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Virginia 4-H Camping Volunteer Training Modules

Virginia 4-H Camping Volunteer Training Modules. MODULE 5: GENERAL POLICIES FOR 4-H CAMP VOLUNTEERS. Developed by Barry A. Garst, Ph.D., Assistant Professor and Extension Specialist 4-H Youth Development, March 2006. How to Use this Information. If you are a 4-H adult volunteer leader :

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Virginia 4-H Camping Volunteer Training Modules

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  1. Virginia 4-H CampingVolunteer Training Modules MODULE 5: GENERAL POLICIES FOR 4-H CAMP VOLUNTEERS Developed by Barry A. Garst, Ph.D., Assistant Professor and Extension Specialist 4-H Youth Development, March 2006

  2. How to Use this Information • If you are a 4-H adult volunteer leader: • 1. Review the 4-H camp-related information contained in this presentation. • 2. Consider the “Discussion Questions” listed on the last page. • 3. Contact your local 4-H Extension Agent (or other person responsible for 4-H camping in your county/city) to review this information. • If you are a VCE faculty or staff member responsible for 4-H camping in your unit: • 1. Review the 4-H camp-related information contained in this presentation. • 2. Use this presentation to support your 4-H camp teen/adult volunteer leader training. • 3. Use the “Discussion Questions” listed on the last page as a resource in reviewing this information with your 4-H camp volunteers.

  3. Overview • Equal opportunity/Affirmative Action • “Chain-of-Command” and limits of authority • Volunteer conduct and performance evaluation • Sexual Harassment • Use of 4-H Center facilities • Volunteer “down time” • Identification system for volunteer staff

  4. Equal Opportunity • Virginia Cooperative Extension and 4-H educational center programs and employment are open to all, regardless of race, sex, disability, age, veteran status, national origin, religion, political affiliation, or sexual orientation. • Virginia Cooperative Extension and the 4-H educational centers are equal opportunity/affirmative action employers.

  5. Chain-of-Command and Limits of Authority • All 4-H camp teen and adult volunteers are accountable to the 4-H Extension Agent (or other person responsible for the county/city 4-H camping program) who is serving as 4-H Camp Director. • 4-H camp volunteers must follow their 4-H camp position description and other volunteer expectations as defined by their 4-H Extension Agent (or other person responsible for the county/city 4-H camping program).

  6. Chain-of-Command and Limits of Authority • In most instances, the 4-H Extension Agent (or other person responsible for the county/city 4-H camping program) has the final authority to make decisions in the best interest of the county/city 4-H camping program. • However, for 4-H camps conducted at a 4-H Center, the 4-H Center’s Program Director and/or Center Director have “care, custody, and control” of the 4-H Center and have the authority to make decisions in the best interest of anyone who is using the facility.

  7. Chain-of-Command and Limits of Authority • Thus, in some situations, there may be some shared decision-making between the 4-H Extension Agent (or other person responsible for the county/city 4-H camping program) and the 4-H Center’s Program Director and/or Center Director.

  8. Chain-of-Command and Limits of Authority • During 4-H camp, teen and adult volunteers should report to their county/city’s 4-H Extension Agent (or other person responsible for the county/city 4-H camping program). • Ask your 4-H Extension Agent for specifics regarding your 4-H camp’s chain-of-command. Some Agents have specific reporting structures for 4-H camp.

  9. Volunteer Conduct and Performance Evaluation • 4-H camp volunteers are expected to have the highest standards of personal and professional conduct. • As representatives of Virginia Tech, Virginia State University, Virginia Cooperative Extension, 4-H, and the 4-H Centers, 4-H camp volunteers must maintain a high degree of professional behavior at all times while at 4-H camp.

  10. Volunteer Conduct and Performance Evaluation • Virginia 4-H has adopted CHARACTER COUNTS! as the character education program that it teaches to youth and adults working with those youth. The “Six Pillars of Character” are: • Trustworthiness • Respect • Responsibility • Fairness • Caring • Citizenship

  11. Volunteer Conduct and Performance Evaluation • 4-H camp volunteers should strive to demonstrate these pillars of character while working with 4-H campers, other volunteers and staff, and 4-H Center guests.

