Volunteer Guide
programs, policies, practices and procedures
Thanks for choosing to donate your time to volunteering with Project Watershed!
We have created a digital volunteer guide to help orient you to our operations with links to our confidentiality agreement and other important documents.
Volunteer Guide
Welcome, and thank you for becoming a volunteer with Project Watershed. We are dedicated to creating a respectful, inclusive, and safe environment where everyone can contribute meaningfully.
All volunteers are expected to read and follow the guidelines outlined here.
Rights and Responsibilities
As a Project Watershed volunteer, you have the right to:
- Be treated with respect and dignity
- Receive clear role information
- Work in a safe environment
- Feel comfortable with assigned tasks
- Ask questions and request support or changes
- Be recognized for your contributions
As a Project Watershed volunteer you are expected to to:
- Read and follow all safety guidelines and instructions provided by Project Watershed
- Act responsibly and reliably
- Be respectful, inclusive, helpful, and honest
- Report any accidents, injuries, or near-misses to staff as soon as possible
- Notify staff if you cannot attend an event your signed up for
Prohibited Behaviors
Any of the following behaviours may result in dismissal from volunteering:
- Harassment, discrimination, or unsafe behaviour
- Theft or misuse of property
- Breach of confidentiality
- Substance use during volunteer activities
- Actions that endanger yourself or others
- Smoking/vaping where not permitted
Communication
We encourage open, respectful communication—please direct any questions or concerns to a staff member or designated contact. If you’re unsure about something, just ask.
Public Representation
Volunteers are expected to be positive ambassadors for Project Watershed but may not act as official spokespeople unless authorized (e.g. speaking to media, issuing press releases, using organisational branding).
Conflict Resolution
If you experience or observe conflict step away if needed and report issues to staff as soon as possible. We will work to resolve concerns respectfully.
Use of Equipment
Volunteers must:
- Be guided or trained in the use of equipment
- Use equipment only as instructed
- Handle all equipment with care
- Report any damage or issues
- Return equipment after use
Below are some examples of the types of volunteer opportunities that we have. Training will be provided, and you can try out as many different roles as you like.
Outdoor Stewardship: Planting & Maintenance
Planting, mulching, and invasive species removal at various streamside or salt marsh locations, supervised and directed by Project Watershed staff.
Outreach Booths
2-3 hour shifts greeting visitors to our information booth at various events throughout the Valley. Often includes set up and/or teardown. Volunteers will get in free for any paid events.
Field Trip Assistance
Assist Caila with field trips by running activities for groups of school children.
Citizen Science Monitoring
We have a variety of citizen science projects for volunteers to participate in that generally change with the seasons. Volunteers will be given a demonstration of the protocol and the data collected helps us track the level of success our restoration projects have or if more work may be needed at one of our project sites.
Specific opportunities include:
- Pinniped monitoring
- Forage fish surveys
- Community Water Monitoring
Eelgrass Tying and Planting
Tying eelgrass stems to metal washers on shore then passing them over to divers to plant.
Event Assistance
Setting up and/or tearing down for dinners and other events, welcoming and checking people in, serving food/drinks, assisting with raffle or auction sales.
Newt Mascot
We have a beautiful and comfortable Newt Mascot costume. We are looking for volunteers to wear the costume at public events. If you like having fun, being goofy with kids, and getting high fives from those around you, this is for you!
Photography/Videography/Media
Taking photos and/or videos at events. Transferring those photos and videos to Project Watershed in a timely manner. Giving Project Watershed the right to use them free of charge for any and all purposes they see fit. Credit will be given to the photographer.
Background
Project Watershed is an enterprising non-profit society that was established in 1993 by a small group of citizens concerned by declining fish stocks, water quality, and rapid urban development in Comox Valley watersheds. Often working in partnership with local stewardship organizations, industry and all levels of government, we promote community stewardship through education, information and action projects. We offer professional conservation mapping and related technical services, host regular Streamkeepers & Wetlandkeepers courses, maintain a stewardship information library, and currently manage research, restoration, assessment, protection and awareness raising projects in the K’ómoks Estuary and Puntledge River watershed.
Partnering with like-minded organizations we maintain offices at the “Comox Valley Conservation Center” at 2356A Rosewall Crescent in Courtenay, along with the Comox Valley Land Trust, and the Tsolum River Restoration Society.
Project Watershed Society has undertaken numerous projects in partnership with both the federal and provincial governments. We have operated under grants from the BC Ministry of Environment, Lands & Parks, Ministry of Transportation – Vancouver Island Highway Project, BC Ministry of Agriculture and Food, Ministry of Fisheries, Ministry of Community Development, Cooperatives & Volunteers, and we are current recipients of a Direct Access Grant from the Gaming Policy and Enforcement Branch of the Ministry of Housing and Social Development. From the Government of Canada, we have received numerous grants from Environment Canada from the Habitat Stewardship for Species at Risk Program, and the Eco-Action Program, and from Fisheries and Oceans Canada we have received grants from the Public Involvement Program, the Habitat Restoration, and Salmon Enhancement Program as well as Human Resources Development Canada through a Local Labour Market Partnership Project. Find out about our past and present projects on our website.
Many projects are dependent on funding and change throughout the year. We also have ongoing initiatives which include the following:
- Promoting community stewardship of every watershed from Oyster River to Deep Bay Creek,
- Providing and promoting environmental education and research,
- Acquiring and disseminating environmental information,
- Enhancing community understanding of local ecosystems and recognition of the requirements of indigenous species,
- Improving awareness of local action opportunities in watershed stewardship,
- Providing and promoting employment opportunities in sustainable watershed activities,
- Working with government agencies, private companies, and other interest groups to conserve, restore, and develop habitat for indigenous fish, flora, and fauna, and
- Encouraging all ages and cultures to become involved in community stewardship of watersheds.
Our Projects
We are a project-based organization that focuses on sensitive habitat.
Donations
Donations support our restoration, research, and education projects and are tax deductible. We accept cheques, e-transfers, cash, and credit cards. Visit our Donate page for more information.
Membership
Membership helps us to gauge community support for the work we do, fund that work, and leverage financial support for our projects. Visit our Membership page for more information.
Conservation Centre Groups
Project Watershed shares offices and often works in partnership with other conservation groups.
Comox Valley Land Trust
The Comox Valley Land Trust promotes, protects, conserves, and restores the ecologically significant land, waters, and wildlife habitat of the Comox Valley through land acquisition, covenants, and other programs.
Comox Valley Conservation Partnership
cvlandtrust.ca/comox-valley-conservation-partnership/
The Comox Valley Conservation Partnership (CVCP) is an alliance of local environmental non-profit organizations, stewardship groups and local residents’ associations working collaboratively since 2008 to stop the loss of ecological areas in the Comox Valley by promoting the conservation and restoration of land and water ecosystems.
Tsolum River Restoration Society
The Tsolum River Restoration Society works to restore the health and productivity of the Tsolum River to historic levels.