Volunteer

In lower income communities of the Bay Area, students struggle to overcome the pervasive challenges of crime, racial tension, gangs, violence, low performing schools, lack of resources, fatherlessness, addiction and family instability.  But we have seen the power of the Transformational Journey to help students build up resilience, character and leadership qualities through Christ right in the midst of those circumstances.

The strength of our program relies almost entirely on volunteers throughout the year.

The majority of our volunteers attend summer camp, but there are many other ways to get involved with Today’s Youth Matter!


How will you be part of their Journey?

Pick Your Passion

What area matches your gifting and desire to serve?  Choose an experience in which to serve and we’ll give you the training you need to be encouraging and effective.

Register

On any of the pages devoted to an experience, click the “Apply” button and let us know about you and your interest. We’ll be in touch soon!

Background Check

For your protection and the safety of our children and youth, all volunteers who interact with students are background checked. Let us know if you have any questions.

Attend a Training

We hold trainings on a regular basis and you will need to attend one in order to serve. It’s a great way to get to know our mission and learn how we provide a highly relational and impacting experience for students.

Apply for a Volunteer Position

Camp Team Leaders

Get away and dive into deep relationships

Commitment level: 1 week in the summers, 1 weekend in the winter, ongoing connection with students throughout the year

Who is qualified: Anyone with a heart for service to young students and teens, and a desire to be in the outdoors. We have roles for college age and above as Senior Team Leaders and roles for high-school students (16+) as Junior Team Leaders.

Mentors & Classroom Assistants

Help children understand the love of the Gospel…and have fun!

Commitment level: Weekly for 1.5 hours. 

Who is qualified: Anyone 18+ with a heart to serve young leaders in a highly-relational capacity, that includes both structured and outside of official meeting times. We have roles for adults as well as high-school students.

Organizational Support

Gifted with tech and computers or graphic design? Have a knack for organizing or just want to help out but can’t make the commitment to direct student work?

There’s a place for your help.

Camp Team Leaders

Attention Future Summer Camp Leaders: Online application for Summer 2024 will open in January 2024

The strength of our program relies almost entirely on volunteers throughout the year and Summer Camp is a “party with a purpose” that you will never forget

Summer Camp is awesome, AND there are many other ways to get involved with Today’s Youth Matter. Our THRIVE!-4-Kids small group mentoring has TWO eleven-week seasons, one in the Fall (Oct-Dec) and one in the Spring (Feb-May). One of our team would enjoy connecting with you by phone, zoom, or a live meetup for coffee/smoothie/Slurpee. Your best first move is to drop a quick email to Area Director Moi Ramirez with a simple, “I’d like to connect to learn more about volunteering.” Please send it to: [email protected].

Meanwhile, if you haven’t already enjoyed camp videos, head on over to the Summer Camper page HERE. We are praying that YOU might be in the next video!

  • Team Leaders: Ages 16-18

  • Senior Team Leaders: Ages 19-89

Team Leaders: Ages 16-18

TYM has been hosting camp for underserved children for over 30 years. We've learned that kids’ lives are dramatically influenced by the quality of our volunteers. Christian leadership is a vital role that requires volunteers to help us translate God’s love for our campers. Our selection process reflects a commitment to our vision and values.

Before filling out the on-line application, there are a few details for you to consider.

Our Vision & Values

Mission
At TYM, we strive to strengthen kids’ resilience, build their faith and provide opportunities for growth through authentic relationships and experiences.

We Focus on Christ
His redemptive love infuses our ministry, methods, and volunteer with vision, energy and a lasting impact. We exist to help young people see, know and experience God.

We Value Cultural & Ethnic Diversity
Highlighting the importance of leadership, staff and volunteers, modeling of integrity and cultural humility by respectfully embracing kid’s differences.

We Develop Relationships
Together we can intentionally create innovative learning experiences to inspire and encourage kids by spending impactful time and encouraging them to build their faith.

The Key Qualities of a Camp Volunteer are...

