Have you been thinking about volunteering? Meet Dave –one of Outdoor Outreach’s most active volunteers.
“I have been volunteering with Outdoor Outreach for about 5 years. I’m 53 years old, originally from Delaware, where it’s flat and there’s nothing to climb.
The first trip I volunteered on was a rock climbing trip, which at the time wasn’t even my thing.
I’ll always remember my first experience as a volunteer; the moment I saw the impact Outdoor Outreach can have on a kid. I was belaying this 14-year-old girl. She was scared; maybe 4 feet up, and screaming that she wanted to come down. I watched the instructor coach her and encourage her to keep going: “You can do this. Here’s how…”
She got all the way to the top. When she came down, she wanted to climb every wall, every rock. She was a completely different person. In 20 minutes, I saw that kid’s life change.
What’s funny is that I didn’t realize this right away. I remember that it hit me later that day… What I had just witnessed dawned on me. It blew me away, and from that point on, Outdoor Outreach was stuck with me!
The organization has had as much of a positive impact on me as it has on the kids. You learn a lot about yourself when you’re doing the activities with the kids. I wasn’t into climbing before becoming a volunteer. But over the years, I’ve grown into a multi-pitch trad climber. I climbed Mt. Whitney last year! Just like the kids, I’ve had to confront and overcome a lot of my fears in the process. Being a volunteer, and a climber demands a level of focus that I had not experienced before.
More importantly, I’ve learned that it doesn’t take a lot to have a positive impact on a kid’s life. Something as simple as having a candid conversation can be life-changing. Often times, they don’t have someone to talk to at home.
This is really special to me –getting to know the kids. If you sign up to volunteer with the same schools, the kids will start recognizing you and vice versa, and I think it’s really great to be able to build relationships. Something about it just makes you feel good. It’s all positive.
Volunteering on a regular basis also gives you a chance to see the impact of the programs over time. I’ve seen a lot of kids in high school, experiencing the different activities, having fun; and next thing you know, they become youth leaders, then instructors… and you know they’re doing something they never thought they could do when they first started.
I keep volunteering year after year because I know it WORKS. It is an effective program for helping kids acquire the skills and confidence they need to succeed. And I know that without OO, a lot of the kids wouldn’t acquire those skills.
I try to volunteer at least twice a month. I check out the volunteer calendar and select the trips I’m most excited about. I send Stephanie (the volunteer coordinator) an email to sign up. The day before the trip, she sends me all the directions and instructions to meet the group.
At this point, I feel like I’m a part of the organization. Part of the family.”
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Click here to sign up to volunteer.
After filling out the application, you will need to attend our volunteer orientation and pass a Live Scan. Once these steps completed –you’re good to go! Check our volunteer calendar regularly for updates and to sign up for a trip.