Volunteering

How to Apply
For many volunteer positions, all that's required is a willingness to help and a phone call. However, individuals who will be working with children must go through a screening process to ensure children's safety. For information about volunteer opportunities, call the City and School Volunteer Office at (952) 928-6025 or e-mail krzesowiak.sarah@slpschools.org. You may also call the phone number listed at the end of each volunteer description.

Adopt-A-Hydrant
Volunteers help ensure that firefighters have fast access to fire hydrants in residential neighborhoods.
Requirements

• Shovel snow away from one hydrant after each snowfall for one winter.

• Call (952) 928-6025 e-mail krzesowiak.sarah@slpschools.org.

Adopt a Park or Garden
Volunteer to monitor your neighborhood park or garden.  Adopt a Park or Garden volunteers can choose to plant, maintain the annual garden and/or patrol their park each week during the summer, keep the park litter free, and report any vandalism or needed repairs. Volunteers may adopt the park or garden of their choice (providing it has not already been adopted).

Requirements:

• Volunteer one to three hours a week during the summer. (Assignments can be worked around summer vacation schedules.)
• Pass a criminal history background check.

For more information or to volunteer, call (952) 928-6025 e-mail: krzesowiak.sarah@slpschools.org.

Coach Youth Sports
Youth basketball, T-ball and softball teams need coaches and assistant coaches to teach athletic skills and sportsmanship. Orientation is provided by the City recreation staff; optional training from the National Youth Sports Coaches Association is also available.
Requirements

• Volunteer two hours a week (one practice and one game) during the season
• Enjoy working with children
• Knowledge of the game
• Willingness to abide by the Coaches' Code of Ethics
• Pass a criminal history background check.

For more information or to volunteer, call (952) 924-2540 e-mail cvoss@stlouispark.org

English Language Volunteers
The School District is looking for individuals to work with children who have moved here from another country practice speaking English. The minimum time commitment is 30 to 60 minutes once a week. Volunteers are also needed to help adults enrolled in day and evening classes. Training is provided. For more information, call (952) 928-6025.

Field Trip Helpers
Westwood Nature Center periodically seeks volunteers to help with field trips. For more information, call (952) 924-2544 or email chaslerud@stlouispark.org.

H.O.M.E. Chore Program to Help Local Senior Citizens
Get involved in your neighborhood! The H.O.M.E. program provides home chore services like mowing, raking and/or snow shoveling for senior citizens in our community. They have clients in many neighborhoods that can use your help; volunteering even one time can make a difference and you can decide what you would like to help with! This volunteer opportunity is suitable for individuals, couples, families, groups, and students over age 14.

Minimum time commitment: 1 hr. Call or e-mail Kim at the H.O.M.E. Program at (952) 888-5530 or kzeiszler@visi.com and get signed-up to help someone in your area.

Junior Park Leaders
Teens help Playground Leaders with arts and crafts projects, games and field trips during the summer playground program. Training is provided. In exchange for volunteer service, junior park leaders receive four movie tickets, a special junior leader field trip, and recognition before the City Council.
Requirements

• Volunteer 20 hours from June 14 through August 20
• Entering the 8th, 9th, or 10th grade
• Enjoy working outdoors
• Enjoy working with kids
• Applications due June 4.

For more information or an application, you may call (952) 924-2542 or mmargo@stlouispark.org; visit the Community Education office in the Junior High or the counselor's office in the Senior High; or stop by the Rec Center office.

Juvenile Diversion Program Leader
Do you work effectively with young people? Do you have an interest in being a positive role model to young people? Then consider participating in this program that offers first-time youth offenders a positive alternative to juvenile court. The goal of the program is to hold youth accountable for their actions while giving them the tools to ensure they don't re-offend.

Volunteers, working in teams of two or more, receive training from the Northern Star Council. Programs are held one hour a week, for a ten week period; a 10 week commitment is necessary. These youth are good kids who made a bad choice and our goal is to get them back on the right path.

Background check is required, volunteers must be at least 21 years of age. Contact Colleen Brazier, (763) 231-7242 or cbrazier@northernstarbsa.org, to find out more and how you can get involved with young people today.

Maintenance Volunteer
This is the perfect job for someone who enjoys fixing, building and generally taking care of things. The job duties will vary by season and may include construction of educational materials and Halloween party props, maintaining bird feeders, planting trees and flowers, eliminating non-native species, watering, etc. The time commitment is 2 to 3 hours a week, the day of the week is flexible.

Park gardener
Individuals who enjoy gardening can weed and deadhead flowers in a park flower garden. If the volunteer wishes, he or she may plant the flowers; otherwise, City workers will do the planting. The City provides all flowers and handles weekly watering. Volunteers may request a garden in the park of their choice, and they report to the Environmental Coordinator.
Requirements

• Volunteer one hour a week during the summer. (Assignments can be worked around summer vacation schedules.)
• Complete a criminal history background check.

For more information or to volunteer, call (952) 928-6025 e-mail krzesowiak.sarah@slpschools.org.

Park spring cleanup
Individuals who enjoy working outdoors can give neighborhood parks a good spring cleaning. Volunteers are assigned a park and given garbage bags and a form for reporting repair needs. Individuals or groups are welcome.
Requirements

• Volunteer two to three hours in April

For more information or to volunteer, call (952) 928-6025 e-mail krzesowiak.sarah@slpschools.org.

School Volunteers
The St. Louis Park School District welcomes volunteers who wish to read to classes, tutor children who need extra help or serve on advisory committees.
For a listing of school volunteer opportunities

• Visit school's web site at www.slpschools.org or call (952) 928-6025.

Special Event Helpers
When the Parks and Recreation Department offers special events, such as the Nature Center's annual Halloween Party or the annual Family New Year's Eve Party at Oak Hill Park. volunteers are needed to help set up and/or run games or activities.
Requirements

• Volunteer two to four hours per event
• Enjoy working with children
• Some jobs may require applicants to pass a criminal history background check.

For more information or to volunteer, call (952) 924-2540 e-mail cvoss@stlouispark.org.

Volunteer benefits
Although our community reaps many rewards from volunteers, volunteers also benefit. The benefits vary with the person and the volunteer position, but here are just a few reasons to share your time and talents

• Maintain or renew job skills
• Contribute to the community
• Explore new careers
• Gain knowledge or learn a new skill
• Put your ideas to work in new ways
• Meet new people
• Earn school credit or job references
• Develop leadership skills
• Add variety to your life
• Set a positive example for others
• Experience how good it feels to help others

Volunteer drivers
STEP (St. Louis Park Emergency Program) needs volunteer drivers to take individuals to medical and dental appointments as well as into STEP for food appointments. For more information, call STEP (ask for Kate) at (952) 925-4899 ext. 14.