  • Integrity – doing the right thing, even when no one is watching
  • Safety – we seek to protect the physical & emotional safety of our campers
  • Attitude – the character to demonstrate humility, servanthood & leadership
  • Excellence – we want to exceed our campers’ expectations
  • Initiative & follow-through – what can I do to make it better? and doing what you said you would do
  • FUN! – the most wasted of all days is one without laughter

Summer Camp Volunteer Requirements

  • Must be able to commit to each day of camp for the camp session you are assigned: For Overnight Camp - 5 days - July 6-10 from 11 AM on July 6th to 1 PM on July 10th.
  • Must be 16 years of age by the start date of your camp.
  • Must complete the online volunteer application. We are still accepting applications at this time. Space is limited so please let us know of your interest by applying today.
  • Must attend the Leader Orientation (90 mins via Zoom) and All Leader Training (3 hrs in Oakland) session to prepare for your experience working at camp. Dates will be posted in February.
  • Must complete the self-paced online training modules prior to the above LIVE training session. Requires 2-3 hours total.
  • Must clear a background check
  • Must comply with the following statements:
    • TYM camp is a drug-free, alcohol-free, smoking-free camp. No exceptions.
    • I will value appropriate behavior that includes the words I say, what I wear, and how I conduct myself around campers.
  • Must plan to participate in our annual Walk-4-Their Future as a peer-2-peer fundraiser. You will be given access to a personalized web page where you can set your own fundraising goal. While every dollar each of us raises helps TYM bring more children to camp, your participation is primarily about sharing your camp role with family & friends in an effort to "spread the word" about TYM's commitment to caring for underserved kids. We trust God to move hearts and motivate people to give -- our role is simply to share how I am helping with camp leadership and invite them to consider a gift of any amount. The good news is, the process is really easy and fun, our team will walk you through every step of the way and we'll be doing it together. :- )

Contact Us with Questions

If you have any questions, please contact
Passionai Johnson, Program Coordinator
[email protected]

Mentors & Classroom Assistants

  • Student Coaches: Ages 16-18

  • Head Coaches: Ages 19-89

Student Coaches: Ages 16-18

INTRO SECTION GOES HERE

Before filling out the on-line application, there are a few details for you to consider.

Our Vision & Values

Mission
At TYM, we strive to strengthen kids’ resilience, build their faith and provide opportunities for growth through authentic relationships and experiences.

We Focus on Christ
His redemptive love infuses our ministry, methods, and volunteer with vision, energy and a lasting impact. We exist to help young people see, know and experience God.

We Value Cultural & Ethnic Diversity
Highlighting the importance of leadership, staff and volunteers, modeling of integrity and cultural humility by respectfully embracing kid’s differences.

We Develop Relationships
Together we can intentionally create innovative learning experiences to inspire and encourage kids by spending impactful time and encouraging them to build their faith.

The Key Qualities of a Camp Volunteer are...

  • Integrity – doing the right thing, even when no one is watching
  • Safety – we seek to protect the physical & emotional safety of our campers
  • Attitude – the character to demonstrate humility, servanthood & leadership
  • Excellence – we want to exceed our campers’ expectations
  • Initiative & follow-through – what can I do to make it better? and doing what you say would do
  • FUN! – the most wasted of all days is one without laughter

Student Coach Volunteer Requirements

Volunteer Requirements for the role of: Student Coach - THRIVE! - 4- Kids Small Group Mentoring

  • Must be able to commit to:
    • the Kickoff Meetup (all parents, kids & leaders): Sat, October 1st - 2pm-5pm
    • each weekly meeting  during the 10-week session: Thurs, Oct 6 - Thurs, Dec 15 from 6:30p-7:30p
  • Must be 15 years of age by the start date of the session
  • Must complete the online volunteer application
  • Must attend ONE LIVE training sessions to prepare for your experience working at camp. (offered face-to-face and online)
  • Must clear a background check
  • Must comply with the following statements:
    • TYM and THRIVE! - 4 - Kids is a drug-free, alcohol-free, smoking-free program.  No exceptions.
    • I will value appropriate behavior that includes the words I say, what I wear, and how I conduct myself around THRIVE kids.

Application

Embed application here

If you have any questions, please contact
Moi Ramirez, Area Director Richmond
[email protected]  | 510-359-6603 mobile

Organizational Support

  • Available Positions

Available Positions

We are always recruiting for high-quality team members who love Jesus and love kids, especially kids who live in challenging urban neighborhoods and those that may have experienced trauma in their young lives. If those two qualities describe you we are ALWAYS delighted to connect and seek together ways for you to get involved whether they may be volunteer, contracted or as a part-time or full-time employee.z

Please begin with an email to the team member noted below, introducing yourself and how you learned about TYM.

If you have any questions, please contact
Barry Tonge, Director of Programs
[email protected]  |  408-315-4636 mobile