Larimer County Parks & Open Lands
Special Events Volunteer Expectations

Program: Open Lands, Administration and Volunteer programs
Location: The Bison Visitor Center at Carter Lake
Reports to: Project Leader or Visitor Center Staff

A Special Events Volunteer donates their time assisting staff to Plan and organize fun events for the public. They also provide excellent customer service to the public.

• Enjoy Colorado's beautiful parks and open spaces
• Receive training, support and feedback
• Learn about outdoor recreation, natural resources and local land protection efforts
• Share your knowledge and sense of stewardship with others
• Sharpen your communication skills by interacting with the public
• Provide a worthwhile service to your community
• Meet a lot of people with shared interests
• Be recognized and rewarded for your contributions
• Attend fun, social functions, including special events at The Bison Visitor Center.
• Receive a special use pass after contributing 20 hours of volunteer service in a calendar year

Duties vary, but can be a combination of the following:

• Answering telephones.
• Staff event activities and greeting event participants.
• Contact volunteers with skills needed by the events.
• Prepare drafts of event announcements.
• Supervise production and distribution of event announcements.
• Participate in building and maintaining list of event participants.
• Contact county employees to arrange for resources needed by the event.
• Contact vendors for contributed resources for events.
• Collect vendor contributed resources and take to events.
• Prepare event site and related equipment just prior to event scheduled date and time.
• Monitor and/or perform post-event return of resources to normal condition and location.
• Evaluate event operation and prepare notes for use in following years.
• Perform general clerical duties and other related duties as appropriate
• Prepare vendor "thank you" certificates and letters

• Friendly and courteous to staff, contributing vendors and event participants.
• Ability to develop imaginative event ideas and coordinate resources to successful event performance within a limited budget.
• Willingness to seek help from public and vendors to obtain necessary resources for events.
• Ability to learn Parks and Open Lands visitor center procedures and policies
• Ability to learn about and understand the organization and operation of the County and of outside agencies as necessary to assist visitors
• Establish and maintain effective work relationships with County staff and the general public
• Communicate effectively in person and by telephone
• Provide own transportation
• Complete volunteer orientation and training

• Prepare and train volunteers through orientation and on-the-job-training
• Organize and schedule volunteers in an efficient and timely manner
• Provide necessary equipment, supplies and supervision
• Evaluate effectiveness of volunteer training
• Provide feedback to volunteers either written or verbal regarding their performance
• Recognize and reward volunteers as valued team members

• Present yourself in a professional manner in behavior and dress
• Be prepared for your first assignment
• Provide excellent customer service to staff and visitors
• Follow through with time commitment explained at orientation
• Keep accurate record of time worked on forms provided and turn them in on a monthly basis
• Be on time (call in if can't make it on scheduled work days)
• Provide own transportation to visitor center
• Keep staff informed concerning key event resources availability.

• Working with office equipment (copies, paper shredder, computers, fax machine, etc.)
• Assisting and/or loading, unloading and/or setting up event resources

The Larimer County Parks & Open Lands Volunteer Program is not obligated to provide a placement, nor are you obligated to accept the position offered. Opportunities for volunteers are provided without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex or age. Larimer County is committed to equality of opportunity.