Recreation Services Division

WelcomeThank you for volunteering with the City of Eugene Recreation Services Division, that is part of the Library, Rec-reation and Cultural Services Department. The Division’s mission is to strengthen the community by providing diverse recreational experiences. The mission of the Volunteer Program is to provide opportunities for individu-als to contribute in meaningful ways in supporting and expanding recreation services to enhance the quality of life for all residents.

Volunteers play a vital role working together with staff to create safe, healthy and livable communities and opportunities for all individuals to imagine, grow, explore and learn. We hope your experience with Recreation enriches your life! We are pleased to have you as a volunteer and look forward to supporting you in your activities. This manual is a handy reference that can help you perform your job with confidence and excellence. During your time with Recreation, you may also be given other materials to build your skills and knowledge.

If you have any questions, please contact Molly Elliott, Volun-teer Coordinator, at 541-682-6307 or email her at molly.t.elliott@ci.eugene.or.us

Volunteers Are ImportantVolunteers are essential. Without your help Recreation Services could not offer many of activities and classes. Whether it’s reading to children, assisting people experiencing disabilities in outings or offering logistical support to an event, volunteers help to provide and extend services to our patrons.

Recreation Services Division Volunteer ManualTable of contents:

Welcome . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

Benefits of Volunteering . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

Priorities and Values

About Us - Program Service Areas . . . . . 3, 4 • AdaptiveRecreation • Adult&SeniorServices • Athletics • Aquatics • Youth&FamilyServices(including the Outdoor Program)

What to Expect From Us . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

What We Expect Our Volunteers . . . . . . . . . 5

Facility Closure and Inclement Weather . . 6

Insurance and Liability . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

Holidays . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

Guidelines . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 • Health/Safety • PhysicalContactofYouth • TreatmentofYouth • Communicatingwithparentsandstaff

Inclusion Services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

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Benefits of VolunteeringVolunteering provides positive, real-world experiences while giving back to the community! Volunteers have fun, while also gaining critical skills that add value to their resume. Volunteering to help others has been shown to reduce stress, boost self-esteem and improve health. Recreation volunteers join staff who value giving their time and energy to positively affect the lives of others. They work with staff to provide safe and nurturing environments that enhance the quality of life for everyone.

Volunteering with the Recreation DivisionTo meet its mission, the Recreation Division provides a wide variety of community-driven recreation services that: • provideopportunitiestoenjoynatureandtheoutdoors; • areinclusive,accessible,andaffordable; • engagediversecommunitymembers; • promotehumanunderstandingandasenseofcommunitythroughculturalandrecreational opportunities; • buildenvironmentalstewardship; • promotelifelonghumandevelopmentthroughactivity; • supportyouthdevelopment;and • supportthewell-beingofseniorsandpersonswithdisabilities.

Priorities and ValuesRecreation’s top priorities in creating and offering activities to patrons are: • Safety • QualityPrograms • Havingfun • Superiorcustomerservice • Collaborativeworkenvironments • ProvidingrespectfulaccommodationsforInclusionServices • Inspiringlifelongpassiontoimagine,explore,learn,growandcontribute

To accomplish this, staff and volunteers are encouraged to: • Worktogethertoachievepriorities • Listen,andrespecteachother’sideasandopinions • Planstrategicallyandworkfromplansandobjectives • Dressandactprofessionally • Berolemodelsfortheyouthweserve,parents,eachanother,andthegeneralpublic • Bepositive,enthusiastic,team-oriented,inclusive,honest,creativeandhardworking • Focusonthehealthandwell-beingofindividuals,familiesandourcommunity • Bewillingtocontribute,shareandacknowledgethatcollectivelyourtalentsandgiftsmakeEugene abetterplaceforALL

Beingapositiverolemodelrequires:• Caring-tomakeapersonalinvestmentintheexperienceofeachparticipant• Honesty-betruthfulwithyourselfandothers• Respect-acceptdifferences,abilitiesandlimitationsforyourselfandothers• Responsibility-beawareofthesafetyofyourselfandothers• Forgiveness-createanenvironmentinwhichitisokayforparticipantstolearnfromexperiencesthatthey may or may not define as “successful• HaveFun

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Program Service Areas

Adaptive Recreation Services: the program’s mission is to provide diverse recreation programs and services thatenhancethequalityoflifeforpeoplewithdisabilities.AdaptiveRecreationServicesistheprimarypub-lic provider of community recreation services for people with disabilities in the Eugene area. Persons served include those with development disabilities (e.g., mental retardation, autism, Down syndrome, cerebral palsy), physical disabilities (e.g., traumatic brain injuries, multiple sclerosis, stroke, spinal cord injury, loss of a limb), and mental health and vulnerable populations (e.g., psychiatric, alcohol, drug recovery, learning and behavioral disabilities).

