Volunteer with Rec

Overview

Recreation has a variety of volunteer opportunities for individuals interested in sharing their time and talent. Volunteers play a vital role working together with staff to create safe, healthy and livable communities and recreational opportunities for all.


Contact Meaghan Young at 541-682-6335 or fill out our Volunteer Interest Form to get started today and learn more.

Adaptive Recreation Services

Adaptive Recreation Services, located at Hilyard Community Center, offers a diverse range of recreation activities and classes to enhance the quality of life for people with disabilities. Adaptive Recreation Services provides classes, programs, trips and special events to youth, adults and seniors. Previous experience working with individuals who experience disabilities is preferred, but not required.  

Volunteers play a crucial role in our classes and programs. Our volunteers work in a collaborative team with instructors & interns in our classes and programs. We utilize volunteers to meet a variety of needs including:

  • Supporting, encouraging and socializing with participants in weekly classes and local community outings
  • Assisting instructors with set up and take down of activities and programs
  • Attending weekend day trips to provide additional group support or one on one support  
  • Providing one on one support to individuals needing additional assistance to be successful in an activity
  • Helping with special events such as dances, summer Pool Party and other one-time events

Adults 50+

Campbell and Petersen Barn Centers offer a variety of recreational, educational and social services for adults 50 years and older. Programs and services are designed to strengthen networks, link older adults to community services and offer transitions to changing life situations. The centers also offer opportunities to meet new friends, develop interests, learn new skills, increase fitness levels and share experiences.


Depending on the season and need volunteers may:

  • Assist in the kitchen with meal preparation and clean-up
  • Assist with classes or trips
  • Help at the front desk making appointments and answering questions and the phones
  • Instruct classes and/or assist with special events and other activities as needed
  • Supervise the Wood Shop at Campbell Center
  • Supervise the free computer lab
  • Help with recycling and composting efforts

Aquatics

The Aquatics program operates two year-round facilities and one summer season facility serving more than 250,000 patron visits annually. Eugene’s swimming pools offer swimming and water safety instruction, competitive programs, water fitness, specialized aquatics programs and recreational and lap swims.


Fitness centers at the two year-round facilities also provide land fitness opportunities for patrons from early morning to late evening. The pools also offer a variety of year round special events.


Depending on the season and need volunteers may:  

  • Assist with light maintenance
  • Do other jobs as needed
  • Help instructors in the learn-to-swim programs
  • Help with special events

Athletics

The Athletics program offers recreational and competitive sports leagues for adults and coordinates the use of City and school district athletic facilities. The program’s mission is to promote active lifestyles and encourage physical fitness, mental well-being and social interactions.


Depending on the season and need volunteers may:  

  • Help set-up and cleanup for special events and tournaments
  • Help with fundraising and assisting staff during athletic competitions

River House Outdoor Center

As part of Youth and Family Recreation Services, River House Outdoor Center has the mission to “create opportunities that inspire a lifelong passion to imagine, explore, learn, grow and contribute”.  We offer participants ages 7 and up adventure, education, leadership and stewardship experiences through multiple outdoor activity types and spaces, ranging from our urban parks to the mountains and coast. Experiences include youth camps and clubs, skill-specific classes and trips, school and affinity group programs and challenge course/team-building initiatives. Volunteer opportunities exist for both teens and adults.


Teen Volunteers: youth ages 14-18 can apply for volunteer opportunities including:

  • Summer Camps – assist with our weekly outdoor youth summer day camps (including cycling, climbing, paddlesports, sailing, skateboarding and teambuilding activities),
  • Spring/Fall youth activity support (including kayaking, stand-up paddleboarding and skateboarding club sessions)
  • General year-round River House support (e.g. office help, program admin, equipment care)

Adult Volunteers: there are two main opportunities for adult volunteers (ages 18+):

  • Outdoor program support – ideal for those with leadership/teaching experience, familiarity working with youth and skills in a relevant outdoor discipline (e.g. Bike/Pedestrian Safety Education, No-school days, Youth trips). River House trainings are provided. Application is required.
  • Environmental stewardship – help with projects such as park and river clean-ups, tree-planting, invasive plant removal and trail building.  Current opportunities are listed online.

How to Apply:

  • Teen and Adult Volunteers may submit a River House Outdoor Center Volunteer Application online at any time each calendar year (paper copies also available from the River House – 301 N. Adams Street, 541-682-5329).
  • Summer Camp teen volunteer applications are reviewed in early April for the upcoming summer’s programs. These positions are competitive and require applications to be submitted by the spring deadline and completed to a high standard. We inform successful applicants of acceptance prior to Summer Camp registration and volunteers are expected to attend several training days in June.
  • Other teen volunteers and adult volunteers for outdoor program support opportunities are selected on an as needed basis and applications are reviewed year-round.

Resolve - Youth Restorative Justice

Open to youth volunteers ages 12-18

Resolve Youth Restorative Justice holds restorative circles to recommend consequences for youth cited for non-violent misdemeanors and violations. The circle is run by students trained in the concept of restorative justice and adult staff acting as facilitators. They help youth with citations accept accountability, repair harm from the offense and move forward in a positive way.


This alternative is authorized by the Lane County Department of Youth Services as a diversion program. Youth volunteers develop skills in decision making, cooperation, public speaking, law and ethics while helping their peers and improving their community. Most schools accept Resolve hours to meet community service requirements. Additional leadership opportunities are available to volunteers through the Youth Leadership Council, involving more direct speaking roles during the circle, helping plan trainings and events, and shaping program culture.


Circles take place at Petersen Barn Community Center on Thursday evenings. A one-time orientation is required for new youth volunteers. On the weeks where Resolve does not have a case to discuss, volunteers are offered trainings and workshops for their own personal growth and to widen their skill set as circle members. These trainings include topics such as social justice, self compassion, stress management and healthy communication.

Youth and Family Services

Youth and Family Recreation Services provide neighborhood based programs for youth and families managed through three centers: Sheldon, Petersen Barn and Amazon.


More than 2,500 activities are offered annually, including:

  • Art
  • After-school enrichment activities
  • Camps
  • Dance
  • Family Fun Nights
  • Preschool education
  • Skill building classes
  • A variety of programs that encourage physical fitness and outdoor recreation

Depending on the season and need volunteers may:  

  • Assist instructors and leaders in conducting activities and classes
  • Help at special events
  • Help in out-of-school time or child-care programs, camps and field trips or special events
  • Working with individuals ages two and a half to adult

Parks & Open Space

Maintain trails, remove invasive plants, care for community gardens, spruce up playgrounds, plant natives, interact directly with park guests as a tour guide or docent – and so much more. Your options for going out, getting dirty and giving back are as interesting as you are. Join our outstanding team of volunteers and staff coordinators. Learn new skills, meet awesome people, and improve the quality-of-life in Eugene. Parks volunteer program information