COVID-19 Policies and Updates

⚠️UPDATE ⚠️

Effective August 15, 2022, the CPW Volunteer COVID-19 Policy has been rescinded. From the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, the State of Colorado took the steps necessary to protect our workforce and the communities we serve. The top priority has remained the health and safety of all Coloradans. The COVID-19 pandemic has now shifted to a new phase, due to the uptake of highly effective vaccines, the availability of therapeutics, and increased rates of vaccine and infection-induced immunity. There is now a lower risk of severe disease and death across the United States. As a result, CPW volunteers will no longer need to sign a COVID policy agreement as previously required by the Department of Natural Resources.

Feel free to contact dnr_cpwresourcestewardship@state.co.us or cpw.volunteer@state.co.us with questions.

CPW volunteers are representatives of the State of Colorado and should follow all guidance from Governor Polis and the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE). We understand and appreciate the varying experiences people may be having with the pandemic, and we are grateful for your continued support and patience as we all move forward together.

CPW volunteers should follow Colorado's "Safer at Home and in the Vast, Great Outdoors" guidelines currently in place. The Governor announced this extended phase, with some modifications in early June. You can review details here.

CPW Volunteer Guidance

• Public health guidance varies by county, and we are asking CPW staff and volunteers to follow county-specific guidance, found here.

  • • Following county-by-county guidance may seem confusing, but we believe it is the best approach for our volunteer program.

• Volunteering in person is appropriate if you are able to follow your county’s public health guidance. The following are the health mitigations that CPW is asking volunteers to follow:

  • • Stay home when sick or caring for someone who is sick. We recommend that volunteers in high-risk health categories continue to stay at home.

    • Volunteers are required to wear a mask that covers your nose and mouth while on duty, especially while wearing a CPW logo.

      • • This is a significant focus of statewide public health guidance at this time.

        • We understand that wearing a mask can be uncomfortable, and even bring up other concerns, such as breathing during heavy physical exertion or in summer time heat. Please discuss concerns with your staff supervisor to identify safe practices.

    • Follow any applicable travel restrictions.

    • Volunteering outdoors is better than indoors. If volunteering indoors, a large space/room is better than a small space/room.

    • Maintain a minimum of 6 feet of distance from others

    • Regularly wash your hands with warm water and soap for 20 seconds. If a hand washing station is not available, use hand sanitizer.

    • Avoid high touch surfaces, and do not share equipment or materials with people from other households. Regularly sanitize any shared surfaces you do come into contact with.

    • Group sizes are limited to 10 indoors and 25 outdoors and should follow the above mitigations.

    • The status of some volunteer opportunities, such as wildlife transport, will follow CPW office closures or openings.

• Volunteers at high risk or anyone who is not comfortable engaging in person can contact your staff supervisor, DNR_CPWResourceStewardship@state.co.us, or cpw.volunteer@state.co.us to discuss possible at-home volunteer opportunities.

• While we love seeing everyone in person, this experience has helped CPW pivot to offer more virtual opportunities, ranging from virtual volunteer training and enrichment to online Hunter Education courses or educational videos.

  • • We have seen in several cases how this has helped increase access to volunteering and recreation for some who may not have been able to otherwise.

• Communicate openly and readily with your staff supervisor.

  • • Volunteers should contact your staff supervisor for questions about specific volunteer roles, as there are too many to list here and the status of each site or opportunity may vary.

    • Ask about hygienic and protective measures. Discuss what personal protective equipment (PPE) CPW can provide and what you need to bring (e.g. non-medical grade masks, gloves, hand sanitizer, etc.).

    • Understand that your role may look different than anticipated.

      • • Discuss what changes exist for your role and any new site/program procedures.

        • Ask for an updated position description, even if it is brief, to clarify new expectations.

        • Your role may continue to change in this ever-evolving situation. Thank you for your patience and proactive support in identifying solutions to challenges.

• The “New Normal”:

  • • We’re in a marathon rather than a sprint to mitigate COVID-19. Going back to what our world looked like before the pandemic is not feasible. Thank you for helping us create a new - and perhaps even better - normal.

    • We need to consider new or modified protocols and strategies. Some examples may include, but are not limited to:

      • • Wearing a mask/face covering while volunteering.

        • Washing or sanitizing your hands regularly.

        • Disinfecting tools and materials before and after each use.

        • Engaging in smaller numbers of people, perhaps over longer periods of time or more sessions (rather than a large group completing over a short amount of time).

        • Volunteering locally (vs. traveling across communities or states).

        • Offering virtual orientations and/or trainings.

        • Offering more "at-home" virtual and remote volunteer opportunities.

Volunteers should:

• Wear a mask/face covering that covers your nose and mouth.

• Check your temperature. Watch for fever, cough, or shortness of breath.

• If you become sick or symptomatic, or have been in close contact with someone who is, stop interacting with visitors and staff immediately.

• Consult with a health professional via phone before going in person.

• Follow Center for Disease Control (CDC) Guidance if symptoms develop.