Direct services include recreation and education programs, health and wellness classes, seasonal camps, visual and performing arts adapted to serve people with disabilities and other vulnerable populations. Inclusion ser-vicesandtrainingsareprovidedtomakeCityrecreationactivitiesaccessible.TheAdaptiveprogramprovidesadaptiverecreationequipmentaswellasreferralandinformationassistance.AdaptiveRecreationServicesisbasedinHilyardCommunityCenter,amodelaccessiblefacility,andalsoconductsactivitiesatWashingtonParkCenter.

The Athletics Program: its mission is to promote active lifestyles and encourage physical fitness, mental well-being, and social interaction, in the belief that people who have well-balanced lives contribute to a productive andhealthycommunity.TheAthleticsprogrampromotesandfacilitatesactivelifestyles,physicalfitness,men-tal well-being and social interaction by serving adults and youth through league sports and other organized sports activities.

TheAthleticsprogramalsocoordinatestheuseandmaintenanceofCity-ownedathleticfieldsandfacilitiesandservesasacentralinformationsourceregardingcommunityathleticactivities.Athleticsoffersorganizedsportsactivities for adults, including men’s, women’s, and coed league competition for softball, volleyball, basketball, ultimateFrisbee,andoutdoorsoccer.AthleticscontractswithaprivateoperatortomanageLaurelwoodGolfCourse.Athleticsalsomaintains23softballfields,19turfsportsfields,1outdoorhockeyrinkandtheWestmo-reland disc golf course. Staff coordinates the use of these community facilities along with the City’s 23 tennis courts,andeightartificialsurfaceplayingfields.AthleticsstaffoperateoutofAmazonCommunityCenter.

The Aquatics Program: the program’s mission is to offer a diverse set of excellent, aquatic services in safe, clean and fun environments. To do this, the program offers: recreation swimming, learn-to-swim programs, fitness and wellness, and competitive swimming. Specific services include: recreation swims, family swims, learn-to-swim, lap swims, aquatic and land-based fitness classes, custom services for special groups, physical educationclassestopublic/privateschools,in-servicetrainingsandcompetitiveaquaticsforswimteamsandwaterpoloteams.TheAquaticsprogramoperatesatEchoHollowandSheldonPoolsandFitnessCentersandatAmazonPool,May-October.

Senior and Adult Services: the program’s mission is to promote and maintain health and well-being, enhance quality of life, strengthen helping networks and recognize individual desires to remain active, productive and independent.Activelifestyleprogramssuchasdaytrips,socialevents,kayaking,hiking,andwoodworkingserve as an attraction for both younger and older senior adults. Services such as health screenings, legal ser-vices, insurance counseling, housing referrals, meal information, adult and education classes are offered on a regularbasis.AccesstocommunitysocialservicesisprovidedtoEugeneseniorsonalimitedbasisthroughthesenior program outreach staff. The City’s Senior Program provides the only year-round, senior-focused outdoor programinEugene.ProgramandservicesareprovidedthroughCampbellandPetersenBarnCommunityCenters.

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Youth and Family Recreation Services: the program’s mission is to create opportunities that inspire a lifelong passion to imagine, explore, learn, grow and contribute. It provides recreational and educational programs for children,teens,adults,andfamiliesthatincludeoutdoor/environmentalactivities,preschooleducation,out-of-school programs, free summer playground activities, seasonal camp programs, challenge course facilitation, visual and performing arts, and peer-managed alternatives to the juvenile justice system.

TheYouthandFamilyprogramprovidesdiverse,neighborhood-based,city-wideandregionalprograms,eventsandservicesthatarecoordinatedandsupervisedbystaffatAmazon,PetersenBarn,RiverHouse,andSheldon Community Centers. Program staff provide safe places and opportunities for growth and learning. The programs stimulate the development of positive attributes, resiliency, and social competencies.

