The View from the Other Side

I spend a lot of time writing about volunteer experiences.

I encourage organizations to think beyond filling shifts or checking boxes. I talk about belonging, communication, and creating experiences that leave people feeling welcomed, confident, and eager to return.

This weekend, I had the opportunity to experience all of that from the other side.

I volunteered at History Colorado’s Colorado Day celebration marking our state’s 150th anniversary. Like many volunteers, I came to the opportunity simply because a colleague’s post on LinkedIn caught my attention. I’ve long admired History Colorado’s commitment to volunteer engagement through our work together, and I’d challenged myself to try a few new experiences this summer. It seemed like the perfect fit.

What struck me wasn’t the event itself—although it was wonderful.

It was what happened before I even arrived.

Immediately after signing up, I received a warm welcome from Emily, the Director of Volunteer Engagement. As the festival day approached, another email arrived with everything I needed: what to wear, parking options (including discount options), exactly where to meet, and a preview of the work we’d be doing.

Then day before the event, another reminder landed in my inbox. It was reassuring. In fact, it reminded me to reserve the discounted parking—a detail I might otherwise have forgotten.

By the time I drove downtown at 6:40 on Saturday morning, I wasn’t wondering where to go, what to expect, or whether I had forgotten anything important. Instead, I arrived feeling prepared.

And sure enough, Emily was exactly where she said she would be.

She greeted me with a smile, handed me my volunteer hat, pointed out the water and snacks, introduced me to another volunteer assigned to my area, and made sure we knew our staff contact.

Within minutes, I had gone from showing up alone to feeling like I belonged.

Our small team included six volunteers spanning generations—from a high school senior to retirees—with different backgrounds and different reasons for volunteering. Interestingly, it was the first time any of us had volunteered with History Colorado. We were all newcomers, likely sharing some of the same uncertainties. Together we helped vendors unload vehicles, set up booths, welcomed guests, answered questions, and enjoyed watching the celebration come to life.

Here’s what surprised me.

I probably wouldn’t have attended the festival as a visitor. But as a volunteer, I experienced it differently. I had a purpose. I had people to talk with. I wandered through the festival after our setup responsibilities were complete, helping direct visitors, listening to music and the speeches, admiring the enormous free pancake breakfast, and exploring the art booths.

The experience reminded me that volunteering isn’t simply about completing tasks. It’s also about helping people feel comfortable enough to participate.

As volunteer engagement professionals, we sometimes underestimate how much uncertainty accompanies saying yes to a new opportunity. Where do I park? What should I wear? Will I know anyone? Will I feel awkward? Will I know what I’m doing?

Every question we answer before someone asks it removes a barrier. Every warm greeting reduces anxiety. Every introduction creates connection. That’s not hospitality. It’s volunteer engagement.

If you’re looking for simple ways to strengthen orientation—even for one-time or episodic volunteers—consider a few small practices:

• Before volunteers arrive, send practical information, a reminder, and be exactly where you say you’ll be when they arrive.
• Introduce new volunteers to another volunteer or staff member right away.
• Provide visible identifiers like nametags, shirts, or hats that help volunteers feel part of the team.
• Check in periodically throughout the experience. Connection matters.
• After the event, close the loop. Share what happened because they were there. How many people attended? What impact did the event have? And if appropriate, invite them to participate again.

I’m writing this before the follow-up email arrives, but I hope it includes a few stories and numbers from the day. I’d love to know the difference we made together. And if it happens to include another volunteer opportunity? I might just say yes again.

Nothing teaches us more than occasionally standing where our volunteers stand. Seeing your organization through fresh eyes reminds you that what feels routine to us can feel entirely new to someone else. And often, it’s the smallest acts of preparation and welcome that make the biggest difference.

If this experience has you thinking about your own volunteer orientation practices, we’ve developed a practical checklist for transforming one-time volunteers into repeat volunteers. And if you’d like another glimpse of “the other side,” you might also enjoy my earlier post about another time I unexpectedly became a volunteer—or perhaps more accurately, a voluntold—during jury duty.