SPIRIT Volunteer FAQ
How old do I have to be to volunteer?
You must be at least 14 years old to volunteer. If you are under 18 years old, you will need to have a parent or legal guardian sign the volunteer release form.
What is the commitment?
2 hours a week (one lesson per week) for at least one session. Each session runs from 4-6 weeks and our season from April through November. A lesson is one hour long, we ask all volunteers to arrive 30 minutes before the start of a lesson and depart approximately 30 minutes after the lesson is complete.
What will I do as a volunteer?
We have a variety of volunteer opportunities. Our programs consist of riding and horsemanship lessons that require horse handlers and sides walkers, Lifeskills that require horse handlers and student supports, reading round pen that require horse handlers and student supports and our seniors programs require horse handlers and support volunteers. We also have many other volunteer opportunities that include facility assistance, office assistance, tack manager, grant writing, board member, special event, fundraising, horse assistance, instructor assistant and much more. There is something for everyone and no horse experience is necessary as we will provide the training you need to volunteer at Spirit TRC.
*In class volunteers should be prepared to walk for 45-60 minutes, jog for several minutes to keep up with a trotting horse and hold your arm raised and out to the side for up to an hour at a time in order to help support the rider as a side walker.
What should I bring/wear when I come to volunteer?
When you come to volunteer you should wear closed toe shoes (i.e. supportive tennis shoes, hiking boots or cowboy boots. No steel toes). Conservative clothing including pants or knee length shorts, close fitting shirts, no strappy tank tops or bare midriffs. Baseball or stocking caps are OK. No dangly jewelry. Layers are good and be sure to dress for the weather.
The saying, “Worth its weight in gold” had to be about volunteers. It is, without a doubt, how we feel about our volunteers here at Spirit Therapeutic Riding Center. They are essential to the success of our programs and we greatly value the time, passion and talent they share with us and our participants.
Volunteers here at Spirit TRC can help in a variety of ways and it is important to note that horse experience is NOT necessary. We will help you learn the skills needed to be a part of the Spirit Volunteer Team. Volunteers must be at least 14 years of age; however, we do offer opportunities to volunteer for those between the ages of 12-14, with adult supervision. Volunteer training is provided annually and is required of all volunteers. During training you will learn about Spirit TRC, our facility and methods for grooming, tacking, leading, sidewalking, mounting and dismounting. We offer several optional skill building opportunities throughout the year as well. Some volunteer positions such as Horse Leader, Facilities Assistant, Equine Assistant, Tack Manager, Office Assistant, etc. require additional skills. Position specific training is provided on an as needed basis.
It takes a commitment of just 1 ½ hours each week for the duration of a 4-6 week session to have a lasting impact! Our programs run Tuesday-Saturday and we encourage our volunteers to choose a day and time that works well for their schedule in order to provide consistency for our participants in each session. It is a gift when our volunteers return session after session as their experience provides stability and familiarity for our participants and horses.
The contributions of our volunteers truly make a difference and they have the power to create a positive and lifelong impact for those they help. It is because of our volunteers that we are able to provide the incredible and healing benefits that can be found through equine assisted services.
We look forward to welcoming you to our Spirit Volunteer Team. Please contact our volunteer coordinator with any questions you may have. Together, we can make great strides in our community and beyond!
Geri Lund
Volunteer Coordinator
Volunteer@spirittrc.com
425-919-9244
Click Here with the following link for our new online application.
Volunteers
Our volunteers start because they want to give, but stay because they receive so much more than they ever imagined....
For less than a cup of coffee a day, you cansave lives
by feeding a family
of 4 for a year