Our 2009 summer page has moved. Click here to get the latest info!

Our Summer 2009 Applications will be available on April 15th, 2009

Important dates for our 2009 Summer Sensation program:

Our 8-week summer program will start June 1st, 2009 and end July 23rd, 2009.

Orientations for the program will occur May 28th at noon and 6 p.m. and May 29th at noon and 6 p.m. Parents and youth must attend the orienation at one of these four times to participate in the program.

More info on the Summer Sensation program:

The Summer Sensation program is an 8-week intensive volunteering program that runs from June to August. Youth Volunteers will have the opportunity to broaden their horizons and experience what it means to help out their community. They will work week-long periods at various community-based organizations in the Greater Kansas City area. As usual, we will provide t-shirts to wear, and projects run from 9am-3pm Monday-Thursday, unless otherwise noted. Also, all programs are free, but donations are always needed and appreciated.

Armourdale Renewal Association   (Week 3, June 15-18)                                                                    
Armourdale Renewal Association is dedicated to the revitilization of the Armourdale and the renewal of the Armourdale residential.  Youth Volunteers will be helping an elderly resident from the neighborhood paint their house and spruce the property up so that everything is up to code. This is going to be a huge help to that resident! If you love to work outside, this is the project for you!
Location:  737 Osage Avenue, Kansas City KS

B.E.S.T.   (Week 8, July 20-23)
The Beyond the Evening Star Theater (B.E.S.T.) Network is a program in Kansas City that helps individuals with disabilities develop social competencies through performing arts experiences. This project is for youth with a creative flair; we’ll be doing art and music activities. In the past at B.E.S.T., we’ve created sets, produced skits and put on puppet shows.
Location: 8100 W 116th St, Overland Park KS

Chameleon Arts (Week 2, June 9-11)
Chameleon believes that the success of its youth development programs is tied directly to its ability to create aesthetically beautiful and intellectually challenging community artworks.  Youth Volunteers will be participating as mentors to at-risk youth during various art projects.  These projects range from film to dance to painting. Note, this project will start on Tuesday (we will not be doing service on Monday, the 8th).
Location:  2025 Tracy, Kansas City MO

City of Roeland Park and Roeland Park Community Center (Week 7, July 13-16)
Youth Volunteers will spend 2 days painting and sprucing up residential areas in Roeland Park to raise them to code.  For the last 2 days we will be assisting the Community Center plan a food drive and sparkling up the place!
Location: 4600 W 46th St, Roeland Park KS

Emmanuel Family and Child Development Center (Week 8, July 20-23)
Emmanuel Family and Child’s focus is to provide high-quality early education in a nurturing and safe environment.  Youth Volunteers will be conducting various activities, from reading to children to assisting with yard work.  This is a great project for anyone who enjoys being around kids.
Location:  2416 Swope Parkway, Kansas City MO

Habitat for Humanity ReStore (Week 7, July 13-16)
ReStore’s mission is to support the construction of houses by the KC Habitat for Humanity through the collection and sale of new and used building materials.  Youth Volunteers will be dismantling displays from the Skills Build convention, which means we will be taking apart walls, separating electrical and plumbing materials, and salvaging lumber. Bring your muscles, your hammer and (perhaps most importantly) your common sense.  Be sure to wear close-toed shoes!!  You must be 16 to participate in this project.
Location:  4701 Deramus, Kansas City MO

Habitat for Humanity – Truman (Week 6, July 6-9)
Think you know how to build house?  Do you want to learn how to build house?  Habitat for Humanity works to fulfill the dream of home ownership for low-income families. We will be helping to build a house that will be sold at no interest to a family in need. While you are on this project, you will learn about the problems that many face when trying to buy a home. You will also make a difference in the lives of a local family. Be sure to wear close-toed shoes!!  You must be 16 to participate in this project.
Location:  TBA