Recreation Services activities are provided at these facilities: • AmazonCommunityCenter,2700HilyardSt • AmazonPool(May-October),2600HilyardSt. • CampbellCommunityCenter,155HighSt. • EchoHollowPoolandFitnessCenter,1655EchoHollowRd. • HilyardCommunityCenter,2580HilyardSt. • PetersenBarnCommunityCenter,870BerntzenRd. • TheRiverHouseCommunityCenter,301N.AdamsSt. • SheldonCommunityCenter,2445WillakenzieRd. • SheldonPoolandFitnessCenter,2443WillakenzieRd. • WashingtonParkCenter,2025WashingtonSt.

AlloftherecreationfacilitiesandprogramssitesareaccessiblebyLTDbus.

What Can You Expect From UsRecreation Services is committed to providing a positive work environment in which all individuals are treated with respect and dignity.

Volunteers have the same rights as any staff member. These include the right to: • aninterview,orientationandtraining • supervisionandsupport • informationandclear,specificdirections • betreatedwithrespect • theopportunitytoofferfeedbackandsharesuggestions • berecognizedandreceiveperformancefeedback • non-discrimination

Volunteers will experience a respectful work environment:The city of Eugene is committed to fair and impartial treatment of all employees, applicants, contractors, vol-unteers, and agents of the City, and to provide a work environment free from discrimination and harassment, where people treat one another with respect. It is everyone’s responsibility to maintain a work environment free from any form of discrimination or harassment based on race, creed, sex, sexual orientation, color, nation-al origin, age, religion, disability, marital status, familial status, source of income, or any other legally protected status.Accordingly,derogatoryracial,ethnic,religious,age,gender,sexualorientation,sexual,orotherinap-propriate regards, slurs, or jokes will not be tolerated!

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What We Expect From Our Volunteers

AgentsAllvolunteersareconsideredagentsoftheCityofEugeneandrepresent the City of Eugene Recreation Program. Volunteers are expected to follow the same rules and guidelines as employees.

AttireVolunteers, like staff, should wear clothing that is comfortable and washable. Jeans and tee-shirts in good condition are fine. Clothing thatpromotesalcohol,tobacco,violenceand/ordiscriminationisnot appropriate. Closed toed shoes must be worn at all times.

AttitudeAfriendlyandcooperativeattitudeisbestforasuccessfulvolunteer.Ifyouhaveaproblemwithanothervol-unteer, employee, or patron, try to work it out in a businesslike and professional manner. If you feel you need to talk to a staff member, or want assistance in resolving a conflict, you may take this up with your supervisor or the Volunteer Coordinator.

Cell PhonesPlease make sure cell phones are turned off while you are volunteering. Use of personal cell phones is discour-aged during programs.

ConfidentialityAllinformationvolunteersreceiveregardingparticipantsinvolvedinRecreationprogramsmustbehandledconfidentially. Please be respectful of the privacy of participants and their individual situations.

Drugs and Alcohol The possession, use, or distribution of illicit drugs or alcohol on program premises or as a part of any of the program’s activities is prohibited.

Anyvolunteerwhoisawareoftheuseofdrugsoralcoholbyvolunteers/employeesorthepresenceof controlled substances on City property is obligated to bring such information to the attention of their supervisor.

Prescription medication: any volunteer who is under the treatment of a physician and who must bring prescription medicines to the workplace will carry the medicines in the original container bearing the name of the drug, the name of the physician, and the prescribed dosage.

FeedbackFeedbackfromvolunteersisgreatlyappreciatedandvalued.Ifyouhaveanysuggestionsforimprovementsfor a group or program, please request time with the supervisor to present your ideas in a respectful manner, either in written or verbal form.

Friendship & ProfessionalismVolunteersareconsideredstaff;thereforevolunteersareexpectedtoactasprofessionals.Itisinappropriateto give your phone number to participants. Dating participants is not allowed during volunteer assignments. Only make promises that can be kept. Do not give or accept gifts from the participants. Contact the Volunteer

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Coordinator for guidance regarding specific questions or concerns onthesubjectofparticipant/volunteerrelations.Volunteersandstaff are discouraged from having contact with participants outside oftheprogram,includingthroughsocialmediasuchasFacebook.

