Frequently Asked Questions
hank you for your interest in volunteering with DCNR.
· Who can I contact for more information about volunteering?
o Call or email a particular state park or state forest: Select “Locations” on the left navigation bar, then locate the park or forest of interest.
o For information about the Bureau of Geologic Survey, call 717-702-2017.
· What is a Conservation Volunteer?
A Conservation Volunteer is someone who cares about protecting and enhancing our beautiful natural resources. People of all ages can participate in the program, which matches interests and abilities with appropriate outdoor projects. You can join us as a group or an individual. Work is challenging, exhilarating and, above all, rewarding. From a few hours to a lifetime commitment, the choice is yours. Any amount of time will benefit you and the outdoors.
· What volunteer opportunities (Opportunities) can I help with?
Volunteers assist with a variety of seasonal or ongoing state park & state forest needs, including but not limited to:
o Maintain and improve all trails to ensure safety, accessibility, and sustainability.
o Maintain and upkeep other recreational facilities, such as pavilions, playgrounds, gardens, and picnic tables.
o Assist with campground upkeep, including campsite maintenance, trash cleanup, and serving as a campground host.
o Promote healthy forests through tree planting, community education, and sustainable land management.
· Can a team/group volunteer?
o Organizations such as scout groups, conservation partners, youth groups, etc. may volunteer with DCNR. Contact the volunteer coordinator for assistance.
o Minors (those under the age of 18) may volunteer, but parent or guardian consent is required. When a minor is with a group (i.e. scouts), the organization must obtain parental/guardian approval using the Conservation Volunteer Agreement . The organization's team leader must provide the volunteer coordinator with a completed and signed form for each minor who will be volunteering. This form is required for every volunteer opportunity in which the minor participates.
· Can minors under the age of 18 volunteer?
o The PA Child Labor Law applies to minors who have not yet graduated high school or are under the age of 18. Children may volunteer, but parent or guardian consent is required; parental/guardian approval using the Conservation Volunteer Agreement. This form is required for every volunteer opportunity in which the minor participates.
o Minors aged 13 to 17 can create an online account. However, minors under the age of 13 are not permitted to sign up as a volunteer on the website. Minor requirements.
o Children are permitted to perform conservation and clean-up services, such as: litter pick up, trail work that is non-strenuous or hazardous, tree plantings, sign maintenance, or boundary maintenance.
· When are background clearances required?
o Not all volunteer opportunities require background clearances.
o Volunteers who routinely work around children, such as a campground host or educator, are required to obtain background clearances.
o Required background clearances are: PA Criminal History Record and PA Child Abuse. In some limited circumstances, FBI Background Check with fingerprinting will be required.
o Copies of these clearances will be requested after registering for an opportunity.
o You will be prompted during an opportunity registration that background clearances are required. DCNR Volunteer Coordinators will guide you through this process once you register for an opportunity if background clearances are not already on file.
· How do I create an account?
o Click the Sign Up button at the top of the page.
o Complete all the required fields on the form.
o Select Create Your Account when finished.
· How do I submit volunteer hours? Let us know that you volunteer with DCNR by entering your time in our system.
o If you signed into the opportunity electronically:
§ You will automatically be credited with the default hours for the opportunity if the DCNR location checked you in online.
§ If you volunteer less or more hours, you can edit the time in your account under Track Hours – click the pencil icon and adjust your hours.
§ Contact the park or forest volunteer coordinator if you need assistance.
o If you didn’t sign in electronically or need to manually add hours:
§ Enter your time by signing in to your account and expanding the menu option next to your log-in initials (in the top right nav bar), then select the Track Hours option. Here you can enter your hours.
· Are there benchmarks or awards for cumulative hours volunteered?
o DCNR appreciates the effort of their volunteers and wants to recognize those committed volunteers! When volunteers hit certain hours, they are awarded with:
§ All benchmarks: Social media badge to share your accomplishment with others.
§ 100 hours: 2-night free state forest camping
§ 250 hours: 2-night free state park camping
§ 500 hours: 5-night free state park camping
§ 1,000 hours: 2-night/3-day free state park cabin stay
o You will receive a notification from the system as a reminder that you’ve reached those benchmarks. To receive these awards, contact the local volunteer site manager who will assist you.
o Additionally, DCNR partners with the Pennsylvania Parks and Forests Foundation to give awards for committed volunteers at their annual banquet. Those awards are not based solely on hours.
o Free camping as an award is not to be confused with the free camping privilege permitted while an individual/family/group is providing an immediate volunteer service. Examples include: 1) weekend clean-up opportunity with free overnight camping; 2) campground host opportunity already receiving free overnight camping.
· What is the statutory basis of the DCNR volunteer program:
o The basis for the Conservation Volunteer Program is the Conservation and Natural Resources Act, (71 P.S. § 1340.310) (“Act”) which authorizes DCNR to recruit, train and accept volunteers.
o The Act, which refers to the volunteer program as the “Natural Resource Volunteer Program,” provides that volunteers in the program are to be treated as DCNR employees for purposes of workers’ compensation and general and automotive liability.
o Because of this statutory basis, conservation volunteers must agree to certain waivers, rights, and duties related to their volunteer service and the Pennsylvania Workers’ Compensation Act.
· Can a Conservation Volunteer be dismissed?
o DCNR deserves the right to remove or revoke volunteer status at any time.
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