Youth
Section Navigation
Contact
Debbie Moberg-Williams, Director; 328 West Poplar, Walla Walla, WA 99362; 509-524-2685; dmoberg@wsu.edu
Mission
As part of WSU Extension, the 4-H Youth Development Program teaches life skills that lead young people to become self-directing, positive, contributing members of our society.
Volunteer Opportunities
Become a 4-H leader to work with youth in school or special activities, or volunteer as a resource person.
Required Skills
Volunteers should be respectful and cooperative, have a positive attitude, and be willing to provide guidance to youth or others.
Skills Learned
Volunteers will share interests with others, increase public relations and leadership skills, make useful contacts, help their community, and develop organizational, decision-making, and problem-solving skills.
Training
4-H leaders participate in training appropriate to the areas in which they volunteer.
Volunteer Types
Individuals or groups who can come on a regular basis, occasionally when convenient, or once to help with a big project. Volunteers who can earn credit (service-learning) are welcome.
Contact
Tracy Palmer, Development & Outreach Coordinator; 1520 Kelly Place Suite 140, Walla Walla, WA 99362; 509-529-4980; tracyp@bmacww.org
Mission
To cultivate innovative services, in partnership with our community, to empower low-income people to meet their vital needs and achieve self-sufficiency.
Volunteer Opportunities
Coordinating ongoing afterschool programs such as homework clubs, music, arts and crafts, and physical activities for children in targeted neighborhoods; coordinating activities during spring break and summer break for kids in our housing for homeless families; hosting a kids’ activity at Día de los niños, an annual event held in Washington Park.
Required Skills
Interest in special topic, patience, ability to balance discipline with inclusion and to work with children of all ages and primarily low-income backgrounds.
Skills Learned
Teaching, compassion, lesson planning, discipline, and understanding of various cultures and backgrounds.
Training
Volunteers will only receive an orientation about the goals of the programs and children.
Volunteer Types
Individuals who can come on a regular basis or groups or individuals who can come help out once with a big project.
Contact
David S. Rudie; 19 E. Poplar, PO Box 2608, Walla Walla, WA 99362; 509.525.7578; david.rudie@scouting.org
Mission
To prepare young people to make ethical and moral choices over their lifetimes by instilling in them the values of the Scout Oath and Law.
Volunteer Opportunities
Work with youth and adults; plan and run district program events.
Required Skills
Willingness to work with people of many backgrounds.
Skills Learned
Leadership, responsibility, and the values of the Scout Oath and Law.
Training
Training depends on the position and can include on-line courses, class, and individual tutorials.
Volunteer Types
Individuals or groups who can come on a regular basis, occasionally when convenient, or once to help with a big project. Volunteers who can earn credit (service-learning) are welcome.
Contact
Ingrid Olsen-Young; 414 S. Park St., Walla Walla, WA 99362; 509-525-3180; ingrid.@wwcampfire.org
Mission
A century of kids, a future of leaders. Camp Fire USA builds caring, confident youth and future leaders through our after-school and summer day camp programs.
Volunteer Opportunities
Open to having volunteers come to share their talents and knowledge (music, culture, dance, theater) with the kids.
Required Skills
Responsibility, enthusiasm, passion for area of interest, reliability, ability to engage children, and mindfulness about safety.
Skills
Learned: Leadership organization and presentation skills. The joy of working with young children.
Training
Volunteers would be interviewed by the associate director.
Volunteer Types
Individuals or groups who can come on a regular basis, occasionally when convenient, or once to help with a big project.
Contact
Jenn Bishop; 77 Wainwright Drive, Walla Walla, WA 99362; 509-526-7529; devdirector@cmww.org
Mission
To provide a safe place where children and their families learn through interactive play.
Volunteer Opportunities
Museum assistance, workshop leadership, special project assistance, landscaping, gardening, activities at local fair events, and bilingual early learning.
