An exploration of the views of volunteers in outdoor recreation within a social economy framework

1. An exploration of the views of volunteers in outdoor recreation within a social economy framework Carrie McClelland Candidate MES in Nature-based Recreation School of Outdoor Recreation, Parks, and Tourism Lakehead University, Thunder Bay, ON

2. Volunteering: Volunteers willingly and freely contribute service without financial gain. Understanding of people helping people (Henderson, 1985) Core concept of social economy (Wilson, 2000) Volunteers at foundation of social economy organisations (Painter, 2006) Background Information

3. Market Capitalist Firms (Private Sector) The State (Public Sector) Social Economy Social economy

4. Research Question What are the views of volunteers in outdoor recreation regarding their contributions to personal and community well-being? How do these aspects relate to the social economy?

5. Whitehorse, Yukon Territory • 52% of Yukoners volunteer (higher than national average) • 5% of population involved with recreation groups • 41% of documented recreation groups are related to outdoor recreation

6. Data Collection • Qualitative study • Case study: outdoor recreation volunteers • 13 exploratory interviews with adult volunteers in outdoor recreation • 30-50 minutes in length • Digitally audio recorded, transcribed, retuned to participants • 10 participants replied with small grammatical corrections • Additional city publications • Essential Guide to Services in Whitehorse 2007 • 2007 City of Whitehorse Parks and Recreation Management Plan • 2007 Active Yukon Monitoring Database

7. Researcher Position • Community outsider and unfamiliar with the volunteering community in Whitehorse • Participated in volunteer-led hikes, birding, rock climbing, ultimate frisbee. • Volunteered with the Whitehorse Triathlon, Yukon River Quest, and over 80 hours at Yukon Volunteer Bureau

8. Community benefits The influence of money Pressure Services & activities Personal benefits Feelings of responsibility Skill donation Financial relief Lifestyle and sense of identity Skill development Providing opportunity Pressure to volunteer Employment &volunteering Fulfilling community needs Organisational politics Rewards & reciprocity Giving back Way of life Volunteer burnout & coping Funding It’s just good Awareness & learning Freedom The nature of volunteering The ripple effect Small community of volunteers Family Education & awareness Time management Involvement in community Health & well-being Relationship building Recruitment Findings

9. Skill development Freedom Employment & volunteering Rewards & reciprocity Lifestyle Way of life Family Relationship building Small community of volunteers Lifestyle and sense of identity “I just say: This is how I live. But if you’re already living that way it’s not a big deal.” (Mike) “Volunteering is volunteering. I will do it and it’s just one of those things…I will die a volunteer.” (Judy)

10. Fulfilling community needs The ripple effect It’s just good Providing opportunity Giving back Freedom Skill development Rewards & Reciprocity Skill donation Way of life Personal benefits Services & activities Involvement in community Awareness & learning Relationship building Family Education & awareness Employment & volunteering Health & well-being Personal Benefits “I just wouldn’t have been exposed to this at home. It’s opened my eyes to what is possible and what you think is possible.” (Hayley) “I used to volunteer in that respect because I just loved to be outdoors” (Judy)

11. Pressure to volunteer Volunteer burnout & coping Feelings of responsibility Skill development Providing opportunity Fulfilling community needs Skill donation Involvement in community Relationship building Community benefits Services & activities Health & well-being Giving back Education & awareness The ripple effect Awareness & learning It’s just good Recruitment Rewards & reciprocity Community Benefits “We wanted to provide local people with the chance to try it.” (Hayley) “So it creates more of a shared understanding of protection in their area. It helps in the overall appreciation of an area and developing an understanding of other people’s areas.” (Sandra)

12. Skill donation Providing opportunity Financial relief Services & activities Fulfilling community needs Volunteer burnout & coping Pressure to volunteer Feelings of responsibility The ripple effect Recruitment Pressure Organisational politics Small community of volunteers Time management Way of life Funding Education & awareness Pressure “Soon as you start getting ultra-organised sometimes it becomes very bureaucratic and becomes controversial.” (Richard) “There’s always pressure on people who have a lot of experience because there aren’t that many of us around.” (Bob)