Harvesters (Week 6, July 6-9) & (Week 8, July 20-23)
Do you want to help solve hunger in Kansas City?  Be a part of the solution at Harvesters, Kansas City’s largest food bank!  Harvesters and its network of agencies provide food to families when they need a helping hand. Come sort and box donated food and package donated household items. Learn about the problems of hunger in our community and how we can help to put an end to hunger.  Be sure to wear close-toed shoes!!
Location:  3801 Topping Avenue, Kansas City Missouri

                               
Hillcrest Thrift Shop (Week 8, July 20-23)
The funds from Hillcrest Thrift Shop support Hillcrest Transitional Housing. Hillcrest’s mission is to move families from homelessness to self-suffiency in 90 days!  At the shop, Youth Volunteers will be putting their business and fashion skills to work.  We will be doing a variety of activities, from pricing, sorting and displaying donated items to assiting with the cashregisters and more!  Snacks will be provided!
Location:  6520 NW Prarie View Rd, Kansas City Missouri

Humane Society (Week 6, July 6-9)
The Humane Society of Kansas City is a no-kill animal shelter whose mission is to improve the lives of dogs and cats through out the city.  Youth Volunteers will be doing a variety of activities, including socializing cats, assisting in the clinic and promoting spay/neuter services.
Location:  5445 Parrallel Parkway, Kansas City KS

Ivanhoe Neighborhood Council (Week 6, July 6-9)
Ivanhoe Neighborhood Council’s mission is to build a cleaner, safer and thriving neighborhood. Youth Volunteers will help the council reach their goals through activities such as planting, remodeling, cleaning and organizing. 
Location:  3700 Woodland Ave., Kansas City MO


J-14 Enterprise – The Farm (Week 2, June 8-11)
Do you know what it takes to grow your own veggies?  Learn this and more at J-14 Enterprises – The Farm.  We will be helping out at this organic urban farm by removing and re-installing a fence, preparing soil for planting and other farm chores Farmer Joe has planned!  Come prepared to work hard and have fun!
Location:  4600 Sortor Drive, Kansas City KS

Jewish Vocational Services (Week 2, June 8-11)
Jewish Vocational Services’ vision is to promote social, cultural, and economic integration through services offered to anyone with a barrier.  These barriers might be physical, mental or language related. Youth Volunteers will be assisting with their Refugee Resettlement Services Program.  We will be assisting in the warehouse, fixing furniture, gathering household items for incoming refugee families, and the last day we will throw a party for the refugee children! 
Location:  1620 Baltimore, Kansas City MO

Joshua Center for Neuroligical Disorders (Week 5, June 29-July2)
The Joshua Center for Neurological Disorders is having a camp for children with Tourette Syndrome, Asperger Syndrome and those with an Obsessive Compulsive Disorder.  Youth Volunteers will be assiting camp counselors and hanging out with the campers!  You must be 13 to participate in this project.  Due to conditions of the campers, this project requires mature Youth Volunteers.
Location:  22310 NE Colbern Rd, Lees Summit MO


Kansas City Community Gardens (Week 3, June 15-18)
Do you want to learn how to grow your own food?  Kansas City Community Gardens provides education and support to the community to grow their own food in garden plots located in backyards, vacant lots, schoolyards and at community sites.  Youth Volunteers will be helping at various community gardens – adding soil,weeding, landscaping and helping with tours for the Beanstalk Children’s Garden.
Location:  These will vary day to day. 

Kansas City Community Kitchen (Week 3, June 15-18) & (Week 5, June 29- July 2) & (Week 7, July 13-16)
We are happy to once again offer Kansas City Community Kitchen for three weeks this summer!  The Kansas City Community Kitchen serves 500 meals per day and we will be creating those meals from start to finish by preparing, serving and cleaning up after lunch.  Youth will also learn about homelessness in Kansas City and what they can do to help. Youth Volunteers may sign up for only ONE of the three weeks!!
Location: 415 West 13th Street, Kansas City MO

Lakeview Retirement Village (Week 3, June 15-18)                             
Lakeview Retirement Village uses the Whole Person Wellness philosophy to create the optimal senior living experience.  Youth Volunteers will be doing a variety of projects for the village. These projects include playing BINGO with the residents, landscaping and building.  You must be 14 to participate in this project.
Location:  9100 Park St., Lenexa KS

