Volunteerism

Parks Division

Volunteer hours

About this measure: King County Parks engages the community, educates park visitors, and provides basic enhancements to the park system and the environment through the volunteer program. Volunteers donate their time and labor to help improve and maintain community green spaces, recreational areas and natural resources that make up King County Parks. In addition to the added resources volunteers bring to park projects, people leave with a greater knowledge and appreciation for the King County park system and natural lands, in general.

2010 results: 48,000 volunteer hours

2010 target: 57,400 volunteer hours

2011 target: 52,000 volunteer hours

Influencing factors: Volunteer hours increased significantly from 2009 and subsequently far surpassed the 2010 target. This increase can be attributed to the arrival of two AmeriCorps National Civilian Community Corps (NCCC) teams during the year and the success of establishing a process that captures hours from large user groups. Notable program successes include the following:

• The 57,400 volunteer hours for the year were provided by the incredible support of more than 8,550 caring citizens, representing over 80 different groups and numerous individuals, in more than 460 volunteer events.
• Volunteers planted approximately 20,000 native trees and shrubs at 11 King County sites. These plants help to restore wetlands and streams, forested floodplains and wildlife habitat and add vital diversity to our forests. They also help to enhance natural areas within our active parks, making them more aesthetically pleasing, while increasing natural wildlife habitat within these communities.
• In the first year that Parks applied for an AmeriCorps NCCC team, the division was awarded two teams, one in the early summer and another in late fall. The two teams, with a total of 21 members, provided over 4,500 hours of exemplary volunteer service in 2010.
• Another first, the Washington Service Corps approved an AmeriCorps Individual Placement (IP) service volunteer in the division. The volunteer began her 10½-month term with Parks in September 2010, attributing to an increase in the number of events and an improvement in preparation and quality of restoration events.

Strategy going forward: : The program will continue its efforts to build upon increasing volunteer recruitment. While economic hard times continue, so does the spirit of community, so richly demonstrated by the Parks volunteer force. Strained Parks funds also place extra importance on the efforts and success of the Volunteer Program.

Efforts will be made to increase volunteerism by local residents for nearby park lands. However, competition for volunteers' time continues to increase so continuing to improve and expand volunteer recognition efforts is of utmost importance. Volunteer appreciation items will include those that help in the division's branding efforts.

Efforts will be made to work within the Parks system to educate and encourage staff to support and manage an increasing number of volunteer events, increasing the volunteer force and helping to create successful partnerships with Parks staff. Strengthening existing partnerships with communities and organizations while building new ones remains a key component to the success of this program and will continue to be improved and expanded. Efforts to enhance the volunteer experience, including time planned for enjoying the area where the volunteers have worked, will be incorporated.

In 2010, the number of volunteer hours increased significantly without a corresponding rise in the number of events. Revisions to data collection are underway, allowing for more-detailed and efficient data tracking methods, which will allow for analysis of trends in the types of groups involved and projects and locations preferred currently in the program. This will help to examine relationships with individuals and groups in order to encourage volunteers to return. It will also help in strategizing for recruiting new volunteers.

The Park and Trail Ambassador program remains a small, solid group of caring citizens committed to helping Parks. Concerted efforts to recruit new members and reinforce appreciation and recognition of those currently active will be a priority.

Because the program's target was surpassed this year, this coming year's target is increased enough to stretch our efforts while still being attainable.

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Solid Waste Division (SWD)

Number of Public Contacts Made by Volunteers Trained by the Master Composter Recycler (MRC) Program Annually

About This Performance Measure: This measure represents the number of public contacts made each year by volunteers trained by the Master Recycler Composter Program (MRC). The volunteers receive free training in waste prevention, recycling, home composting, alternatives to household hazardous wastes, and solid waste impacts on climate change. In return, participants agree to share their knowledge and skills through various community outreach efforts, such as staffing a "Recycle More" information table at the Issaquah Salmon Days festival.

2010 Results: 11,360

2010 Target: 11,000

2011 Target: 11,500

Influencing Factors: The number of public contacts made depends on the size and number of events staffed. The MRC Program targets events that typically draw the largest number of attendees. The program fills as many requests for volunteers as possible, prioritizing the larger events that are held in focus cities, which in 2010 were SeaTac, Kent, Federal Way, Renton, Snoqualmie, Tukwila and Kenmore.

Strategy Going Forward: Events staffed in 2011 will include large-scale community events such as the Issaquah Salmon Days or Kent Cornucopia Days. MRC volunteers will also give PowerPoint presentations to community groups, and staff tables at retail partners such as Bartell Drugs to provide information on kitchen compost containers and biobags, for example. The focus cities for 2011 will be SeaTac, Kent, Maple Valley, Renton, Tukwila and Kenmore. The program estimates that 130 events will be staffed in 2011.

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Water and Land Resources Division (WLRD)

Salmon watcher program

About this measure: Salmon Watcher is a multi-jurisdictional effort focused at protecting a Pacific Northwest treasure and educating the community in the process. The fourteen year old program involves volunteers watching streams for spawning salmon in King and Snohomish counties. This effort mainly focuses on waters within the Lake Washington watershed.

2009 target: 130 sites on 55 streams

2009 results: 100 sites on approximately 42 streams were watched in 2009. The number of new recruits went up; however, many doubled up on the sites they chose to watch, so fewer sites were watched.

2010 targets: 115 sites on 45 streams

The number of sites and their locations vary from year to year. For example, in 2007, 134 sites were watched on streams. As of 2009, a total of 442 sites on approximately 146 streams have been watched in the program to date. Additionally, since we started collecting information on citizen contacts in 2001, volunteers have talked with approximately 8,600 citizens at their stream sites.

Influencing factors: The Salmon Watcher program is voluntary and new watchers enter the program upon their interest and request. Budget allocations and proactive recruitment of watchers can influence how many and the location of monitoring locations.

Strategy Going Forward: Continuing to educate property owners with salmon streams on their property by participating in the program about things they can do to improve aquatic habitats.

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