With it being halfway through July, summer is in full swing, bringing numerous opportunities and experiences for you to explore. Whether your summer is action-packed with vacations and traveling, or you find yourself at home enjoying the warm weather, many people will occasionally find themselves with some free time on their hands. What better way to spend your summer than going out into the community, making some new friends, and lending a helping hand once in a while!
The city of Calgary has long since provided youth with many opportunities that allow them to develop new skills, meet diverse people, interact socially, and support their community. If you want to utilize some of your free time in the summer, volunteering is always a great option to choose! The different organizations throughout Calgary can help people obtain new experiences while shaping and opening up opportunities for them along the way. Not only do you get more critical skills, but there are often many perks which include workshops, discounts, and other rewards on top of the personal gratification that you can help others and make someone else’s day just a bit better. Here I have listed some of my personal choices for youth volunteering in Calgary which can offer both training and experiences for everyone.
1) Youth Central
I would be amiss if I did not mention volunteering as part of the Youth Volunteer Corps at Youth Central. The organization has been running since 1992, empowering youth through its diverse range of activities both virtually and in-person. With the organization’s mission of “[engaging] youth in team-based service experiences that build life and work skills while inspiring a lifetime ethic of service,” said volunteers have a multitude of places to go to, including the Drop-In Center, Inn from the Cold, Salvation Army. There are also many other exciting opportunities that can align with your interests, such as special community events, social issues, arts and culture, sports, and environment-related projects. These activities all can lead to gaining a better understanding of your community, gaining a sense of leadership as well as the skills that go along with leading, and developing new friendships as you go.
Currently, they are accepting volunteers year-long between the ages of 12-18.
2) Calgary Public Library
Right beside volunteering at places such as the Calgary Food Bank and the Drop-in Centre, the Calgary Public Libraries have been a popular location for volunteering for years, and for a good reason. With 21 locations across the city, Calgary Public Library offers many volunteering opportunities for adult and youth citizens. If you’re a youth volunteer, you can share your knowledge as part of Math Quest, Coding Buddies & Code Club, and many other learning programs. The Bright Futures Scholarship is offered to the best volunteers in Calgary by the Calgary Public Library as well.
3) Telus Spark
This science-oriented organization is a non-profit where you are offered amazing opportunities to learn STEM skills and endure the experience of volunteering while being in an engaging environment. There are a variety of projects that involve welcoming guests, engaging them in workshops, and helping participants in summer camps. On top of that, you can build strong relationships in the science community, where you can also develop a future career. It’s both a convenient and free way to build volunteer hours, and you even have the ability to earn credits for school. Eventually, you can request a reference letter after 60+ hours of volunteering at Spark. After committing 100+ hours, you even get an annual membership to Telus Spark. Additionally, anyone is eligible if you are 16+ years of age and have a passion for helping a place of creativity and science.
While the volunteer options I named here are simply my personal recommendations, there are many more locations and volunteer groups where you can fulfill a passion for creating a difference within the community, and even shape people’s futures for the better.
The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.
-Gandhi
