HOW DO I REGISTER FOR YVC PROJECTS? Follow this guide to make registering for projects easy!
IS THERE A COST TO PARTICIPATE? YVC is open to all. Episodic (one day) projects have no fees for participation. Depending on the project, YVC's summer program is offered at subsidized rates with full scholarships available to anyone demonstrating need. Transportation is not provided. Meals and snacks may be provided but are not guaranteed. Consult the individual project details for information on meals and snacks.
WHAT SHOULD I WEAR TO A PROJECT? Volunteers should wear weather-appropriate clothing and closed-toe shoes. During summer projects, it is expected that youth wear their free YVC T-shirt every day of the project.If there are special requirements, these will be noted in project descriptions.
WHAT DO I NEED TO BRING TO A PROJECT? Volunteers should bring a water bottle, sunscreen (outdoor projects), and bug spray (outdoor projects). If there are special requirements, these will be noted in project descriptions.
WILL PROJECTS BE CANCELLED? On the rare occasion that a project must be cancelled, including inclement weather, we will let you know with as much advance notice as possible. Cancellations will be communicated via text from the program director. If you prefer an alternate communication method, please email kansascity@yvc.org.
WHAT IS A TYPICAL PROJECT LIKE? Projects are supervised by a YVC Team Leader. YVC volunteers join a team of their peers, ages 11 to 18, to volunteer their time to help local nonprofits and learn about issues in the Kansas City community. Participants should arrive around 10-15 minutes early and an icebreaker or team-builder activity starts each day of the YVC program. Volunteers are introduced to one another and the agency staff who will provide instructions to the team. As service takes place, the program director will lead volunteers in service-learning activities, energizer games, and facilitate meaningful reflection. Our goal is to create service that is rewarding, challenging, and educational. ARE LUNCH AND TRANSPORTATION PROVIDED? Meals and snacks may be provided but are not guaranteed. Consult the individual project details for information on meals and snacks. Note that we cannot guarantee all dietary restrictions can be met and recommend bringing lunch, if applicable. Participants are responsible for transportation to and from the event. Project location details will be provided at sign-up and confirmed with registrants prior to events. IS THERE A MINIMUM OR MAXIMUM NUMBER OF PROJECTS I CAN VOLUNTEER FOR? Volunteer as much as you want! Many of our youth need a specific amount of volunteer hours for school or court-ordered community service, but many enjoy working with us so much that they volunteer hundreds of hours of their time.
WHO WILL BE SUPERVISING THE YOUTH AT THE PROJECTS? All projects are led by a YVCKC adult team leader. All team leaders are first-aid/CPR certified and have passed full background checks. In addition, all team leaders are trained in how to lead successful, educational, and fun service projects.
I NEED VERIFICATION FOR THE COMMUNITY SERVICE HOURS I HAVE COMPLETED. HOW DO I GET THAT VERIFICATION FORM FROM YOUR ORGANIZATION? We are happy to give you an official YVCKC form stating the number of hours you have completed with us. We can also sign any forms that your school or organization requires. Typically, we give you these forms at the end of a project (just ask the team leader) or you can call/email us for the form at a later date. If you are doing several projects with us, please feel free to wait until the end of your last project to ask for the verification form.
CAN PARENTS VOLUNTEER AT PROJECTS WITH THEIR CHILDREN? For most YVCKC projects, we prefer parents drop off their children. One of our goals is to encourage our youth volunteers to branch out, meet new people, take responsibility for certain tasks and learn the value of service as individuals and members of a team. Having parents around may discourage this type of growth.
I AM PART OF A SCHOOL/CHURCH/YOUTH GROUP, AND WE WOULD LIKE TO VOLUNTEER TOGETHER AT A PROJECT. CAN YOU TAKE A GROUP OF VOLUNTEERS AT ONE OF YOUR PROJECTS OR FIND A PLACE FOR US TO VOLUNTEER AS A GROUP? Whether or not we can take a group of volunteers will vary depending on the project. Our typical policy is that only half of a project's available volunteer slots may be taken by a single group (for example, if a Saturday project has 10 available volunteer slots, no more than 5 of those could be filled by a school/church/youth group). However, these decisions are usually made on a case-by-case basis. Contact YVCKC with your specific request, and we'll try to work with you.