GrievanceIf a volunteer has a grievance, the following is the “chain of com-mand”toresolvetheissue.Beginbyvoicingyourgrievancewiththe#1 person. If it cannot be resolved at that level, volunteers may take theissuetothe#2person,andsoforth.Attimes,ameetinginvolv-ing more than one of these people may be scheduled. 1. Program Instructor 2. Volunteer Coordinator 3. Program Supervisor 4. FacilitySupervisor 5. Recreation Supervisor

Illness & EmergencyIf you are unable to attend your scheduled program due to illness or emergency, please call your program supervisor as soon as possible, ideally, 24 hours in advance. If you are scheduling an absence for a vacation or leave of absence, please give the program supervisor as much advanced notice as possible.

Limitations & GuidelinesIt is your responsibility to inform your supervisor or a staff member if you are uncomfortable with a particular task or request.

PoliticalVolunteers are free to express personal political views on their own time. They may not, however, while on the job or during working hours, promote or oppose the nomination or election of a candidate, the adoption of or opposition to a measure, or the recall of a public office holder or any other advocacy for or against a politi-cal issue or candidate. Volunteers may wear campaign buttons during working hours but they may not solicit money, influence, service or anything of value in this regard during working hours.

Positive work environmentVolunteers are expected to treat all individuals with respect and dignity. Remember to: • treatothersasyouwouldliketobetreated • chooseapositiveattitude • takeresponsibilityforyourself,youractions,andthewordsyouuse • bepartoftheteamandshareyourskills,thoughts,ideasandsolutions

Facility Closure and Inclement WeatherFacilitiesmaybeclosedoractivitiescancelledduetobadweather.OnlytheCityManagerhastheauthoritytocloseafacilityduringregularbusinesshours(8a-5pM-F)unlesscontinuedoperationofthefacilityposesanimmediate health or safety risk to the facility’s occupants. In that case, the facility should be evacuated and the CityManagerorActingCityManagernotifiedimmediately.TheProgramManagerisauthorizedtocancelpro-grams. During bad weather volunteers should call the facility, listen or watch for announcements on local radio and television newscasts or go to www.flashalert.net or www.eugene-or.gov/rec.

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Insurance and LiabilityAsavolunteer,youarenotcoveredbytheCity’sWorkersCompensationprogram.Youare,therefore,encour-aged to have your own health insurance in the event you are injured while performing your volunteer duties. AsavolunteerfortheCityofEugene,whileyouareperformingyourassignedduties,youareconsideredtobe acting as an agent of the City. Therefore, you are covered by the City’s self-insured general liability and accident insurance program for any injury or damage to members of the general public resulting from your actions.(CityofEugeneAPPM).Cityvolunteerswhosufferaccidentalinjuryasadirectresultoftheirdutiesasa volunteer have the following coverage through the City: 1. AccidentalDeath $5,000 2. AccidentalDismemberment $5,000 3. AccidentalMedicalInjury $2,500 4. AccidentalDentalinjury $250

The word “injury” means accidental bodily injury, from which loss results directly and independently from all other causes, sustained by the volunteer, provided such injury occurs while participating in volunteer work activities sponsored by the City and such participation is under the direct supervision of the City. Volunteers, as agents of the City, are afforded the same tort liability coverage as any City employee (ORS 30.260) as long as they are working under the direct control and supervision of the City. The coverage is not provided for illegal, fraudulent, or malicious acts. The City shall defend the volunteer against any claim against him or her by members of the public who allege that they have suffered bodily injury, personal injury, or damage to their property as a result of an act, error, or omission of the volunteer. In addition, the City shall pay any judgment based thereon or any settlement of the claim or action.

HolidaysTheCityofEugene’sRecreationFacilitiesobservesthefollowing holidays and facilities are typically closed on these days: • NewYearsDay • MartinLutherKingDay • Presidents’Day • MemorialDay • IndependenceDay • LaborDay • Veterans’Day • ThanksgivingDayandthefollowingFriday • ChristmasDay

Healthy/SafetyKeepinmindthatRecreation’sprimarygoalistohelpparticipantshaveasafe,fun,andpositiveexperienceintheir recreation class or activity. Therefore, always be concerned about the safety of participants and look for potentialrisks.Beonguardforimproperuseoftoolsorequipmentanddangerousbehavior.Otherhealth/safety guidelines are:

• Volunteersmaynottransportparticipantsintheirpersonalvehicles. • Strangersarenotallowedtoapproachortalktoyoungerparticipantsatanytime.Ifyouobserve anything unusual or suspicious please notify your supervisor. • Physicalpunishment,verballyabusivecomments,ordenialofnecessitiessuchasfoodoruseofthe bathroom is not allowed. • Anysignsofinjuryorpossiblechildabusemustbereportedimmediatelytoasupervisorand documented in writing.

