Guide for Maintenance Volunteers

Maintenance volunteers are a vital part of running Fowler. You are the people who make the daily routines easy. Working in the maintenance is mostly a behind the scenes job, but it is very rewarding when a camper or staff thanks you for all you do.

Here is a quick overview of the week ahead for you!

Sunday afternoons

1:00 All volunteers meet in Lakeside lodge. This will give you the opportunity to meet other volunteers at camp that week, who you may not see too much of!

After this meeting, maintenance volunteers will meet with Chris to review the week and prepare for the cookout dinner.

7:00 Or thereabouts is a required meeting for all volunteers to go over staff conduct standards (SWiM’s have already had this training).

Monday-Friday

Maintenance volunteers are expected to start their day at Morning Watch unless there is a maintenance problem that needs immediate attention. Maintenance volunteers will eat their meals with the rest of the camp unless special projects prohibit this.

Saturday

The only meal we will serve Saturday is breakfast. Once breakfast is served, all staff participate in all-camp clean-up. Many hands make light work!

Responsibilities include but are not limited to:

@ “Toity runs” – a daily ritual that each maintenance worker looks forward to

@ Sweeping/mopping Suits

@ Cleaning/restocking Suits bathrooms

@ Cleaning/restocking office bathroom

@ Cleaning/restocking all three shower houses

@ Checking the maintenance log in the office in the morning and afternoon for projects and repairs

Attitude

Working in the maintenance can make for long days. It can be difficult and dirty. Often people will forget to thank you for a job well done. However, we can all work within a system to get the job done well and on-time, enjoy the community we have working alongside each other, and be proud of what we do. This process is helped along if we all follow some basic expectations:

@ Be on time!

@ Come ready and willing to work, whether you get to do "toity" runs or build a canoe rack

@ Take initiative to complete tasks

@ Stay until the work is done…many hands make light work

Attire: All maintenance workers are to wear:

@ Closed-toed shoes, work boots are especially appropriate

@ Protective work gloves and eyewear when working with power tools or other hazards

@ Staff/volunteer shirts on Sundays and Saturdays whenever possible

@ Comfortable clothing that protects you

Emergencies

Fowler’s system of dealing with emergencies is called “French Louie”. During a “French Louie”, a staff person monitors the phone in the kitchen. Those of us in the maintenance can be helpful in a few different ways:

@ Ask the staff if you can be of any help

@ Continue to work as usual unless you have been asked to help in a specific manner

@ Know emergency numbers

@ Be aware of the location of the first aid kit nearest you