13. Giving back Fulfilling community needs It’s just good The nature of Volunteering Funding Organisational politics The influence of money Financial relief Skill donation Pressure to volunteer Providing opportunity The influence of money “We’re trying to get a bit of funding for a technical director who could act as a head coach too. We’re finding that our sport can’t grow.” (Jane) “I believe the strength of volunteers comes from not being paid to do it…the goodwill of people giving back to their community needs to be in that spirit and being valued.” (Stephanie)

14. Discussion • Provide services to the community • Government cannot meet demands: Neamtam, 2005 • Contributes to City’s recreation goals • In tune with community needs: Mouleart & Nussbaumer, 2005 • City of Whitehorse Parks and Recreation Master Plan 2007 • Alternative solutions: Evans, 2006 • Volunteers feel pressure • Motivated by obligation: Cuskelly & Harrington, 1997 • 1/4 of volunteers in Canada provide 77% of volunteer hours (Statistics Canada) • Improved health and well-being • Less strain on health care system (Pronk, Tan, O’Connor, 1999) • Exchange of social capital (Veenstra, 2001)

15. City of Whitehorse Parks and Recreation Master Plan 2007 “This objective refers to a holistic wellness of the mental, the emotional and the physical – the whole person; the City’s role is to provide a range of leisure opportunities that appeal to all residents enabling them to achieve a minimum level of wellness no matter what their financial resources, skill or disability levels are.” (Inukshuk Planning & Development Ltd. et al., 2007, p. 22).

16. Discussion • Financial relief • Provides services that government cannot afford • Relieve financial strain on organisation • Sometimes receive government funding/grants • Independence from government?: Quarter, 1992 • Bring in business • Appropriate blending of government and market sectors: Restakis, 2006 • Commercialisation of activities can be beneficial to the community: Lavarie & MacDonald, 2007 • Spirit of Volunteering • Be wary of too much financial influence on organisation • Social economy considers values rather than just monetary measurement: Fasenfest, Ciancanelli, & Reese, 1997 • Professionalising takes away from the value of the activity: Sharpe, 2007

17. Discussion • Increased awareness • More like to take action: Jones, 2006 • Civic competence: Hemingway, 2006 • Skill development • Volunteers seek opportunities to improve their skills: Arai, 2007; Clary, Snyder, & Stukas, 1996 • Transferable to other areas • Relationship building • Volunteering with others: Putnam, 2000 • Bridging theory: Putnam, 2000 • Not valuable until needed: Hemingway, 2006

18. Discussion • Sense of identity • Team spirit, common values and motivations • Fit in and get along with others • Group association: Lavarie & MacDonald, 2007 • Sense of belonging: Stebbins, 1982; Glover, 2004 • Lifestyle • Continuous theme/pattern in their lives • “It’s what I do!” • Serious leisure: Stebbins, 1982; Cuskelly & Harrington, 1997 • Multiple motivations; egoistic & altruistic: Han, 2007 • Overlapping motivations: Cnaan & Goldberg-Glen, 1991

19. Summary • Volunteers recognise the community benefits of their involvement • Learning and development • Increased public awareness • Encouraging active lifestyles and healthy living • Local economic impact • Bringing people together • Volunteering benefits the individual as well as the community • Participate in enjoyable activity outdoors • Spend time with family • Development their skills • Meet new people and develop contacts • Sense of purpose and meaningful engagement

20. Conclusions • Outdoor recreation activities are important parts of the community and social economy • Demand from community members that cannot, and perhaps should not, be fully met by public services • Contribute to the community’s social, economic, and environmental goals • Important settings for public participation • Adds to our understanding of the value of “non-essential” activities • Bottom-up perspective to our understanding of social economy

21. Community Social economy Receives funding and sponsorship; Supplies, facilities and equipment from other 2 sectors Private sector Government Receives support for government mandates and contributions to community goals Receives business networks and opportunities and settings for community service Volunteer labour and social capital stock (Contributions) Outdoor recreation activities (Contributions) Provision of social economy and outdoor recreation through volunteer labour

22. Thank you! • People of Whitehorse, both study participants and new friends! • Social Economy Research Network for Northern Canada • Northern Scientific Training Programme • Yukon Volunteer Bureau • Northern Research Institute