Required Skills
Enthusiasm, love for children, desire to provide educational opportunities, and friendly demeanor.
Skills Learned
Interacting with children in a hands-on educational setting.
Training
Volunteers are oriented and trained on a case-by-case basis.
Volunteer Types
Individuals or groups who can come on a regular basis, occasionally when convenient, or once to help with a big project. Volunteers who can earn credit (service-learning) are welcome.
Website
Contact
Eleanor, etellis.americorps13.14@gmail.com
Mission
We are looking for volunteers to help with garden club at four local elementary schools.
Volunteer Opportunities: Activities such as germinating seeds, cooking demonstrations, learning about compost, and planning for the spring garden.
Required Skills
Dependability, transportation.
Skills Learned
Working with youth in the community, reliability, independence, and collaboration.
Training
Background checks and forms required.
Volunteer Types
Individuals who can come on a regular basis (who can commit to volunteering at least an hour a week)
Contact
Marissa Ruzyka Lopez, Program Manager; 120 E. Birch, Suite #10, Walla Walla, WA 99362; 509-527-4745; marissa@wallawallafriends.org
Mission
To improve lives and communities one child at a time by providing a safe, consistent adult presence outside the home to children who need it.
Volunteer Opportunities
We recruit adult friends (mentors) to spend time with a child (6-18 years old) each week. Service organizations and clubs can volunteer to host a special event for our adult friends and youth to enjoy together. Volunteers can also help out with office work, such as making phone calls and performing data entry.
ABC Program: School-Based Mentoring Lunch and Recess
Volunteers in the ABC Program visit once a week with their young friend on school grounds during lunch time. Volunteers are rigorously screened and trained, and are matched with kids who have similar interests and hobbies. Whether the time is spent playing tag or coloring together, the half hour visits every week provide a consistent time and space the child can count on. Both parents and teachers find that children who participate in the ABC Program are more likely to be successful academically and socially. Schools close to Whitman include Sharpstein, Green Park, and Edison elementary.
Community-Based Mentoring
Adult volunteers are matched with children in need of a caring, adult presence in their lives for a one hour a week, one year commitment. Through rigorous screening, intensive training and ongoing support, the relationships are carefully formed and sustained. Adult volunteer and child meet weekly for activities in the community, and periodic special events are provided by the program in order to encourage group participation and to build the Friends community. Make a lifelong difference in a child's life by joining the Friends Community-Based Program!
After-School Program
The Friends After-School Program happens at Green Park, Sharpstein, and Edison in conjunction with the WWPS 21st Century After School Program. It is very similar in content and function to the Friends ABC Program mentioned above but is from 3 to 5 in the afternoon. Friends mentors are matched and will be asked to be with their friend for 45 minutes, one day a week for the school year. You can even pick the time within that two hour range.
Required Skills
Volunteer mentors must be at least 18 years old, able to pass a background check and to maintain clear boundaries and expectations, relate well with others, and spend focused time with a child. Friends pairs volunteers with children based on similar interests, preferences, and expectations. Reliable and consistent adults commit to mentor one same-gendered child for at least one year.
Skills Learned
Volunteer mentors can strengthen their communication skills (including cross-cultural skills if matched with a child from a difference cultural background) and develop their experience working with a child one-on-one (including special areas of request, such as children with disabilities). Office volunteers strengthen their clerical, communication, and organizational skills.
Training
All adult volunteer mentors are screened and then trained in a 2.5 hour session about policies, procedures, safety, boundaries, and communication skills. We also offer ongoing special-topic trainings periodically.
Volunteer Types
Individuals who can meet with a child on a weekly basis, come into the office on a regular basis, help with a project occasionally, or contribute once to a big project.
Contact
Program & Membership Development Coordinator; 509-747-8091, ext. 406; spacheco-granfield@gsewni.org
Mission
To help girls become strong leaders for the future.
Volunteer Opportunities
We can use young ladies to lead troops or to help with events/camps.
