Youth Volunteers in outdoor run with dog

Youth Volunteers

Youth volunteers range from 12 to 17 years old. A volunteer shift can look like anything from helping a shy animal feel more comfortable to making new friends.

Youth Volunteer Portal

Current youth volunteers can log into the Volunteer Portal to view their schedule, schedule classes, view or print a report of hours, and/or update their volunteer profile. 

Portland Campus

Long Term Volunteering

Are you 12-17 years old and passionate about helping shelter animals? Learn more about how to apply for our Long-Term Youth Volunteer program below.

Who can apply?

This program is open to anyone between the ages of 12-17.  Youth Volunteers must be respectful, responsible, and most importantly: love helping animals!

What is it?

While every shift looks a little different, Youth Volunteers engage in activities that directly and indirectly benefit all the animals at OHS. This includes: walking dogs, socializing with dogs, cats, and small animals, maintaining a clean and healthy environment, and so much more!

Junior Camp Counselor – Portland Campus

Oregon Humane Society is seeking Junior Camp Counselors to volunteer for the youth summer camps at our Portland Campus. Successful candidates are enthusiastic, responsible, self-motivated, and positive communicators. A warm, creative, and compassionate attitude is needed.

RESPONSIBLE TO: 

Senior Counselor and Camp Assistant

GENERAL RESPONSIBILITIES:

Jr. Counselors are assigned to a color group with 3-4 other Jr. Counselors, a Senior Counselor, and a Camp Assistant. As a team, they help the campers stay safe and have fun on a daily basis. Jr. Counselors help lead groups to each of their daily activities. As role models, Jr. Counselors create one-on-one relationships with campers and develop a supportive group environment for each session. Jr. Counselors are expected to engage and socialize with campers through conversation, games, stories, and take a lead role in directing the behavior of their campers throughout the day. Jr. Counselors will support the staff and animal wranglers at each activity station by managing camper behavior and assisting with instructional tasks.

SPECIFIC RESPONSIBILITIES:

1. Provide supervisory care for a group of 10-12 children of similar ages as a team with other Jr. Counselors, a Senior Counselor, and their Camp Assistant.

2. Assist the camper group in working together: help campers have fun, practice animal safety, solve problems, ease conflicts, and learn to appreciate each other and the environment. 

3. Fulfill group obligations to the whole camp: help with set-up and clean-up activities, arrive on time to activities, create a positive culture for the group. 

4. Be a positive role model for your campers.

5. Keep the kids safe and help them practice responsible behavior

6. Interact with campers and animals during stations.

7. Be aware of where your campers are at all times. 

8. Foster positive relationships among camp staff, campers and camper parents.

9. Share in designing, leading and carrying out free-time activities.

10. Actively engage in OHS’ mission to Create a More Humane Society and to create an inclusive camp.

HOURS:

Vary depending on weekly camp schedule. Commitment is Mon-Fri of chosen sessions, for 8 hour daily shifts. Junior Counselor shifts are scheduled somewhere between 8 a.m. -5 p.m. Monday – Friday. A Mandatory training session is required prior to camp sessions starting.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

  • Age: Rising 9th grade and above
  • Sincere respect and passion for animals and children.
  • Care and understanding of creating a positive learning environment.
  • Ability to work well in a small community and have fun!
  • Possess punctuality, flexibility, energy and enthusiasm.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

  • Previous animal experience
  • Previous childcare experience
  • Previous camp experience

Long-Term Youth Volunteers must commit to participate in their assigned 2-hour shift every other week for at least six months. Shifts are offered from 4 p.m.-6 p.m. Thursday-Sunday with an additional 10 a.m. -12 p.m. option on weekends. 

Applications are currently closed.  Future volunteer opportunities will be posted here, so check back regularly.

Salem Campus

Volunteer Requirements

Youth Volunteers must be a minimum of 16 years of age and complete all volunteer training and paperwork. Individuals between ages 12 and 15 may volunteer with a parent or guardian over the age of 18. Both the youth and adult will need to fill out applications and participate in all volunteer training. Adults in need of a support person or guardian may also apply as part of our Partner Pair Program. 

Volunteer Roles

  • Dog walking
  • Animal Care Assistants – cleaning kennels, making sure animals have food and water
  • Enrichment Team – helping keep shelter animals engaged
  • Foster care

Junior Camp Counselor – Salem

Oregon Humane Society is seeking Junior Camp Counselors to volunteer for the youth summer camps at our Salem campus. Successful candidates are enthusiastic, responsible, self-motivated, and positive communicators. A warm, creative, and compassionate attitude is needed.

RESPONSIBLE TO:

Senior Counselor and Camp Assistant

GENERAL RESPONSIBILITIES:

Jr. Counselors are assigned to a group with 5-6 campers and help the campers stay safe and have fun on a daily basis. Jr. Counselors help lead groups to each of their daily activities. As role models, Jr. Counselors create one-on-one relationships with campers and develop a supportive group environment for each session. Jr. Counselors are expected to engage and socialize with campers through conversation, games, stories, and take a lead role in directing the behavior of their campers throughout the day. Jr. Counselors will support the staff and animal wranglers at each activity station by managing camper behavior and assisting with instructional tasks.

SPECIFIC RESPONSIBILITIES:

1. Provide supervisory care for a group of 5-6 children of similar ages as a team with other Jr. Counselors.2. Assist the camper group in working together: help campers have fun, practice animal safety, solve problems, ease conflicts, and learn to appreciate each other and the environment.3. Fulfill group obligations to the whole camp: help with set-up and clean-up activities, arrive on time to activities, create a positive culture for the group.4. Be a positive role model for your campers.5. Keep the kids safe and help them practice responsible behavior6. Interact with campers and animals during stations.7. Be aware of where your campers are at all times.8. Foster positive relationships among camp staff, campers and camper parents.9. Share in designing, leading and carrying out free-time activities.10. Actively engage in OHS’ mission to Create a More Humane Society and to create an inclusive camp.

HOURS:

Vary depending on weekly camp schedule. Commitment is Mon-Fri of chosen sessions, for 8 hour daily shifts. Junior Counselor shifts are scheduled somewhere between 8:00am-5:00pm Monday – Friday. A Mandatory training session is required prior to camp sessions starting.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

· Age: Rising 9th grade and above· Sincere respect and passion for animals and children.· Care and understanding of creating a positive learning environment.· Ability to work well in a small community and have fun!· Possess punctuality, flexibility, energy and enthusiasm

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

▪ Previous animal experience▪ Previous childcare experience▪ Previous camp experience

Volunteer Orientation

After receiving your application you will be invited by the Volunteer Engagement team to schedules yourself for an Orientation Session.  These are generally held the first Saturday of January, February, March, May, June, August, September, October and November.

Volunteer Commitment

After Volunteer Orientation, we ask that Volunteers commit to one shift a week. Volunteer Shifts are two to three hours long. All Salem volunteers can schedule their shifts through our Volunteer Portal. Log in to view your volunteer schedule, schedule shifts, view or print a report of hours, and/or update your volunteer profile.

Applications are now closed.

Contact Us

For further questions, please reach out to the Portland and Salem Campus Volunteer teams.