Volunteers
At YES, our volunteers are more than just people interested in outdoor recreation. They are mentors who believe in challenging and supporting inner-city youth through outdoor sports and experiential education. They want to make a difference. You can make a difference, too.
Our pool of more than 250 dedicated volunteers, some as young as 13, allows YES to teach, mentor and coach over 1,500 Boston youth annually. We use outdoor sports to challenge youth and teach them to respect themselves, others, and the environment. Don’t worry if you don’t know how to ski, snowboard, kayak, rock climb or whatever the activity, because we will teach you!
Show your support to young people of Boston. Say YES and become a volunteer! To find out more information about each of the different volunteer opportunities, click on one of the links below. Applications are attached following the descriptions of each program. For more information or to submit your application, contact the Volunteer Director at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)!
VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES FOR SUMMER 2012 NOW OPEN! (Click below) The deadline for Outdoor Adventure volunteer applications in May 31.
Operation SnowSports (October – April)
There are many types of Operation SnowSports volunteer roles at YES. One is right for you! And keep in mind, beyond making a difference in the lives of Boston youth, YES volunteers are also able to take advantage of great perks including:
Ski and Snowboard Instructors
Who: Snowsports enthusiasts (13+) ages interested in teaching urban youth how to ski or snowboard.
Requirements: One weekend training is required where volunteers of all ability levels learn how to instruct. After training, each volunteer is qualified to teach a specific level. During the trip, instructors’ time is split between teaching and free slope time.
Trip Leaders
Who: Adults (18+) with a customer service mentality and large group (45-55 people) leadership skills. Duties include bus monitoring, group orientation, supervising the pre and post-trip responsibilities at YES, checking in with ski patrol, distribution of tickets, delegating group lessons to volunteers, and overall group management.
Requirements: Training is required.
Van Drivers
Who: Adult drivers (21+) with spotless driving records.
Requirements: A qualified adult able to drive a 12-passenger van or a 8-passenger SUV to and from the adventure destination. Drivers should be prepared to assist trip leaders and be on call in emergency situations.
Chaperones
Who: Adults (18+) who assist in the supervision of youth on adventure trips.
Requirements: Monitor youth under the direction of the Trip Leader. Responsibilities will vary based on the activity. Group management experience is important.
All YES Operation SnowSports Volunteers:
What is shop time?
YES has its very own rental shop! Owning our ski and snowboard equipment is one reason we are able to offer ski trips at such discounted prices. The rental shop is open Tuesday through Thursday from 3-9 P.M. Volunteers work three-hour shifts, 3-6 P.M. or 6-9 P.M. The youth meet at YES during these times to be fit with their rental equipment. Don’t worry if you don’t have any experience, we’ll train you! Shop time also gives volunteers an opportunity to get to know the young people before they meet them on the mountain.
What is slope time?
Slope time is any day you are a trip leader, instructor, van driver, mechanic, or chaperone with YES on an organized trip. You choose the days in advance!!
Here’s a typical winter day at YES:
5:30 A.M. Arrive at YES. Check in with trip leader.
6:30 A.M. Departure
9:00 A.M. Arrive at mountain. Unload bus and help kids with equipment.
9:45 A.M. Two-hour lesson
11:45 A.M. Lunch
1:00 P.M. Free ski (30 minutes on Bunny Slope with YES)
3:30 P.M. Load bus
4:00 P.M. Depart mountain
6:30 P.M. Return to YES; unload and put away equipment
Outdoor Adventure (April-October)
YES Adult Volunteer Application – Outdoor Adventure 2012
Applications are due MAY 31!
The Junior Volunteer Program is also currently accepting applications for Summer Opportunities with a deadline of May 31.
YES Junior Volunteer Application – Outdoor Adventure 2012
You can find the volunteer training schedule for Summer 2012 here!
The opportunities below are available on all Outdoor Adventure trips that take youth biking, hiking, kayaking, rock climbing and more!
Trip Leaders
Who: Outdoor enthusiasts interested in bringing urban youth to the outdoors for adventure activities. Don’t worry if you don’t know how to kayak, rock climb, or whatever the adventure activity is – YES will teach you!
Requirements: Specific training from YES for activities (rock climbing, kayaking, biking, etc.) is required. Duties include facilitating the activity and orientation; supervising the pre and post-trip responsibilities at YES; checking in with site supervisor; engaging volunteers; and overall group management.
Chaperones
Who: Adults (18+) who assist in the supervision of youth on adventure trips.
Requirements: Monitor youth under the direction of the Trip Leader. Responsibilities will vary based on the activity. Group management experience is important.
Van Drivers
Who: Adult drivers (21+) with spotless driving records.
Requirements: A qualified adult able to drive a 12-passenger van or a 8-passenger SUV to and from the adventure destination.
Track and Field Coaches
Who: Adults and high school students who want to coach or assist a developmental track and field program.
Requirements: A high energy level and willingness to coach and inspire youth in the basic fundamentals of track and field.
YES Academy (Year-round)
Further information on programs and time commitment is available by contacting Rachada Hiranyaket, YES Academy Director, 617-267-5877 ext. 16 or email: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).
GOAL Mentors
Who: Women (18+) interested in being positive role models to inner-city middle school girls.
Opportunities to volunteer include: Being a guest speaker on subjects such as self-esteem, healthy relationships, confidence, leadership, identity, nutrition, women empowerment; facilitating fitness/health activities such as yoga, cooking, dance, self-defense; providing one-on-one mentoring during outdoor trips and in-house workshops; participating in the Women Leaders Panel.
Career Exploration Speaker or Job Sponsor
Who: Adults interested in sharing job skills and/or offering a youth a supervised summer job.
Opportunities to volunteer include: Being a guest speaker on topics such as job seeking, interview skills, resume writing, professionalism; providing one-on-one mentoring during resume writing, interviewing skills, and computer applications; sponsoring a high school student at the workplace for 6 weeks (25 hours per week) from July – August; serving as a panelist on Professional Career Day.
Junior Volunteer Speaker
Who: Adults looking to facilitate personal growth or teach practical skills to YES’s teen volunteers.
Opportunities to volunteer include: Being a guest speaker on subjects such as effective leadership, customer service, green jobs; facilitating outdoor trainings, industry related workshops, and community service activities; teaching First Aid/CPR; providing one-on-one mentoring during outdoor trips and workshops.
YES Adult Volunteer Application – YES Academy 2012
Junior Volunteers (JRVs)
Our JRVs are already part of the YES Family! They’re veterans of YES ski trips, and now they’re ready for more. The JRV program provides opportunities for community service and civic engagement and trains YESkids to be downhill ski and snowboard instructors. As instructors, they teach others how to put it together safely on the slopes and also act as positive role models for their peers during outings and classes. Last year, 65 students trained to be JRVs.
We use a tiered youth development model to track each JRV’s progress. Using the same green, blue and black-diamond designations that mark the ski and snowboard trails, YES tracks each JRV’s progress in school, community service, on-site training, civic engagement, and other development areas. JRV’s are recognized for their accomplishments and attainment of each developmental level receiving complimentary ski/snowboard passes.
JRVs are required to dedicate the following:
The Junior Volunteer Program is currently accepting applications for Summer Opportunities with a deadline of May 31. Applications for the 2012-2013 winter season will be posted in August, 2012 and will be due October 15, 2012.
YES Junior Volunteer Application – Outdoor Adventure 2012