E X P E R I E N C E Y O U R A M E R I C A

Creating Opportunities to ServeA History of the National Park Service Volunteers-In-Parks Program

National Park ServiceU.S. Department of the InteriorVolunteers-In-Parks

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Volunteers-In-Parks The Need The Vision The Process The Program The People The Statistics The Milestones The Future

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The Need Great interest in serving parks NPS was accepting limited services of private

citizens who were required to… ...waive liability for injuries; …agree that they were not employees and

therefore personally liable to others for injuries caused by volunteer activities.

Potential volunteers reconsidered donating services

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The Vision

“We envision the park volunteer as a private citizen accepting an appointment, without compensation, to a specific job…”

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The Vision

“The job would be complementary to, and in addition to, the tasks of the regular career employees, and would not diminish their roles.”

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The Vision Volunteer duties would center on Interpretation

and Visitor Services. Special information services to visitors Assisting in archeological digs Special research projects Interpreting historical events

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The Process

Former Director George B. Hartzog, Jr. testified before the House and Senate in support of the proposed bill.

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The Process The bill specifically gives

authorization to the Secretary of the Interior to… recruit, train, and accept

volunteers, provide for incidental

expenses, and consider volunteers as

Federal employees in the case of work injury compensation and tort claims and liability.

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The Process Original Projected Costs per VIP

Uniforms/Accessories$40

Meals $75 Transportation

$75 Pins, Awards, Badges, etc.

$8 Medical Examination

$7 Orientation & Training $40 Miscellaneous

$25

Total per Volunteer $270

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The Program

Public Law 91-357 was enacted July 29, 1970.

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The Program

First Lady, Patricia Nixon inaugurated the new Volunteers-In-Parks program in Washington, DC, December 1970.

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The Program

VIP Brochure - 1972

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The People

Visitor Services opportunities were envisioned as ideal placements for VIPs.

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The People

Living history and historic weapons demonstrations were among the top volunteer activities of the early years.

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The People

NPS staff and family members were actively involved in the volunteer program.

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The People

Interpretation and Education opportunities provided a chance for citizens to use their skills and participate in telling the stories of these special places.

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The People

From coast to coast, volunteers began to enhance visitor services and enrich the park experience.

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The People

As the nation’s bicentennial approached, people of all ages offered their time, skills, and service.

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The Statistics Breakdown of Volunteers by Age Groups

1972 Below 18 years 18% 18-21 18% 22-30 22% 31-40 13% 41-50 13% 51-60 9% 61 and over 7%

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The Statistics Breakdown of Volunteers by Age Groups

2007 10-20 4% 21-40 10% 41-60 37% 61-80 46% 81 and over 3%

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The Statistics Average Annual Cost per Volunteer

1971 $47.95 1972 $24.81 2007 $20.00 2008 $19.00 2009 $17.86

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The StatisticsNumber of VIPs by Decadefiscal years

855

1971

8,300

1978

44,995

1988

112,108

1998

176,000

2008

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The StatisticsNumber of VIP Hours by Decadefiscal years

197,213

1971

538,148

1978

2,286,000

1988

4,091,000

1998

5,500,000

2008

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The Milestones

Original act amended to allow VIP managers to “provide for the services or costs incidental to the utilization of volunteers, including transportation, supplies, lodging subsistence, recruiting, training, and supervision.

1984

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The Milestones

1991 PL 102-154 authorized the

use of funds to recognize and award VIPs and to provide “non-monetary awards of nominal value.” The law also allows the NPS to use any appropriated funds to offset the costs of the VIP program.

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The Milestones

1993 Associate Director for

Budget and Administration clarified the word “nominal” as used in PL 102-154: “…awards should stay within the limit of approximately $100…”

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The Milestones

2000 How to Succeed with Volunteers-In-Parks 13-module training package was completed.

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The Milestones

2002 A new suite of VIP logos were designed to keep pace and consistency with the NPS Graphic Identity Program.

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The Milestones

2003 The George B. Hartzog, Jr. Awards for Outstanding Volunteer Service were created in partnership with the National Park Foundation through a generous donation by George and Helen Hartzog.

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The Milestones

2005 Director’s Order #7 was approved, replacing NPS 7 from 1988 as the official VIP Program policy.

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The Milestones

2006 The Servicewide VIP Program Assessment was conducted to determine the program’s strengths and weaknesses, along with collecting other valuable information needed to determine the future of the program.

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The Milestones

2007 The Federal Interagency Team on Volunteerism created and received OMB approval for the new, interagency volunteer agreement form – OF301a.

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The Milestones

2008 The VIP Strategic Plan was developed based on the findings of the VIP Program Assessment.

The NPS received an unprecedented increase in volunteer funding in preparation for the NPS Centennial.

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The Milestones

2009 IRS Audit of VIP Program clarified tax law and rules for reimbursement.

Updated definition of the word “nominal” for recognizing volunteers states that non-monetary gifts should not exceed $50 in value.

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The Future

2016 10 million volunteer hours

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The Future

By preparing ourselves and providing meaningful volunteer opportunities, the program will expand naturally and continue making a difference in every way.