  12. Volunteer Conduct and Performance Evaluation • It is important for 4-H camp volunteers to read and understand the 4-H Code-of-Conduct, which outlines expected youth conduct . 4-H camp volunteers should enforce the 4-H Code-of-Conduct at all times. • See “4-H Code-of-Conduct” • Volunteers are expected to read and sign the “Standards of Behavior for 4-H Camp Volunteers,” which outlines expected volunteer conduct. • See “Standards of Behavior for 4-H Volunteers”

  13. Volunteer Conduct and Performance Evaluation • 4-H camp volunteer are evaluated by the 4-H Extension Agent (or other person responsible for the county/city 4-H camping program) before and/or during camp. This is called the volunteer performance evaluation process. • The purpose of the volunteer performance evaluation process is to help volunteers to be successful and to ensure the a high quality camping program for 4-H youth.

  14. Sexual Harassment • Sexual harassment is defined as unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal, nonverbal, or physical conduct of a sexual nature when: • Submission to such conduct is made either explicitly or implicitly a term or condition of an individual's employment or academic status. • Submission to or rejection of such conduct by an individual is used as the basis for employment or academic decisions.

  15. Sexual Harassment • Sexual harassment interferes with an individual's volunteer work and may create an intimidating, hostile, or offensive work environment. • Sexual harassment violates Virginia Tech and 4-H Center policy as well as state and federal laws and can result in disciplinary action and dismissal from 4-H camp. • Volunteers should be very aware of their words and actions.

  16. Use of 4-H Center Facilities • During Junior 4-H camp, volunteers may be given access to 4-H Center facilities. In some cases, this access is a “fringe benefit” of 4-H camp volunteerism. • Contact your 4-H Extension Agent (or other person responsible for your county/city 4-H camping program) for more information regarding access to 4-H Center facilities.

  17. Use of 4-H Center Facilities • For some 4-H Centers, special policies apply. • For example, anytime that 4-H camp paid and volunteer staff use a 4-H Center pool, a certified lifeguard must be present at all times, and an appropriate number of lookouts must be out of the water based upon the 4-H Center’s policies and procedures.

  18. “Down Time” (Time Off) • Each 4-H camp teen and adult volunteer should receive 2 hours of “down time” off each day. This should be time when the volunteer is not expected to directly supervise youth. • This time may be provided in small or large increments • Please talk with your 4-H Extension Agent (or other person responsible for your county/city 4-H camping program) regarding how your “down-time” will be scheduled.

  19. Identification System • Each 4-H Center is required to incorporate an identification system whereby paid and volunteer staff can be easily identified. • An identification system is important, as it provides a way that you can be easily identified in an emergency. It also identifies you as someone that a 4-H camper can come to if help is needed.

  20. Identification System • 4-H Centers often use colored lanyards, nametags, t-shirts, or similar identification methods. As a 4-H camp volunteer, you may be required to use one of these methods of identification. • Contact your 4-H Extension Agent (or other person responsible for your county/city 4-H camping program) for more information regarding the identification system that will be used during your week of camp.

  21. Other Important Policies • In the next few MODULES, you will learn about other important policies that all 4-H camp volunteers should know, including: • Above Suspicion Policy/Modesty guidelines • Blood-borne Pathogens Policy • Supervision Policies • Health Policies • Emergency Policies

  22. Other Important Policies • Before 4-H camp begins, you should also discuss with your 4-H Agent (or other person responsible for your county/city 4-H camping program) the specifics regarding the following policies: • Use of waterfront (if your 4-H Center has a lake/pond/river) • Teen/Adult parties and after-hours get-togethers • Food in cabins/lodges

  23. Discussion Questions • How can these policies help you as a 4-H camp volunteer? • Do you have any questions regarding the information presented in this module? • Identify one thing that you learned from this module that you did not already know. • What do you think is the most important thing that should be remembered from this module?

  24. References • Garst, B.A. (2005). Virginia 4-H Camping Handbook. Virginia Cooperative Extension. Publication 388-562. • Virginia Tech EOAA Office. (2003). Sexual Harassment Defined. Retrieved on November 1, 2003 from http://www.eoaa.vt.edu/text_only/shm1_text.htm

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