Volunteer Management in European Parks

GRUNDTVIG Multilateral Project “Volunteer management in European Parks” (11/2010-10/2013)
Ten members of EUROPARC Federation from eight different countries co-operated in the project with the aim of professionalizing volunteer management in European protected areas. The project was financed by the EU in the GRUNDTVIG/Lifelong Learning Programme. For detailed information see www.volunteers-in-parks.eu.

What were the goals of the project?

• highly skilled volunteer coordinators in European protected areas who can deliver effective opportunities for people to volunteer in protected areas
• sustainable high quality and efficient volunteer management in protected areas
• learning opportunities for volunteers, park staff and hosting protected areas that enhance practical and vocational skills, communication, inter-personal and project organisation skills
• opportunities for volunteers und park staff to broaden their horizons in educational and cultural terms
• promotion of the culture of active citizenship (volunteering in parks as active and creative means of being European citizens)
• higher park and public awareness about the value of volunteering
• higher quality and acceptance of informal lifelong learning through volunteering

Common activities:

• international workshops for volunteer coordinators in parks
• compilation of learning material for volunteer coordinators
• international exchange of volunteers in parks and park staff
• elaboration of quality standards for volunteer management in European parks
• research on the impact of volunteering in protected areas
• communication and dissemination

The partners were:

• Association of Lithuanian State Parks and Reserves
• The Conservation Volunteers (TCV), UK
• Environment Agency of Iceland
• EUROPARC Atlantic Isles
• EUROPARC Federation
• EUROPARC Germany
• EUROPARC Spain
• Federparchi – EUROPARC Italy
• Nature Conservation Agency, Latvia
• Rodna Mountains National Park Administration, Romania

Silent partner: EUROPARC Nordic-Baltic