During the Spring and Fall we receive many requests to share our shelter with Girl Scout and Boy Scout groups. We are looking for a volunteer who will help coordinate these efforts and meet the groups at the shelter for a quick educational session and a tour of the catteries. We currently have a volunteer in place who will help with training and hand off of the program. On-site meet-ups with the groups can be shared with other volunteers if you are interested in building a small support team of volunteers who may be able to help.
Information from the Current Program Lead -
Youth Programs – approx. 40 hours per year
Most Common Task –
- Visits to the shelter
- Respond to incoming emails from troop leaders, schoolteachers, etc. requesting what they can do to help the shelter and possible visits.
- Response back can be freeform or from a standard template I created (I will send this when I get home).
- Ask about doing a donation drive before the shelter visit.
- Once a date/time is confirmed for a visit to the shelter, email adult and minor waivers to POC and add to the shelter’s calendar in Outlook.
- Two days before the date, confirm with the POC that all waivers are signed, the weather is good and how many are coming. I try to limit to 15 max including adults. Encourage carpooling.
- Once everyone is onsite, collect waivers.
- Talk about the history of FOHA and the important work we do. Mention Treasure Hound and donations.
- Dog safety demonstration with stuffed dog.
- Take a quick walk thru Anne Lewis’ Garden and onto the dog walking path.
- Take picture in front of FOHA sign
- Tour the rest of the grounds, explaining each building.
- If group is small, go into FIV+ cattery hallway area.
- Go up to 5/6 and explain about the color-coded dots using all the pictures in 5/6 kitchen. Walk thru 5/6 and toss treats to dogs.
- Return to Welcome Center and thank group for coming, then talk about volunteer opportunities with their parents.
- Other tasks:
- Respond to parents emailing in about volunteer opportunities for their children. Ask for age of children and then explain about dog walking, cat snuggling and enrichment activities.
- Respond to parents asking what type of toys their children can make off site. Email link to website displaying toys they can make for cats and dogs.
