managing youth volunteers - northwest harvestmanaging youth volunteers. agenda •5 elements of...

MANAGING YOUTH

VOLUNTEERS

AGENDA

• 5 Elements of Volunteer Management

• Planning your youth volunteer program

• Recruiting youth

• Orienting and training youth volunteers

• Supervising and recognizing youth volunteers

• Evaluating your youth volunteer program

• Questions

5 ELEMENTS OF VOLUNTEER

MANAGEMENT

1. Planning a

Volunteer Program

2.Recruiting and Placing Volunteers

3.Orienting and Training Volunteers and Staff

4.Supervising and

Recognizing Volunteers

5.Evaluating Volunteer Programs


MANAGEMENT

1. Planning a YOUTH Volunteer Program

2.Recruiting and Placing

YOUTH Volunteers

3.Orienting and Training

YOUTH Volunteers and Staff

4.Supervising and

Recognizing YOUTH

Volunteers

5.Evaluating YOUTH

Volunteer Programs

PLANNING A YOUTH VOLUNTEER

PROGRAM


PLANNING RESOURCES1. Planning a YOUTH Volunteer Program

START BY ASKING THE RIGHT

QUESTIONS


WHEN YOUTH VOLUNTEER…


1. Be involved as adults.

2. Benefit from it.

3. Be better citizens.

4. Enhance the perceptions of adults.

They will

ASK THE RIGHT QUESTIONS1. Planning a YOUTH Volunteer Program

BENEFITS OF ENGAGING YOUTH 1. Planning a YOUTH Volunteer Program

• Improve your organizational culture

• Invest in the future

• Bring new energy & specialized skills

• Tackle tough chores

• Great for PR

PROS & CONS OF YOUNG

VOLUNTEERS IN YOUR

ORGANIZATION


What makes

you excited to

engage young

people in your

work?

What is your biggest

hesitation/fear about

engaging young

volunteers at your

organization?

PREPARE YOUR ORGANIZATION FOR

YOUTH INVOLVEMENT


• Seek broad buy-in

• Host staff trainings

• Risk management

• Have basic systems in place

• Start small


MANAGEMENT

1. Planning a

Volunteer Program



4.Supervising and



RECRUITING YOUNG VOLUNTEERS2.Recruiting and Placing

YOUTH Volunteers

YOUNG PEOPLE FIND SERVICE TO BE

MEANINGFUL WHEN….

• It is personally relevant to them.

• The activity is age-appropriate and

interesting/engaging .

• There is a social element .


YOUTH Volunteers

WHY DO YOUNG PEOPLE

VOLUNTEER?

They want to give back.

For club/school hours.

Feeling that they are making a difference.

College applications.

Their friends volunteer.

As volunteer managers,

how can we use this to

our advantage?


YOUTH Volunteers

BARRIERS TO YOUTH VOLUNTEERISM2.Recruiting and Placing

YOUTH Volunteers

• Erratic, unpredictable schedules

• Lack of free time

• Lack of transportation

• Lack of knowledge or skill

RETAINING YOUTH VOLUNTEERS2.Recruiting and Placing

YOUTH Volunteers

#1 Reason for not volunteering:

Lack of time.

Offer Options.

Knowledge Needed

Skills Needed

Activity Level

Frequency

Shift Time

Shift Length

Commitment Level

PROJECT IDEAS FOR YOUTH 2.Recruiting and Placing

YOUTH Volunteers

Drives (food, clothing, children’s

items, etc.)

Custom crates, blankets and treats for animal shelter

Start a community garden- donate the

food.

Host a healthy cooking class for

friends or neighbors

Plant trees Pen pal programs

Send care packages to deployed troops,

veterans, or wounded soldiers.

Make cards for the senior center

Pick up trash and clean your

neighborhood.

TIPS FOR RECRUITING YOUNG PEOPLE2.Recruiting and Placing

YOUTH Volunteers

• Use language that makes sense

• Social Media

• Partner with schools

• Meet young people where they are


MANAGEMENT

1. Planning a

Volunteer Program



4.Supervising and



ORIENTING & TRAINING YOUNG

VOLUNTEERS


YOUTH Volunteers


YOUTH Volunteers

Orientation TrainingVS

ORIENTATION ELEMENTS3.Orienting

and Training YOUTH

Volunteers

Cause: Why should I be

volunteering here?

System: How will I be volunteering here?

Social: Where do I fit in?

Explain the ‘why’

Highlight development

of skills and work

experience.

Provide concise information

that is relevant to their role.

Spend time on this item

because it is important to

youth.

TRAINING ELEMENTS3.Orienting

and Training YOUTH

Volunteers

The process of providing

youth volunteers with the

ability to perform specific

types of work

Skills

Attitudes

Knowledge

TIPS FOR DESIGNING YOUR

ORIENTATION & TRAINING


YOUTH Volunteers

• Pick a good time

• Adapt your handouts

• Consider a volunteer mentor

• Cover relevant processes

• Introduce yourself to

parent/guardian

• Encourage questions

• Be thorough

• Build in physical activity

• Keep it informal


MANAGEMENT

1. Planning a

Volunteer Program



4.Supervising and



SUPERVISING & RECOGNIZING

YOUTH VOLUNTEERS

4.Supervising and

Recognizing YOUTH

Volunteers

ACTIVITY: THE IMPORTANCE OF

SUPERVISION

4.Supervising and

Recognizing YOUTH

Volunteers

Think of a negative volunteer/work experience you had as a youth

oTo what extent did your supervisor contribute?

Think of a really great volunteer/work experience you had as a youth

oTo what extent did your supervisor help contribute?

STEPS IN SUPERVISING

VOLUNTEERS

4.Supervising and

Recognizing YOUTH

Volunteers

Step 1: Define and

Communicate Clear

Expectations

Step 2: Guide and Support

Volunteers

Step 3: Ensure that

Volunteers Feel Rewarded

and Recognized

TIPS FOR SUPERVISING TEEN

VOLUNTEERS

4.Supervising and

Recognizing YOUTH

Volunteers

Step 1:

Define & Communicate Clear Expectations

• Be specific.

• Focus on policies and

procedures

• Identify who they can

approach for questions.

TIPS FOR SUPERVISING TEEN

VOLUNTEERS

4.Supervising and

Recognizing YOUTH

Volunteers

Step 2:

Guide & Support

• Be encouraging

• Support, don’t control.

• Assign a mentor

• Schedule regular check-in’s

Take care of the person, not the task. If

you take care of the person, they will

take care of the task.

TIPS FOR RECOGNIZING YOUTH

VOLUNTEERS

4.Supervising and

Recognizing YOUTH

Volunteers

Step 3: Ensure Volunteers Feel

Recognized

• Use traditional & social media

• Send a note to their school or

parent

• Nominate them for an award.

• Offer leadership opportunities

• Provide a small gift


MANAGEMENT

1. Planning a

Volunteer Program



4.Supervising and



EVALUATING YOUTH

VOLUNTEER PROGRAMS

5.Evaluating YOUTH

Volunteer Programs

TIPS FOR EVALUATING YOUTH

AS VOLUNTEERS

5.Evaluating YOUTH

Volunteer Programs

• Reflection vs. Evaluation

• Consider a self-assessment tool

• Diversify your feedback

• Be specific

• Focus on work skills AND contribution


MANAGEMENT



YOUTH Volunteers


YOUTH Volunteers and Staff

4.Supervising and

Recognizing YOUTH

Volunteers

5.Evaluating YOUTH

Volunteer Programs

QUESTIONS?

THANK YOU!

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