Get Involved!
Our volunteers are vital to the success of our organization. Whether you are an outdoor enthusiast looking to join us on an outing or an event planning expert wanting to help us prepare for our next fundraiser, we would love to hear from you. We are always looking to bring on more passionate, hard-working, generous individuals looking for ways to give back in their community.
Read on to learn more about opportunities to volunteer with youth or support our work in other ways!
Volunteer
Our new model has two main ways to get involved: become an Outdoor Mentor or EY Volunteer.
Outdoor Mentors are part of a group mentoring model, volunteer more time, and commit to one cohort. EY Volunteers are on a 'drop-in' model to offer flexibility.
OUTDOOR MENTOR PROGRAM
Volunteer 1x/month: join us at least once a month on either an after-school enrichment session (4-6pm) or a field trip (2-6pm).
Seasonal Commitment: enroll for a 9 month commitment (the school year) or 3 month commitment (summer).
Volunteer at 1 Cohort: we are asking Mentors to commit to one cohort (a group of approximately 12-15 youth) for their 9 month/3 month tenure. This ensures Outdoor Mentors are seeing the same group of kids and deepening interpersonal relationships. Each cohort is on a specific day of the week.
Benefits of the Outdoor Mentor Program:
Free Outdoor Leadership Training: 1 week of training & onboarding to best facilitate middle-school aged children in a variety of outdoor settings, emergency situation protocols, EY resources, and general tips.
Gear Discounts: access to online, outdoor focused retail brands and organizations at a discounted rate (up to 80%) on skis, backpacks, clothing, and more.
Specialized EY Swag
Adult Mentor Meetups: 1/quarter, networking and mingling at a brewery or similar space.
Adult Mentor Trips: 1/quarter, bonding event focused on outdoor recreation (e.g. kayaking, hiking) just for adult members of our organization.
Above all, you’ll play a vital role in expanding Elevate Youth’s program offerings to more underserved youth!
EY VOLUNTEER PROGRAM
Can’t commit to volunteering once per month? No worries! Our Standard Volunteering Program allows those with busy schedules to still join us on our outdoor adventures. Apply to be a volunteer today and help us get more kids outside!
Questions? Concerns? Haven’t heard back about your application? Feel free to reach out to Sophie at sophie@elevate-youth.org.
Board Member
Interested in joining our board of directors? We’d love to talk.
Get in touch here.
Contribute
WE LOVE OUR VOLUNTEERS, BUT THERE ARE OTHER WAYS TO HELP OUT TOO.
Gear donations - headlamps, tents, sleeping bags, sleeping pads, backpacks, reusable water bottles, fishing poles. We provide everything to youth on each outing, so we can always use more equipment.
Boot donations - specifically rain boots and hiking boots - new or lightly used. Many kids do not own proper outdoor footwear, so it’s our job to get them suited up for a safe & fun hike!
Event tickets - Do you have extra tickets lying around for sports events, concerts, theater, etc? We can take those off your hands! These come in handy for rewarding our hard working volunteers.
Auction items - we hold several small fundraisers every year and often hold raffles or silent auctions to raise money for our programs. Items for these events are always accepted and appreciated.
Outing donations - do you have the skills and equipment to lead a hike, a fishing session, a surf lesson, or another kind of outdoor trip? Donate your services to give youth an unforgettable experience outside.
Photography/videography - come on an outing and help capture the essence of Elevate Youth.
Writing skills - help us write a grant!
Event planning - plan a fundraiser for us!
