The science and art of building volunteer partnerships
Webinar Summary
With more people recreating than ever before there’s more pressure on recreation infrastructure, like trails, shelters, docks and campgrounds. Volunteer groups are stepping up to the challenge; the number of agreements between volunteer recreation groups and Recreation Sites and Trails BC increased from 280 in 2014 to 388 today. But it’s still a struggle to keep up. The easiest way to fill the gap in human power is for land managers and volunteer recreation groups to partner and cooperate more efficiently.
The Outdoor Recreation Council of BC’s April webinar focused on the science and art of improving these relations. Evald Bundgaard Iversen, a Danish-researcher, presented findings from his study into best practices between land managers and volunteer trail builders. Dr. Kelsey Johansen put Iversen’s research into a Canadian context using an analysis she wrote for The Trail Research Hub. And Kevin Eskelin, from Recreation Sites and Trails BC, provided B.C. context to the discussion.
We break their recommendations and action items into two columns: land managers and volunteer groups.
Watch the webinar
6 actions for Volunteer Groups
Think of your organization like a business. Use a long term vision to create a plan for its success on the ground and in the community.
1) Planning
Develop a 5 year strategic plan
Align it with the strategic plan of land managers you work with
Develop a way of tracking progress and contributions
Read guidance docs, or ask for guidance, on bureaucratic processes
BC Context:
The provincial government is focused on upgrading and maintenance, not new builds
Want projects that use phased development over several years and have long vision
Think about multi-stakeholder benefits: accessibility, equity, diversity, gaps in community infrastructure
Illustrate capacity to get job done
2) Business case
Tell the story of your organization to show compelling value to community and beyond
Make the case for investors, collaborators and volunteers
Share and celebrate your successes and accomplishments
Develop a 30-second and 5-minute elevator pitch that tells your impact
Find local champions - prominent citizens who cheerlead for you
3) Collaborate
Cooperate and build alliances with other recreation groups and allies to create a unified voice that increases reach and relevance
Amplifies message, simplifies interactions and saves volunteer hours
More resources for problem solving, advocacy and innovation
Think trail alliance, collective impact initiative, recreation council eg: Outdoor Recreation Council of BC, The Colorado Outdoor Partnership, Shuswap Trail Alliance, BC Snowmobile Federation
4) Build relationships
Host informal meetings with local officials and agencies - early and deep dialogue is important.
A cup of coffee is a good start
Go on field trips to see outdoor rec infrastructure together
Think reciprocally - support their initiatives
5) Host events
Make your organization known positively in the community.
Host clean ups and maintenance events, races and skills clinics
Raise money for local charities and conservation efforts
Partner on BC Trails Day
Communicate what you are doing, so the community can take part and
Hear about efforts
6) Preserve knowledge
Plan for succession within your organization, particularly on the administration side
Keep good notes, so don’t lose experience and knowledge
Nurture and encourage new volunteers
Review partnership agreements
Plan projects in multi-year phases, so can adjust to the volunteer interest of the day
5 actions for Land managers
For government, municipalities, public authorities, & private landowners. Recreation groups and volunteers can make a significant contribution to your community’s infrastructure, health and lifestyle. Rec Sites and Trails BC estimates volunteers contributed the equivalent of 180 full time staff in work hours last year.
1) Plan
Develop a strategic plan for outdoor recreation and communicate how volunteer groups can align with it.
Natural Asset Management Planning
ID natural and recreational assets and evaluate for value for environmental health and public health
2) Support
Create financial and other support for volunteer groups.
● Funding for outdoor recreation infrastructure projects and volunteer training
● Guidance documents, checklists and other supports to help volunteer groups navigate bureaucracy and red tape; direct how best to use volunteer time
3) Be Available
Assign a key contact to work with outdoor rec groups
Be available and responsive
Cultivate staff skills so volunteers and staff “speak the same language”
Make it efficient, and predictable, to get to a decision
Risk: land owner taking on too much removes ownership from volunteers. Needs to be a careful balance of support and self-determination
4) Trust
Cultivate relations with recreation community to build trust
Acknowledge and rely on their expertise
Give trust to gain trust
Create opportunities for joint decision making
5) Reciprocal recognition
Invite recreation community to help influence goals, objectives and “key performance indicators”
Recognize volunteer contributions
Celebrate successes and milestones
Links
How to collect data that matters by Kelsey Johansen
https://www.trailresearchhub.com/post/performance-management-how-to-collect-data-that-matters
Trails, social enterprise, and collective impact: Insights from the literature by Kelsey Johansen
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