Volunteer Handbook

VOLUNTEER HANDBOOK

CODE OF CONDUCT

Volunteer Programs & Policies meant to keep volunteers, staff, and the community safe.

The Ozaukee Washington Land Trust and River Revitalization Foundation recently joined forces to become Restoring Lands: A Wisconsin Land Trust. (“Restoring Lands"). Restoring Land’s mission is to protect, connect, and restore southeast Wisconsin’s lands and waters for the benefit of all. Since 1992, we have worked to conserve and steward the lands and waters of the Milwaukee River headwaters. Joining forces propels our capacity for conservation leadership in Southeastern Wisconsin, expanding our service area and advancing land protection efforts beyond county borders to a science-based, watershed-level approach. Restoring Lands owns and actively manages 38 nature preserves, conserving over 7,000 acres in Ozaukee, Washington, and Milwaukee counties and has two offices: one in West Bend, and one near downtown Milwaukee.

Creating a welcoming and inclusive culture in the conservation sector is a core value at Restoring Lands. We are passionate about building and sustaining an inclusive and equitable environment for all staff and our community. We believe every member of our team, including each volunteer, enriches our diversity by exposing us to a broad range of ways to understand and engage with the world, identify challenges, and to discover, design, and deliver solutions. Restoring Lands seeks to take ownership of addressing barriers to conservation by engaging, training, and empowering underrepresented communities in the work of fostering biodiversity, promoting climate resiliency, and enhancing public access to the outdoors. 

We are so thankful for our volunteers and look forward to welcoming you to the land we care for!

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES & VOLUNTEER DEFINED

Volunteer Opportunities

Land Stewardship & Restoration: our weekly volunteer program working outside on Land Trust protected lands with staff; remove invasive species, plant trees, maintain trails, and other restoration-related activities as needed.

Community Science/Wildlife Monitoring: a more specialized volunteer opportunity, orientation required; collect data for iNaturalist & E-bird contributions, Snake Board monitoring, Amphibian Calls and Egg Mass surveys, and Funnel Trapping.

Site Steward: an independent volunteer opportunity to be a steward of one of our preserves. Help to maintain trails and monitor the site. Volunteer work depends on the volunteer’s interest and abilities. Individual training meeting required.

Land Protection: individual training provided; assist with easement monitoring, data collection, and reports for our properties in Ozaukee or Washington counties.

Organizational Support: flexible schedule; assist in the office, at community events – tabling or leading activities, or graphic design work.

Group Volunteer Workdays: we host various corporate groups, student groups, community groups, scouts, churches, etc. to do land restoration work. Contact the Volunteer Coordinator to schedule a workday. Please provide the following information in your email: Group Size, Range of dates and potential times, Preferred location (Milwaukee or Preserves in Ozaukee or Washington County), Special requirements (if applicable), Main contact name, email, phone #.

All volunteers must complete a volunteer application, alongside the waiver and agreement, and indicate their interests.

Volunteer Defined

A “volunteer” is an individual who, without compensation or expectation of compensation, performs a task at the direction of and on behalf of Restoring Lands and its partners. A “volunteer” must be officially accepted and enrolled by Restoring Lands prior to performance of the volunteer assignments. Volunteers under 18 years of age must have a parent/guardian sign their waiver. Volunteers 13 years and under must have adult supervision.

Volunteers are essential to accomplishing our mission. Volunteers help make our work and wide impact possible over the whole Milwaukee River basin. Volunteers are highly valued members of the Restoring Lands community. We offer appreciation events, recognition, and are happy to serve as a professional reference or provide letters of recommendation.

VOLUNTEER CODE OF CONDUCT

As a volunteer for Restoring Lands, I agree:

To act as a member of the team and perform my duties to the best of my abilities and to conduct myself with honesty, courtesy, reliability, and dignity.
To strive for inclusiveness, equity and environmental justice.
I will not engage in racism, sexism, ageism, ableism, classism, homophobia, xenophobia.
To follow all the rules, adhere to the drug-free workplace policy, accept supervision, and ask for clarification when needed.
To be punctual and notify staff when I will be absent.
To use office equipment for Land Trust business only.
To notify the Volunteer Coordinator when I am no longer able to volunteer.
Not to divulge any confidential information obtained while volunteering.
To refer members of the press to the main office of Restoring Lands. I understand that volunteers are not authorized to make statements to the press on behalf of Restoring Lands, officially or unofficially at any time.
That unless otherwise stated in a volunteer opportunity, under no circumstances should a volunteer drive a Land Trust vehicle or operate any motorized equipment.
As a volunteer I am NOT an employee and will not receive any compensation and am not eligible for any benefits including Workers Compensation.
To take any problems or suggestions to the Volunteer Coordinator or my supervisor.

As a volunteer, I will:

Treat others in a courteous, respectful manner demonstrating appropriate behaviors.
Recognize that verbal, sexual, physical abuse or harassment is unacceptable.
Act with respect toward plants, animals, and people.
Use language that will support and promote self-esteem.
Only use touch in an appropriate manner and with permission.
Refrain from using alcohol or illegal substances while volunteering and\or being under the influence of alcohol or illegal substances while volunteering.
Not place another person in an unsafe situation.
Not carry a weapon, concealed or unconcealed, while volunteering for Restoring Lands at the office, on preserves, or any other site.
Be engaged in the activity and work hard.

Restoring Lands agrees to:

Treat the volunteer as a member of the team and appreciate their contributions.
Respect the skills, dignity, and needs of the volunteer.
Provide supervision, information, training, and feedback for the volunteer to be effective.
Consider all legitimate volunteer comments, requests, suggestions and concerns.

VOLUNTEER DISMISSAL & HARASSMENT POLICY

Dismissal of a Volunteer

A volunteer may be dismissed at any time and for any reason at the discretion of Restoring Lands. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, a volunteer who fails to satisfactorily perform their volunteer assignment or fails to comply with the terms of this handbook is subject to dismissal. Possible grounds for dismissal may include but are not limited to, the following:

Being under the influence of alcohol or drugs

Abuse, mistreatment, or harassment of the public, other volunteers, or Land Trust staff

Misconduct or insubordination

Theft of property or misuse of Land Trust equipment or materials

Failure to abide by the Volunteer Agreement

Harassment Policy

Restoring Lands is firmly committed to providing a positive work environment free of discrimination and bias. Each volunteer is personally responsible for maintaining such a work environment. Restoring Lands prohibits any actions, words, jokes, or comments based on an individual’s race, sex, sexual preferences, ethnic background, age, religion, or physical condition. Any conduct or action, whether overt or subtle, which creates an offensive or hostile work environment is prohibited and will be grounds for dismissal.

Restoring Lands prohibits any harassment between volunteers, employees, and other non-employee based on sex and gender. No volunteer, of any gender, should be subjected to unsolicited or unwelcome sexual overtones or conduct, either verbal or physical. Misconduct applies to men, women, transgender or gender-non-conforming persons and includes harassment between different genders and/or the same gender.

Any volunteer who believes they are a victim of sexual or discriminatory harassment is encouraged to let the harasser know that their behavior is unwelcome. In addition, volunteers who believe they have been harassed must immediately report the matter to their Volunteer Coordinator.

Click here to view a PDF version of the Volunteer Handbook