Volunteer to help with LBL
Volunteers are the backbone of Live By Living. From leading hikes to hosting retreats, we could not offer our programs without volunteers. Read on to see how you can help make Live By Living an even bigger success!
DAY TRIP AND RETREAT SUPPORT — Perhaps above all else, Live By Living needs volunteers on its day trips and retreats. Volunteering on a day trip or a retreat can either be in a support role, or in a leadership role. This section describes the role support volunteers play, and the next one describes leadership roles.
Day trips — Volunteering in a support role doesn’t require any special training other than the ability to follow a trail (and possibly remember where to turn at a fork in the trail!). On the day hikes, support volunteers are there to provide support and encouragement as needed, to help carry a pack if necessary, and to accompany a participant back to the trailhead if they are unable to complete the hike. We make sure they eat and drink fluids. We monitor them for signs of heat stroke, altitude sickness, etc. Volunteers are also requested to help in the event of a medical problem, performing such tasks as the trip leader may assign. To volunteer for a particular day trip, please register for that trip, and indicate you are signing up as a volunteer.
Retreats — From our very first outing in 2009, volunteers have been the heart of our survivors’ and caregivers’ retreats. While on the trail on a retreat, volunteers perform similar duties as on the day trips. At the huts, support volunteers cook and clean up, and in general pamper the participants. We also rely on volunteers to provide training in various supportive techniques such as yoga, Qi Gong, and mindfulness practice (meditation). To volunteer for a particular retreat, please register for that trip, and indicate you are signing up as a volunteer.
If you can’t go on a retreat, but want to help, it’s also possible to volunteer to help with pre-retreat planning activities, like buying groceries and preparing meals. There is quite a bit of work that goes on here, so volunteers are always welcome! LBL reimburses you for the cost of any groceries we ask you to buy (be sure to keep your receipts).
Qualifications: Willingness to cook and clean up, physical ability to hike or snowshoe to the hut and take an extra pack if needed. We also need volunteers with appropriate training in fields such as yoga, meditation, massage, Qigong, Reiki, etc., who are willing to volunteer their services.
HIKE AND WALK LEADERS – We need volunteers to lead half- or full-day hikes. Volunteers should have hiking experience, good route-finding skills, and Wilderness First Aid or equivalent (we can reimburse volunteers for this training). Volunteers will also be required to attend Live By Living volunteer orientation. We provide training in understanding the common physical and emotional challenges that cancer survivors may face, how to make the experience a welcoming and enjoyable one, and what to do in the event of an accident. Volunteers may choose the hikes they want to lead, so may choose locations that are convenient to their home/work. Typically, our hikes range from 3-6 miles, with little elevation gain up to 1,000 or 2,000 feet elevation gain. Ideally, hike leaders will lead hikes at least twice a month; however, we are also happy to work with volunteers who are not able to volunteer with this frequency.
We also need volunteers to lead easy walks in parks and on multi-use paths. Evenings after work when it's light out, and weekends any time of year. We will provide training in understanding the common physical and emotional challenges that cancer survivors may face, how to make the experience a welcoming and enjoyable one, and what to do in the event of an accident. No first aid training required. Volunteers may choose the parks where they lead walks, so locations may be convenient to your work or home. Ideally, volunteer walk leaders are willing to lead walks at least once per month, preferably more often. Walks should generally be between 1 mile and 3 miles on paved sidewalks or improved trails.
RETREAT LEADER — This is the highest level of commitment we have. In addition to solid backcountry skills and judgment as described above for hike leaders, retreat leaders must have Wilderness First Responder training (80 hour course) or equivalent. (If you're a nurse or doctor, that's plenty good for us!) Retreat leaders are responsible for running the whole retreat, from meeting at the parking lot to making sure everyone’s car starts at the end. Retreat leaders also need to assist with logistics and planning — menus, food prep & storage, organizing and transporting group equipment (which LBL provides), etc. Live By Living will provide prospective retreat leaders with appropriate training in these matters, and will provide leaders with a manual. Retreat leaders must attend at least one LBL retreat prior to leading their own retreat.
OUTREACH — Live By Living pursues a variety of approaches to spreading the word about its offerings. We have a website, a Facebook page, brochures and posters. We host booths at cancer-related fundraisers and events (such as the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society’s annual Blood Cancer Conference). LBL needs help expanding its outreach program.
Outreach program volunteers can do a variety of tasks: check in with treatment centers to be sure they have an adequate supply of our brochures; post flyers/posters in coffee shops, restaurants, churches, and other community bulletin boards; identify possible cancer-related events where LBL might want to have a booth; staff LBL booths at events; post-cancer-related “news you can use” on the Facebook page or website; moderate an LBL Facebook “group”; send out LBL blurbs to mailing lists, etc.