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Guidelines for the Physical Contact and Treatment of Youth • Donotinitiatephysicalcontactwithyouth.Ifachildinitiatesphysicalcontact,refrainfromhuggingthe child and as an alternative give a gentle tap on the shoulder or head. Use the side hug or “high five” to let them know that you are happy to see them. Do not rap your arms around them.

• Donotallowchildrentositonyourlaporinbetweenyourlegswhensittinginachairoronthefloor. Havethechildsitbesideyou.

• Donotphysicallyrestrainorpickachildupunlessthechildisadangertothemselvesorothers.

• Avoidbeingalonewithachild.Stayingroupswithyourgroup partner and other children.

• Donotengageina“wrestling”matchwithachild.Thisisnotto say that you cannot be interactive with children, just that you must avoid physical contact whenever possible.

Working with YouthYouthprogramsaretobedesignedtoensureasafeandsupportiveenvironment where children can play, learn and grow. Each child is re-spectedandtreatedindividuallyandencouragedtobuildpositiveproblemsolvingskills.Allleadersfunctionas a team, and everyone shares in the duties of providing supervision to participants.

Understand, use, and consistently encourage the children to follow this four-tier expectation system: 1. Respect Others – be nice 2. Respect Property 3. Followleaders’directionsquickly. 4. Alwaysbecarefulandplaysafely.

If children are having difficulty with any of these expectations, take the following steps: • Stoptheinappropriatebehaviorassoonaspossible. • Haveeachchildtelltheirsideofthestory.Besuretheotherchildcanlisten.Oftenchildrenarenotaware of how their actions affect others. Listen to what the children are saying. • Respondtothechildexplainingtheirstoryanddescribethefeelingsthechildhaswhentheotherchild isusingacertainbehavior.Example:SoyoufeelangrywhenSally/Sammytakesyourtoy. • Explaintothechildthefeelingstheotherchildhasasaresultofthebehavior.Problemsolvewiththe children as to what they might do to end a similar situation with a positive solution. • Encouragethechildtoapologizeandthencontinuewiththeactivity.Ifcontinuingisnotpossible redirect the children to another activity.

Communicating with OthersAkeycomponentofworkingwithothersisestablishinggoodcommunicationlinkswithallpersons.Beingagood listener is imperative. What does it mean to listen? It means trying to actively and faithfully understand what others are trying to say. Communicating with people may sometimes require communicating in uncon-ventional ways. Those who communicate without words, those who use words and symbols in unique ways, and those who communicate within the drama of their behavior call on the listener to listen emotionally, mentally, and spiritually. To improve our ability to listen, it is important to examine three dimensions of our listening:

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Where we listen from: We listen best when we stand with people close enough to smell and hear each other, to touch and be touched. Standing with a person means being willing to accommodate the person’s prefer-ences for communicating, and being willing to thoughtfully consider joining the person in taking action. What we listen for: We listen best when we encourage people to find their voice. Listening is not about grantingwishes;itisamatterofattendingtothedetails,needsanddesiresofeachindividualperson. How we listen: We listen best when we listen with care. Care is not feeling pity. It is attending to the threads of meaning that emerge from thoughtful investigation of a person’s biography, discerning expression of competence, interest, concern and passion in responses to day-to-day experience, and creating invitations for discussion of the person’s dreams. Care means acknowledging vulnerabilities, fears, disappointments, and failures, and the ways a person understands their experiences and finds the courage to keep on.

InclusionInclusion means that individuals with and without disabilities participate together in the same way, in the same place and enjoy the same benefits. The City of Eugene Recreation staff, including Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialists, are committed to making all reasonable efforts to ensure that facilities, programs, and services are accessible to and usable by all people, including individuals with disabilities.

These inclusion services are available to patrons upon request: • Increasedstaff-to-patronratios • Wheelchair-accessiblevans • Adaptedequipment • Informationinlargeprint,Braille,ondisk,USBdrive,orareader • Serviceanimalsinprograms • Programmodification • Individualizedassessmentsandactivitysupport • Resourceandinformation • Signlanguageinterpretationforindividualswithhearingimpairments

Thank YouByvolunteeringwiththeCityofEugeneRecreationDivision.Youare making a difference in your community.

Through the efforts of volunteers like you, Recreation Services can continue the tradition of providing exceptional programs that enrich the lives of people of all ages.

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