Become A Volunteer!
You Can Make a Difference!
To schedule a tour please contact; Jodi Gempler, at Jodi@adaclubs.org
Volunteering opportunities are available to community members who are 18 years or older. Volunteers are welcome to spend time at the Club during our regular hours – Monday through Friday.
We have activities running in the gym, the art room, the games room (foosball, pool, card games, board games, etc.), as well as the education center and outside. Your duty as a volunteer is to help the Club members in their activities, participate along with them, and serve as a positive role model.
Our Club members benefit most from volunteers who have a genuine desire to help our community’s youth.
Please contact the following parties for group volunteer opportunities:
Meridian Club: Kevin Stalker, Unit Director
Moseley Center: Eric Henderson, Unit Director
Kuna Center: Cori Norton, Unit Director
Development: Jodi Gempler, Director of Development
Events: Bethany Canada, Administrative Assitant
Partnerships: Tim O’Donnell, Director of Marketing
Interested in Volunteering?
Safety in Boys & Girls Clubs: What you need to know as a Volunteer…
Thank you for volunteering with the Boys & Girls Clubs of Ada County. Nothing is more important than the safety of the youth, staff, and volunteers who walk through Club doors every day. As a volunteer, you play an essential role in creating a safe environment for everyone.
Boys & Girls Clubs’ Vision for Safety.
In Boys & Girls Clubs, a safe Club is one in which staff and volunteers:
• Empower youth and families to expect safety, respect, and well-being in their relationships and environments.
• Models and provides safe relationships and environments.
Our Safety Standards.
Every Club must adhere to a set of policies and standards to protect the safety of the young people that we serve.
These standards include:
• Volunteers should never be alone with Club kids. We have a strict no-one-on-one policy at the Boys & Girls Clubs of Ada County. This includes any contact that may take place in the Club, in vehicles, or by phone, text, social media, or any other means.
• When you are interacting with young people, a Boys & Girls staff member must always be present.
• Never use the children’s bathroom. ONLY use bathrooms designed for adults.
• Please don’t show favoritism.
• Please maintain appropriate physical contact with minors. Appropriate interactions include but are not limited to the following: • Side hugs • Handshakes • High-fives and hand slapping • Holding hands (with young children in escorting situations) Not allowed: • Full-frontal hugs or kisses • Showing affection in an isolated area • Lap sitting • Wrestling or piggyback/shoulder rides • Tickling
• Please maintain appropriate verbal interaction with minors. Appropriate and inappropriate verbal interactions include, but are not limited to the following: • Positive reinforcement • Child-appropriate jokes (no adult content) • Namecalling • Inappropriate jokes (adult-only content) • Discussing sexual encounters or personal issues • Secrets • Profanity or derogatory remarks • Harsh language that may frighten, threaten, scare, or humiliate youth.
• Please respect all rules set forth by the Club and the Youth Development Professionals.
Report Concerns.
Volunteers who become aware of any safety concerns or incidents should immediately report those concerns or incidents to Club staff. Examples of incidents may include bullying behavior, inappropriate activity between adults and youth, or between multiple youth, minor injuries, or other accidents, including slips and falls. When in doubt, speak to a Club staff.
Our Commitment to Inclusion.
Boys & Girls Clubs support all youth – of every race, ethnicity, gender, gender expression, sexual orientation, ability, socio-economic status, and religion – in reaching their full potential. At the Club, we are committed to creating a safe, positive, and inclusive environment for all.