CPW Guidance on Volunteer Activity During COVID-19

Colorado Parks and Wildlife Guidance on Volunteer Activity During COVID-19

Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) admires and appreciates the thousands of volunteers who engage with us each year to support conservation and recreation efforts. We recognize that you may have questions about what the current status of the COVID-19 pandemic means for your volunteer activity. Please review the guidance below.

Remember that 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.

We will continue to update this webpage with general guidance on volunteering based on current orders or recommendations from CDPHE. The following are considerations we will make for all phases:

• • • Public health guidance (statewide and per county). Please be familiar with and follow local restrictions.

    • Amount of time a group is together.

    • Location (e.g. outdoor is better than indoor).

    • Space, ability to physically distance, ability to designate spacing such as with signs, technology, or markings.

    • Number of people and whether they are at high risk.

    • Use of high touch equipment or surfaces.

    • Sanitation procedures (wear masks, wash hands, wipe down equipment, etc.).

    • Travel restrictions.

    • Volunteers are always encouraged to assess your personal risk and decide for yourself if you feel comfortable engaging in volunteer service.

    • 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.

Governor and CDPHE Guidance

CPW volunteers should follow guidelines from the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, local guidance in your county, and any applicable statewide orders from Governor Polis (such as a mask mandate).

Volunteers should:

• Follow CPW's Volunteer Health and Safety Checklist.

• 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.

General CPW Operations

CPW's goal is to operate as normally as possible while prioritizing the health and safety of staff, volunteers, and the public. Please visit this FAQ page for answers on our current operations and how our agency is responding to the pandemic.

CPW Volunteer Guidance

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

• 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 all 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 avoid roles that involve public interaction.

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

      • • 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.

    • 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.

    • Follow any applicable travel restrictions.

    • 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 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.

  1. • 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.

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.

Camp Host and Resident Volunteer Guidance

• Please see this letter to current and potential camp hosts and resident volunteers for CPW’s guidance.

Who do I contact if I have further questions?

• You can contact your volunteer program staff with further questions or concerns:

  • • Lori Morgan, NE region - cpw.nevolunteer@state.co.us

    • Jeanette Lara, SE region - jeanette.lara@state.co.us

    • Cathy Brons, SW region - cpw.swvolunteer@state.co.us

    • Trina Romero, NW region - trina.romero@state.co.us

    • Becky Mares, Statewide - cpw.volunteer@state.co.us

Many administrative or operational staff continue to work from home, including volunteer coordinators, but we are available and here to help. We will continue to follow recommendations from the Center for Disease Control (CDC) and the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE), so keep in mind that this guidance may shift and please always follow what is best for your own personal safety and health.

Thank you for your continued support of CPW, and keep sharing great stories of how you are living life outside and supporting our communities!

Sincerely,

Becky Mares

Statewide Volunteer Coordinator

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