Required Skills
Positive attitude, communication, skills with children, and reliability.
Training
On a case-by-case basis as it fits in with the volunteer's schedule.
Volunteer Types
Individuals who can come regularly or help with a project on occasion. Volunteers who can earn credit (service-learning) are welcome.
Contact
Katherine Boehm, Director of Clinic Operations; 534 S. 3rd Avenue Suite 16, Walla Walla, WA 99362; 509-525-0704; katherine@thehealthcenterww.org
Mission
To advance the success of students by addressing their physical, emotional, and social needs. Serving Lincoln High School, Pioneer Middle School, Blue Ridge Elementary, and HeadStart/ECEAP Preschool.
Volunteer Opportunities
Depending on skills and interest, one can volunteer at any of our sites as anything from a yoga instructor or jump rope expert to a webpage manager, administrative assistant, or grant researcher.
Required Skills
Patience, flexibility, empathy, and a willingness to help those in need.
Skills Learned
Greater understanding of Walla Walla's underserved community and the gaps in our primary and mental health care systems. .
Training
On a rolling basis.
Volunteer Types
Individuals who are interested in learning and service who can come regularly (anywhere from once a week to once a month) or help occasionally with a big project.
Contact
Heather Rodriguez, LICSW, TriplePoint Program Coordinator; Children's Home Society of WA, 1612 Penny Lane, Walla Walla, WA 99362; 509-529-2130 ext. 117; HeatherR@chs-wa.org
Mission
To support children in need and strengthen families through adoption, early learning, foster care, family support, child and family counseling, and advocacy.
Volunteer Opportunities
Supervising LGBTQ and straight ally youth at meetings/events, serving as a community role model and providing support and resources to youth, setting up/cleaning up at meetings/events, attending monthly TriplePoint Advisory Council meetings, marketing, health fairs, flyers, and community education.
Required Skills
Bring your own special gifts/talents to service for youth in the group.
Training
On a case-by-case basis.
Volunteer Types
Individuals who can come on a regular basis or help with a project on occasion.
Contact
Susan Anfinson, Membership Accounts Manager; 340 S Park St, Walla Walla, WA 99362; 509 525-8863; susana@wwymca.org
Mission
The Walla Walla YMCA is dedicated to the values of caring, honesty, respect and responsibility and committed to building a community where all people, especially the young, are encouraged to develop their fullest potential in spirit, mind, and body.
Volunteer Opportunities
Joining our board, coaching youth sports, babysitting, helping with the Peach Basket Classic tournament, community Halloween party, Healthy Kids Day, fun runs, and other family events.
Required Skills
Must value and display caring, honesty, respect, and responsibility.
Skills Learned
Teamwork, a sense of community, organizational skills, how to relate to all ages of people, and the fulfillment derived from giving to others.
Training
The director in charge of an event or program trains volunteers.
Volunteer Types
Individuals who can come on a regular basis or on occasion; groups or individuals who can help out once with a big project. Volunteers who can earn credit (service learning) are welcome.
Contact
Anne-Marie Zell Schwerin, Executive Director; 213 S. First, Walla Walla, WA 99362; 509-525-2570; aschwerin@ywcaww.org
Mission
To eliminate racism and empower women.
Volunteer Opportunities
Reading to children; helping with kids' activities while moms are in support group meetings; sorting donations; cleaning toys; misc. maintenance projects; weekly grocery shopping for childcare programs; office work; helping on childcare fieldtrips; making presentations to girls in Mariposa program.
Required Skills
Positive attitude; flexibility; Spanish language skills are a plus; confidentiality; ability to pass background check; must enjoy working with children.
Skills Learned
Organization; problem solving; working with groups; learning about community organizations and the culture of a nonprofit organization.
Training
There is no regular schedule at this point. Orientation and training will occur prior to volunteering starts.
Volunteer Types
Individuals or groups who can come on a regular basis, occasionally when convenient, or once to help with a big project.