Operation Breakthrough (Week 4, June 22-25 & (Week 7, July 13-16)
If you like kids, this is the project for you!  Operation Breakthrough is an inner city daycare whose mission is to to help children who are living in poverty develop to their fullest potential by providing them with a safe, loving and educational environment.  Youth Volunteers will be assisting in class rooms, playing and reading to children, and other projects!  You must be 14 to participate in this project.
Location:  3039 Troost Avenue, Kansas City MO

Operation Iraqi Children (Week 5, June 29-July 2)               
Operation Iraqi Children is a grassroots program which provides concerned Americans with the means to reach out to Iraqi kids and help support our soldiers' efforts to assist the Iraqi people.  Youth Volunteers will be helping to assemble school kits and package donations destined for children in Iraq, Afghanistan and Djibouti.  
Location:  1529 Atlantic, North Kansas City MO

Parkville Nature Sanctuary (Week 4, June 22-25)
Parkville Nature Sanctuary has multiple walking and hiking trails. These trails were laid out to make the area accessible with minimal impact on the land and wildlife habitat.  Youth Volunteers will be helping to chip and mulch trails, cut down invasive honeysuckle and pull out garlic mustard.
Location:  1201 East Street, Parkville MO


reStart Inc. (Week 1, June 1-4)
reStart serves the homeless of Kansas City by providing shelter and support services with the goal of helping persons move toward independence and self-sufficiency.  Youth Volunteers will be doing a variety of activities. These activities include helping in the kitchen, sorting donations, painting and sprucing up the building.
Location:  918 E.  9th Street, Kansas City MO

Sanctuary of Hope (Week 4, June 22-25)
Sanctuary of Hope is a place you can go for a while to get away from the noise, violence and the stress of everyday living.  Youth Volunteers will be mulching trails, maintaining the butterfly garden, and planting flowers. 
Location:  2601 Ridge Avenue, Kansas City KS

Shoal Creek Living History Museum (Week 1, June 1-4) & (Week 2, June 8-11)                                 
Shoal Creek maintains 17 historic buildings in Hodge Park in North Kansas City . We will be clearing trails, painting fences, and feeding chickens! We will also be adding support to the log cabins to help preserve the 19th Century buildings. On our last day there, we will be playing historical games and having a BBQ!
Location:  7000 NE Barry Rd, Kansas City MO


St.  Mary’s Manor (Week 1, June 1-4)
St.  Mary’s Manor is a senior living facility that has a commitment to care for the whole person: body, mind and spirit.  Youth Volunteers will be interacting with the seniors and assiting the facility by gardening, laying brick and organizing the patios. 
Location:  111 NW Mock Avenue, Blue Springs MO

Troostwood Youth Garden (Week 4, June 22-25)
Troostwood Youth Garden is a half-acre organic garden in a downtown Kansas City, Mo., neighborhood.  Youth Volunteers will be working in and around the garden.  This is a great opportunity to learn what it takes to grow and maintain a garden.
Location:  5142 Paseo, Kansas City MO

Turnstyles (Week 5, June 29-July 2)
Turnstyles is a thrift store operated by the Catholic Charities and all proceeds are used by the Catholic Charities to help fund many services to the community. Youth Volunteers will have an opportunity to showcase their up-and-coming business skills.  We will be maintaining the store, sorting through donations, creating displays and pricing items!
Location:  9750 W 87th Street, Overland Park KS


Union Station (Week 1, June 2-4)
Union Station is one of Kansas City’s prominent landmarks and a well-known destination for entertainment.  Youth Volunteers will be assisting with Science City, The Extreme Screen and the new Chronicles of Narnia Exhibit!  You must be 14 to participate in this project. Note, this project will start on Tuesday (we will not be doing service on Monday, the 1st).
Location:  30 West Pershing Rd, Kansas City MO