(734) 996-9622 (phone) | (734) 661-8005 (fax)
Download YVC Expanding Horizons Registration Form
The Ann Arbor YMCA’s Youth Volunteer Corps (YVC) is a youth-driven volunteer program for young people ages 11 – 17. YVC engages young people in service-learning projects that are challenging, rewarding and educational to serve the needs of the community and promote a lifetime ethic of service. During the YVC’s history at the Ann Arbor YMCA, more than 1,800 youth have been involved in projects with over 100 non profit agencies providing over 100,000 hours of service to the Washtenaw County community.
Expanding Horizons, YVC’s intensive summer program, provides week long blocks of service projects throughout Ann Arbor. The program runs for eight weeks during the summer. The intensive design of Expanding Horizons reinforces teamwork skills, appreciation for diversity, and civic responsibility. Please note that for Summer 2008, all sessions are full.
The YVC School Year Program provides teams of youth volunteers with hands-on experience working on a one-time service project. Service projects are offered on weekends during the school year. Upcoming projects include:
Science Center Earth Day Celebration. Sunday, April 27, 11:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. This event will be lots of fun with live animal demonstrations, hands-on activities, live entertainment, and the newest solar home technology and green building features. We will be helping with set up, parking and the information booth. Volunteers should meet Carlie Cole at the YMCA at 11:00 a.m.
Ann Arbor Book Festival Steet Fair, Friday May 16 and Saturday May 17. This event is sure to be full of entertainment and fun. The street fair is comprised of nine stages that will be located downtown Ann Arbor. Every hour each stage will have a different performance ranging from ballet to political debates to readings by authors and graphic novelists.
May 16 we will be helping to set up the Ann Arbor Book Festival from 4:30 to 6:45 p.m. This should be quick and easy. We will simple help to set up tables and chairs.
On May 17 we will be able to enjoy the Festival while we work. Our job will be to watch performances and pass out evaluation sheets to other audience members. We will do our best to accommodate stage preferences so that volunteers get to watch the performances they find the most interesting. We will have two volunteer shifts on the 17th, one from 11:30 a.m.- 3:30 p.m.and one from 3:00-7:00 p.m. People are more than welcome to participate in both shifts and parents are welcome. Both shifts will meet at the YMCA.
Does your agency have service opportunities for our youth volunteers? Contact Carlie Cole at yvc@annarborymca.org or 734-661-8017 for more information.
Additional programs:
Independent Service Project (ISP) placements provide youth volunteers with opportunities to participate in ongoing community service projects tailored to their individual interests. ISPs are available after school and on the weekends year-round.
Youth Advisory Council (YAC) is the youth run, governing body of YVC and consists of youth volunteers who have served through the YVC program. YAC determines programmatic direction, provides input on policy, and plans fundraising events and activities.
Chain of Plenty is a unique collaborative program that engages students with special needs in service-learning while teaching food preparation skills as they assist in the preparation of meals to feed the homeless at the Robert J. Delonis Center.
For more information, contact Josh Humbel via email or at 734-661-8012.