Youth Volunteers

Table of Contents

Youth In Action Summer Program

Sponsored by the City of Columbia’s Volunteer Programs

Thank you to all that made summer 2023 so much fun! We hope to see you next year! 

Youth in Action 2024 Volunteer Opportunities 

2024’s schedule will be out  in May/June.

To get involved or learn more, contact us at [email protected] or self-schedule. New volunteers, sign up here!


Youth Volunteering at Family Fun Fest

What is Youth In Action?

Youth in Action is a summer volunteer program aimed at kids ages 12-15. The program is an activity of the City of Columbia’s Volunteer Programs. Youth in Action is an exciting way for kids to contribute to their community this summer, make new friends, and learn new skills! Youth in Action volunteers will have an opportunity to help with a number of activities for the City of Columbia and other community agencies. Volunteers will also get to take a closer look at their local government and learn more about their community. City of Columbia staff will organize volunteer activities throughout the summer and invite Youth In Action volunteers to help out. YIA volunteers are invited to participate as their schedule allows and can help with one or several of the opportunities! Activities will be held on weekdays and weekends at a variety of times. Youth volunteers will be supervised by City of Columbia Volunteer Programs staff.

What are the benefits of volunteering with Youth In Action?

  • Do something great with your extra time during the summer
  • Work alongside other youth that share your interests
  • Learn more about your community
  • Do something important for others and your town
  • Gain new skills
  • Get experience you can put on your resume
  • Make new friends
  • Have fun!

What type of volunteer projects will be included in YIA?

There will be a wide range of volunteer projects both for the City of Columbia and for other community agencies. There may be some volunteer activities associated with a special event or festival. There will be mix of indoor and outdoor activities as well as activities on weekdays and weekends. Participants will be able to choose the activities they are involved in based on their interests and schedule. Check out our updated Activities List posted below. For details concerning projects, contact Volunteer Programs.

PLEASE NOTE: If a youth participant cannot attend an event, you must cancel 48 hours in advance so that proper time is allotted to find a replacement or cancel the event. *If a youth participant has extremely frequent and unreasonable cancellations OR misses 2 events without any prior notice they will be removed from the program.

  • Be sure to keep checking Facebook and your e-mail for rain-outs, cancellations, new projects, and updates!

Registration

SIGN UP ONLINE HERE

All YIA participants will be notified of the schedule of summer volunteer activities by mail, e-mail or by checking the web. All youth who would like to participate need to complete an application and submit it to the City of Columbia’s Volunteer Programs. Click here to register online now. All applications will be reviewed to ensure that the participate is the appropriate age and has a sincere interest as a participant. Once accepted as a participant, all Youth In Action participants will be notified of activities by mail or e-mail. It is important that participants respond if they can attend projects; in some cases we will limit the number of volunteers who can participate based on the nature of the project. Volunteers for each program will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis until the activity has reached its maximum number of volunteers. Some activities with agencies and organizations outside the City of Columbia may require an additional signed release form to be handled as needed.

Important Information

Agreements

The City of Columbia Volunteer Programs agree to:

  • Communicate YIA activities and details about them to participants.
  • Supervise YIA participants at all volunteer activities.

Youth In Action Volunteers agree to:

  • Participate in the volunteer activities in which he or she is registered.
  • Give full effort to the volunteer project at hand.

Parents/Guardians of Youth In Action Volunteers agree to:

  • Drop off and pick up their YIA participant at the assigned times or arrange for transportation.

Teens in Action

What is Teens in Action (TIA)?

Teens in Action is a fun group of teens that enjoy making a difference in their community together. When teens volunteer in the community, positive friendships are formed, memories are made, and important work is done. If you have a teen who is interested in volunteering, or if your child is aging out of the Youth in Action program, contact us to learn more about how to get involved!

Teens in Action volunteers will have an opportunity to help with a number of activities for the City of Columbia and other community agencies. With support from City of Columbia’s Volunteer Programs, Teens in Action is a self-organized group of volunteers committed to making their community a better place to live, work, learn and play.  TIA volunteers are invited to participate as their schedule allows and can help with one or several opportunities! Activities will be held on weekdays and weekends at a variety of times. TIA volunteers will be supported by City of Columbia Volunteer Programs staff.

Teens in Action was started by volunteer teen Snowy Li in 2019. Snowy aged out of the Youth in Action program in 2018 and recognized a need for a volunteer program designed for teens going into grades 10-12.  In 2019 the Teens in Action program contributed 159 hours of volunteer service across many different programs. 

Benefits of volunteering with Teens in Action

  • Learn a new skill
  • Work alongside other teens that share your interests
  • Make an impact in your community
  • Do something important for others and your town
  • Boost your resume with volunteer experience
  • Make new friends
  • Have fun!

Project types

There will be a wide range of volunteer projects both for the City of Columbia and for other community agencies. There may be some volunteer activities associated with a special event or festival. There will be a mix of indoor and outdoor activities as well as activities on weekdays and weekends. Participants will be able to choose the activities they are involved in based on their interests and schedule. Examples include:

  • Battery Packing
  • Special Events (SPLAT, Kaleidospoke, Family Fun Fest, Fire in the Sky, Heritage Festival, etc..)
  • Litter Pickups & Stream Cleanups
  • Ronald McDonald House
  • Second Chance
  • The Central Missouri Humane Society

How will I be notified?

All TIA participants will be notified of the schedule of volunteer activities by e-mail or by checking the web. All teens who would like to participate need to complete an application and submit it to the City of Columbia’s Volunteer Programs. Click here to register online now. All applications will be reviewed to ensure that the participate is the appropriate age and has a sincere interest as a participant. Once accepted as a participant, all Teens In Action participants will be notified of volunteer opportunities by email. It is important that participants respond if they can attend projects; in some cases we will limit the number of volunteers who can participate based on the nature of the project. Volunteers for each program will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis until the activity has reached its maximum number of volunteers. Some activities with agencies and organizations outside the City of Columbia may require an additional signed release form, to be handled as needed.

Agreements

The City of Columbia Volunteer Programs agree to:

  • Communicate TIA volunteer opportunities and details to participants.
  • Support TIA volunteers throughout the program.

Teens In Action Volunteers agree to:

  • Participate in the volunteer activities in which he or she is registered.
  • Arrive on time and ready to lend a hand.
  • Give full effort to the volunteer project.
  • If a teen participant has extremely frequent and unreasonable cancellations OR misses 2 events without any prior notice they will  be removed from the program.

Questions?

Please contact the Volunteer Programs – we’d love to hear from you!

To learn more about our programs or for questions please email Volunteer Programs at  Volunteer@CoMo.gov – we’d love to hear from you! Follow Teens in Action’s Instagram page for the latest news and volunteer opportunities!