Teen Volunteer Program
Longmont Humane Society is incredibly proud to have independent volunteer opportunities for teens! Volunteering at LHS can be a rewarding experience for teens. It not only benefits the animals but also helps teens develop important life skills, empathy, and a sense of responsibility. Our teen program is open to teens ages 13-18, (and still in high school).
If you are looking for opportunities for younger children, please see our “adult with child” program.
STEP 1 – CHOOSE YOUR PROGRAM
Junior Animal Care Assistant (JACA)
For teens 13-18
JACA Volunteers help our staff by cleaning, filling, and passing out Kongs to the dogs, filling water bowls, performing enrichment activities, and visiting with the dogs in their kennels.
JACA Training consists of two classroom days – a total of four hours of training. Both days of training must be completed in order to volunteer.
Time Commitment: Once a week for a 90-minute shift – we ask for a commitment of at least three months to help us plan our volunteer staffing needs.
Shift times:
- 11:30 – 1:00
- 1:00 – 2:30
- 2:30 – 4:00
- These shifts are available every day of the week.
Teen Dog TLC
For teens 14-18
Dog TLC Volunteers assist with walking and socializing adoptable dogs. As a TLC Volunteer you are an integral part of our team – ensuring that dogs get out of their kennels as much as possible.
Dog TLC Training consists of 6 hours of training: two classroom days and one test day. All three sessions must be completed in order to volunteer.
Time Commitment: Once a week for a two-hour shift – we ask for a commitment of at least three months to help us plan our volunteer staffing needs.
Shift Times:
- 8:00 – 10:00 am
- 10:00 am – 12:00 pm
- 12:00 – 2:00 pm
- 2:00 – 4:00 pm
- 4:00 – 6:00 pm
- These shifts are available every day of the week.
feline friends
For teens 14-18
Feline Friends Volunteers assist with socializing our adoptable cats. As a Feline Friend Volunteer, you will visit and play with our kitties – providing enrichment and exercise while they await their furrever homes.
Feline Friends Training consists of one two-hour training session. Please Note: Our Feline Friends program is currently full. However, opportunities for Feline Friends Training may become available after you become an established volunteer.
Time Commitment: Once a week for a two-hour shift – we ask for a commitment of at least three months to help us plan our volunteer staffing needs.
Shift Times:
- 8:00 – 10:00 am
- 10:00 am – 12:00 pm
- 12:00 – 2:00 pm
- 2:00 – 4:00 pm
- 4:00 – 6:00 pm
- These shifts are available every day of the week.
small paws
For teens 14-18
Small Paws Volunteers assist with socializing our adoptable guinea pigs, rabbits, and rats. As a Small Paws Volunteer, you will help by visiting and playing with the small mammals and providing enrichment activities for them.
Small Paws Training consists of one two-hour training session. Please Note: Our Small Paws program is currently full. However, opportunities for Small Paws Training may become available after you become an established volunteer.
Time Commitment: Once a week for a 90-minute shift – we ask for a commitment of at least three months to help us plan our volunteer staffing needs.
Shift Times:
- 11:30 am – 1:00 pm
- 1:00 – 2:30 pm
- 2:30 – 4:00 pm
- 4:00 – 5:30 pm
- These shifts are available every day of the week.
STEP 2 – CHECK YOUR CALENDAR
Our next Teen Orientation will be Wednesday, January 8th
- Orientation is for BOTH JACA and Teen Dog TLC candidates.
- All new teen volunteers must attend orientation with a parent or guardian.
- Location: Longmont Humane Society – back side of the building – look for the roll-up (garage style) doors.
- What to bring: $25 to cover the cost of a t-shirt and program administration.
Please Note: Teen Volunteer Orientations are offered quarterly, typically in January, March, June, and October.
Junior Animal Care Assistant (JACA)
TRAINING DATES
Training Day 1: Typically Wednesday afternoons
Training Day 2: Typically Thursday afternoons
Teen Dog TLC
TRAINING DATES
Training Day 1: Typically a weekday afternoon/evening
Training Day 2: Typically a weekday afternoon/evening
Test Days – Two options for test days: Schedule these with the volunteer coordinator when you RSVP – see below.
FELINE FRIENDS TRAINING DATE
One training day – Training will be scheduled with the volunteer coordinator when you RSVP – see below.
STEP 3 – APPLY and RSVP VIA EMAIL
Ready to join the team?
➡️ Complete the Teen Volunteer Application HERE
➡️ RSVP with your NAME and the PROGRAM you are interested in joining (JACA or Dog TLC) to our Volunteer Coordinators at volunteer@longmonthumane.org
QUESTIONS? Please email volunteer@longmonthumane.org or call us at (303) 772-1232 ext. 278
PLEASE NOTE: For inquiries regarding COURT ORDERED COMMUNITY SERVICE please contact us at info@longmonthumane.org – our volunteer program does not handle Court Ordered Community Service.
Alternatives to the Teen Volunteer Program: If the available orientation and training dates do not work for your schedule, please consider these alternatives – and check back soon as we hold orientation and training sessions quarterly.
FOSTER! Our foster program is always in need of homes to send animals & our foster coordinator is able to sign off on school hours for fostering. You can read more about the Foster Program here.
HOST A FUNDRAISER! Many teens hold fundraisers on their own and then donate funds or items from our wish list. Please see our Fundraising Page. Please note that our volunteer program cannot sign off on school hours for this.
Opportunities for Younger Children (Ages 8-12)
We know there are many children in this age group who would love to work with the animals; unfortunately, we do not have the supervision to offer this as independent volunteer work. May we suggest, however, that an adult, over the age of 18, work as the primary volunteer, and the child may accompany the adult during their volunteer time. Please refer to our Adult Volunteer opportunities for more information.