sectors Check.
Staying Informed
All volunteers are expected to stay informed of important updates about the Nature Centre volunteer program. The Nature Centre will communicate via a variety of methods including but not limited to: email, monthly newsletter, social media, communications log book, bulletin board, operations binder, exhibits binder, programs binder, and in-person. The monthly Coulee Gnats Newsletter will be emailed to all active volunteers.
Disclosure
The personal information requested is being collected under the authority of section 33(c) of Alberta's Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act and is protected under the act. The information will be used for determining volunteer employment with the Nature Centre and may be disclosed in accordance with section 40(1) of the Act. Questions should be forwarded to the Volunteer Coordinator: 403-320-3064
