Volunteer with Ravenwood
“I want to sing like the birds sing, not worrying about who hears or what they think” – Rumi
- Volunteer as your schedule allows
- Have fun in nature
- Awaken your own curiosity
- Support youth learning essential life skills
- Learn awesome wilderness and survival skills
- Support nature mentoring in action
“The meaning of life is to find your gift. The purpose of life is to give it away” -David S. Viscott
How to Volunteer for Ravenwood
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Special note for Volunteers in School Programs
Ravenwood works with a lot of local schools. Volunteers who have a personal connection to the school and want to help out with a school program should ask the school administrator what they need to do to volunteer. If you have no personal connection to the school but still want to volunteer for a school program, you can follow the steps below to become a Ravenwood Volunteer.
Volunteer Tasks
Ravenwood has many tasks that could use volunteer assistance. Some of these tasks are
- Site preparations: Whether it’s setting up shelters or cleaning up debris, our sites need attention to prepare them for our programs
- Digitizing documents or Organizing photos: We have a host of documents and photos that require tactful organization
- Photo/Media capture: Come along on program and be a designated photographer/documentarian!
- Supplies and Materials preparation and repair: Having our program materials in good shape means our programs are in good shape too!
- Become a Volunteer Program Assistant: Come join us out on program! This volunteer position requires a special training. See below for more information.
Sign up as a Volunteer
Volunteer Program Assistants
Are you interested in being a mentor to kids?
Do you have a passion for learning about nature and wilderness skills?
Are you a creative, fun-loving soul seeking ways to give to the world?
Then becoming a volunteer program assistant is for you! Our volunteer program assistants join our staff on program and bring their joy to share with the kids.
Being a volunteer program assistant means you are a role model for the kids. Whether it’s maintaining safety, learning from our field staff or joining in playing games and having fun, you bring your full self to be present in the woods with our programs.
Becoming a volunteer program assistant is easy! Ravenwood offers an online Volunteer Training Course on on our website. Just read the material and watch the videos, and test your knowledge with our online quizzes. You must submit all 3 quizzes for the training to be complete, and then our staff will be in contact for the next steps.
Click Here for the Ravenwood Volunteer Program Assistant Training
Get a Background Check
Unless you are volunteering through a public school that has their own background check procedure, everyone who helps out in Ravenwood in a way that includes minors must submit some basic information so that our office can run a background check. The information we need is:
- Your full legal name
- Your date of birth
- Your official state of residence
- Your social security number
Our office must have your background check information at least three weeks before the program start date. You can provide our office with this information over the phone by calling (508) 808-8456
Sign the Waiver
Every adult who goes out into the field with Ravenwood or works with Ravenwood equipment needs to sign a waiver form. If your child will come with you but isn’t enrolled in the program, we’ll also need a waiver form for them* (see the Volunteer Program Assistant training page for details on bringing a child to program). Please print, sign, and bring these forms with you before an in-person volunteer training or your first day in the field.
Check out our Volunteer Packet
Our volunteer packet contains information for all our volunteers, whether it’s out in the field with kids or if you’re helping to clean up some debris. If you have completed our volunteer program assistant training, this also serves as a reference document to the policies and guidelines introduced in the training.
See you in the Field!
Once you’ve sent us your application, signed the waiver, your background check is complete, and you’ve completed the training (if becoming a volunteer program assistant) we can arrange your volunteer dates!
You can volunteer just once or as often as fits with your schedule. You can also volunteer for just part of the day, if that’s what fits best into your schedule!
Call Ravenwood Program Directors at (508) 808-8456, or email programs@ravenwoodolc.org to arrange a schedule or answer any questions.
What people are Saying about Volunteering for Ravenwood:
I started out volunteering with Ravenwood as a way to spend more time in nature with my children. My experience with Ravenwood over the past 3 years has turned into an ongoing personal journey of growth and learning as well. I am reminded of what is really important in this life and that connection is at the root of it all. I am a better mom, spouse, nurse and homeschool guide because of the subtle treasures of connection that being part of the Ravenwood community has revealed to me.
Whenever I would come back from a Ravenwood day my wife would say, “You’re just so different, you’re glowing! I want some of that!” I wish we could do Ravenwood every week.
My volunteering started with a curiosity to know exactly what my son was doing in the woods all day and wondering what was putting that huge smile on his face when he came home. The training gave me new tools I can use at Ravenwood but also at home, work, or just life in general. Volunteering made me realize that as a working mom, I needed a little time in the woods myself. I can’t wait to go back to camp!