Volunteers have assisted the USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service       (NRCS) in getting conservation on the land since the 1930s. However, it       wasn't until 1981 that legislation was passed giving NRCS the authority to       use volunteers on a regular basis - the National Volunteer Program was       created.       With the passage of the 1985 Farm Bill, NRCS's workload increased, use of       volunteers was encouraged to all states in order to achieve the agency's       mission. And, in 1985, the National Volunteer Program officially became       the Earth Team - the volunteer arm of NRCS.       Today, as the federal workforce continues to decline, NRCS is dependent on       volunteers to successfully serve its customers and carry out its mission.       The Earth Team is continually looking for volunteers who want to conserve       natural resources.       Are you ready to volunteer? Before you do, let me tell you a few things       you should know:           ~  You won't get paid (you're volunteering), but you can be reimbursed by          NRCS for incidental expenses you incur in your work. Travel expenses are          also reimbursed if you are asked and authorized to do so.     ~  You must be at least 14 years old.     ~  You do not have to be a United States citizen; citizens of allied          countries are also eligible.     ~  Friends and relatives of NRCS employees may volunteer, as well as         employees of other federal agencies and departments. NRCS employees may         volunteer if they are performing services unrelated to their positions.     ~  Groups of volunteers are welcome! A group application should be         completed by the group leader, which will list the individual members.         You are not a federal employee, but you are protected under the Worker's         Compensation Program and Tort Claims Act.               Although you won't be paid, you'll still need to keep track of your time.       The hours you work will be determined upon meeting with your NRCS       supervisor, but will be based on your availability and the needs of the       agency office. Hours are turned in on a monthly basis.               Once you've determined your hours, you'll be off and running (working!)!       Based on your discussions with your NRCS supervisor, you'll be given a       work assignment and be responsible for completing it. If you don't have       the skills or knowledge to complete the work effectively, mention that to       your supervisor. Volunteers have the same training opportunities as       federal employees; your supervisor can request it.       Your safety is of utmost concern to NRCS, so you will be expected to       follow the same safety precautions and use the same safety equipment as       NRCS employees. All on-the-job injuries are reported to your supervisor,       no matter how minor. This protects you in case complications develop       later, and in order for you to receive Workman's Compensation benefits, if       eligible.       Depending on the type of work you'll be doing, you may be issued       government owned tools, equipment, or vehicles, to perform it. You are       responsible for the care and return of all assigned items. If equipment is       lost or damaged due to your negligence you may be required to pay for it.       Since NRCS is a service-oriented agency that depends on public support and       acceptance of its programs, you'll be expected to dress appropriately and       conduct yourself in a way that will reflect well on the agency              Best of all, your volunteer efforts won't go unnoticed. Earth Team       volunteers receive credit for their work if they wish to apply for NRCS       job openings if the work represents qualifying experience for the NRCS       position. Or, you can list your volunteer experience when applying for       non-government positions. A case file is established for each volunteer,       which documents their duties and any training they received. (One note       here: any products such as printed materials or photographs, that you       create or produce while on the Earth Team become the property of the       United States government. As such, they cannot be sold or copyrighted.)              Now, after taking in all this information, I can ask you again, are you       ready to volunteer?             If so, contact your local NRCS service center. (Lawrence County 812-279-8117, ext. 3)      If you have difficulty locating the center in your area, visit NRCS's Earth Team web site at      http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/feature/volunteers/. This site has an option for      finding your service center as well as a wealth of information about Earth      Team.