Qualifications: willingness to work and keep track of activities.
DAY TRIP AND RETREAT SUPPORT — Perhaps above all else, Live By Living needs volunteers on its day trips and retreats. Volunteering on a day trip or a retreat can either be in a support role, or in a leadership role. This section describes the role support volunteers play, and the next one describes leadership roles.
Day trips — Volunteering in a support role doesn’t require any special training other than the ability to follow a trail (and possibly remember where to turn at a fork in the trail!). On the day hikes, support volunteers are there to provide support and encouragement as needed, to help carry a pack if necessary, and to accompany a participant back to the trailhead if they are unable to complete the hike. We make sure they eat and drink fluids. We monitor them for signs of heat stroke, altitude sickness, etc. Volunteers are also requested to help in the event of a medical problem, performing such tasks as the trip leader may assign. To volunteer for a particular day trip, please register for that trip, and indicate you are signing up as a volunteer.
Retreats — From our very first outing in 2009, volunteers have been the heart of our survivors’ and caregivers’ retreats. While on the trail on a retreat, volunteers perform similar duties as on the day trips. At the huts, support volunteers cook and clean up, and in general pamper the participants. We also rely on volunteers to provide training in various supportive techniques such as yoga, Qi Gong, and mindfulness practice (meditation). To volunteer for a particular retreat, please register for that trip, and indicate you are signing up as a volunteer.
If you can’t go on a retreat, but want to help, it’s also possible to volunteer to help with pre-retreat planning activities, like buying groceries and preparing meals. There is quite a bit of work that goes on here, so volunteers are always welcome! LBL reimburses you for the cost of any groceries we ask you to buy (be sure to keep your receipts).
Qualifications: Willingness to cook and clean up, physical ability to hike or snowshoe to the hut and take an extra pack if needed. We also need volunteers with appropriate training in fields such as yoga, meditation, massage, Qigong, Reiki, etc., who are willing to volunteer their services.
HIKE AND WALK LEADERS – We need volunteers to lead half- or full-day hikes. Volunteers should have hiking experience, good route-finding skills, and Wilderness First Aid or equivalent (we can reimburse volunteers for this training). Volunteers will also be required to attend Live By Living volunteer orientation. We provide training in understanding the common physical and emotional challenges that cancer survivors may face, how to make the experience a welcoming and enjoyable one, and what to do in the event of an accident. Volunteers may choose the hikes they want to lead, so may choose locations that are convenient to their home/work. Typically, our hikes range from 3-6 miles, with little elevation gain up to 1,000 or 2,000 feet elevation gain. Ideally, hike leaders will lead hikes at least twice a month; however, we are also happy to work with volunteers who are not able to volunteer with this frequency.
We also need volunteers to lead easy walks in parks and on multi-use paths. Evenings after work when it's light out, and weekends any time of year. We will provide training in understanding the common physical and emotional challenges that cancer survivors may face, how to make the experience a welcoming and enjoyable one, and what to do in the event of an accident. No first aid training required. Volunteers may choose the parks where they lead walks, so locations may be convenient to your work or home. Ideally, volunteer walk leaders are willing to lead walks at least once per month, preferably more often. Walks should generally be between 1 mile and 3 miles on paved sidewalks or improved trails.
RETREAT LEADER — This is the highest level of commitment we have. In addition to solid backcountry skills and judgment as described above for hike leaders, retreat leaders must have Wilderness First Responder training (80 hour course) or equivalent. (If you're a nurse or doctor, that's plenty good for us!) Retreat leaders are responsible for running the whole retreat, from meeting at the parking lot to making sure everyone’s car starts at the end. Retreat leaders also need to assist with logistics and planning — menus, food prep & storage, organizing and transporting group equipment (which LBL provides), etc. Live By Living will provide prospective retreat leaders with appropriate training in these matters, and will provide leaders with a manual. Retreat leaders must attend at least one LBL retreat prior to leading their own retreat.
OUTREACH — Live By Living pursues a variety of approaches to spreading the word about its offerings. We have a website, a Facebook page, brochures and posters. We host booths at cancer-related fundraisers and events (such as the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society’s annual Blood Cancer Conference). LBL needs help expanding its outreach program.
Outreach program volunteers can do a variety of tasks: check in with treatment centers to be sure they have an adequate supply of our brochures; post flyers/posters in coffee shops, restaurants, churches, and other community bulletin boards; identify possible cancer-related events where LBL might want to have a booth; staff LBL booths at events; post-cancer-related “news you can use” on the Facebook page or website; moderate an LBL Facebook “group”; send out LBL blurbs to mailing lists, etc.
Qualifications: willingness to work and keep track of activities.
