Volunteer Service Agreement

Complete the Volunteer Service Agreement 

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Select 'Park Host' for Volunteer Type

What's Included in the Volunteer Service Agreement for Park Hosts?

The Volunteer Service Agreement is an important document that provides both clarity on expectations of volunteer service with Oregon Parks and Recreation Department, as well as protects volunteers under the appropriate injury and liability coverage. We've updated the volunteer service agreement for 2023, and you can review the form below. If you have any questions about the information included in the agreement, please contact either your volunteer coordinator at the park, or the Statewide Programs Coordinator, Allison Watson at volunteer.oprd@oprd.oregon.gov. 

Overview of Changes to the Volunteer Service Agreement 

Vehicle Use

This section has been updated to explain what the State of Oregon and OPRD require of volunteers when driving vehicles as a part of volunteer service.

It's important that volunteers receive permission from an OPRD manager in advance of driving any vehicle as part of service. 

Additionally all passengers in vehicles may only be other volunteers or employees who are also engaging in active service.  Pets are not allowed to accompany park hosts in vehicles, including golf carts. There are exceptions for service animals.

If your volunteer assignment requires you to drive a personal vehicle as part of service, there are additional forms and permissions required. Your park manager will be able to provide this information to you directly should it apply.

Code of Conduct

The Code of Conduct section is broken into two parts: ethical conduct and service standards.

Ethical Conduct

The purpose of this section is to ensure that volunteers will follow the law and abide by the ethical standards expected of a volunteer representative of the State of Oregon. 

In particular, it's important that individuals do not use their volunteer position to receive special benefits that would not otherwise be available to others who are not volunteers with the state of Oregon. For example, volunteers may not gather park recycling and collect the bottle deposit funds for their own benefit, as this activity is not permitted for the general public, and volunteers gain a financial benefit from the activity, so it is not allowed.

Service Standards

As representatives of the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department and the State of Oregon, volunteers are held to a high standard.  

When engaging with staff, their fellow volunteers and the public, volunteers are expected to be respectful, safe, and professional representatives of our agency. It's also important that volunteers engage in appropriate service activities. This section clarifies some of the actions and activities that are expected and prohibited during all volunteer service with our department.

Agreement for Temporarily Residing on State Property:

As a benefit of the volunteer assignment, volunteers may temporarily reside at an assigned OPRD property location (park, wayside, recreation area, etc.) for the duration of their volunteer assignment. This benefit is provided to volunteers that abide by the expectations outlined in this Volunteer Service Agreement and meet the following expectations of residential service while both on and off duty.

What's Expected of Park Hosts

OPRD will provide volunteers with safe, assigned locations to temporarily reside while they perform volunteer service in our parks as a park host. 

As a representative in the park, it's important that these volunteer sites are safe, approachable, welcoming, and set an example for park visitors. This section helps clarify OPRD's expectation of volunteers while staying in our parks.

If you would like more information on some of the OPRD park rules, other Oregon agency guidelines, and/or Oregon state laws that informed this section of the volunteer agreement, please utilize the resources below: