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 including trails and natural lands.

2011 target: 52,000 volunteer hours

2011 results: 58,340 volunteer hours

2012 target: 54,000 volunteer hours

Influencing factors: Volunteer hours again increased significantly from 2010 surpassing the 2011 target. This increase can be attributed to the arrival of two more AmeriCorps National Civilian Community Corps (NCCC) teams during the year and the success of establishing a process that continues to capture hours from large user groups. Notable program successes include the following:

• The 58,340 volunteer hours for the year were provided by more than 8,360 enthusiastic citizens, representing over 60 different groups and numerous individuals, in more than 430 volunteer events in over 40 park sites, natural areas and trail sites.
• Volunteers planted over 23,000 native trees and shrubs at 13 King County sites. These plants help to restore wetlands and streams, forested floodplains and wildlife habitat and add vital diversity to our forests.
• Volunteers also exerted tremendous effort in helping remove noxious and invasive weeds on approximately 200 acres of area at 32 park land sites.
• This is the second year that Parks has been awarded two AmeriCorps National Civilian Community Corps (NCCC) teams, one in the early summer and another in late fall. The two teams, with a total of 19 members, provided over 4,200 hours of outstanding volunteer service.
• This was a second year for approval from the Washington Service Corps for an AmeriCorps Individual Placement (IP) service volunteer.

Strategy going forward: In 2011, the number of volunteer hours increased without a corresponding rise in the number of events. While economic times may remain unsure, the tremendous efforts of caring citizens who are Parks volunteers continue to be a strong and steady community force. The program will continue its efforts to build upon increasing volunteer recruitment within budget and staffing capacity.

Competition for volunteers' time continues to increase, so continuing to expand volunteer recognition efforts is of utmost importance. 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. Increased efforts to enhance the volunteer experience, including time planned for enjoying the area where the volunteers have worked, will be incorporated.

The Park and Trail Ambassador program remains a small, solid group of caring citizens committed to helping Parks. Many Ambassadors have and continue to be in close contact with field staff to alert them to imminent safety issues and pertinent trail or park conditions. Concerted efforts to recruit new members and reinforce appreciation and recognition of those currently active continues to be a priority.

---

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 presents the number of public contacts made each year by volunteers trained by the Master Recycler Composter (MRC) program. 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 share their knowledge and skills through various community outreach efforts, such as staffing a "Recycle More. It's Easy to Do." information table at the Issaquah Salmon Days festival.

2011 Results: 19,670

2011 Target: 11,500

2012 Target: 7,080

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 2011 were SeaTac, Kent, Maple Valley, Renton, Snoqualmie, Tukwila, and Kenmore. A greater number of large-scale events were staffed in 2011 than originally anticipated, resulting in the number of contacts made being well above the 2011 target. The 2012 target is substantially reduced from 2011 because there will be fewer events staffed by MRCs in 2012, due in part to a portion of the 2012 budget being allocated to 2013 outreach efforts and thus not available to support volunteer-staffed events.

Strategy Going Forward: Events staffed in 2012 will include large-scale community events for focus cities such as the Auburn Good Ol' Days and Maple Valley Days. MRC volunteers may also give PowerPoint presentations to community groups to provide information about the "Recycle More. It's Easy to Do." campaign. The focus cities for 2012 will be SeaTac, Des Moines, Auburn, North Bend, Tukwila, Black Diamond, Maple Valley, and Covington. The program estimates that 40 events will be staffed in 2012.

---

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.

Back to top