Service Opportunities

  • The Boys and Girls Club of Missoula

    Mentor children and young adults at the Boys & Girls Club.

    The Boys and Girls Club of Missoula is always looking for individuals who want to give back to the community through volunteering. Helping children through providing a healthy, drug-free, and safe place to spend their time after school is a vital and necessary community service.

    The Boys and Girls Club is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to enable all young people to reach their full potential as productive, caring, responsible citizens.

    For more information about volunteering through the Boys & Girls Club call their volunteer services at (406)542-3116, email their coordinator Aly Nordwall at aly@bgcmissoulacounty.org, or visit the Boys and Girls Club website.  

    Families First Children’s Museum

    Families First Children’s Museum is always looking for volunteers! 

    We are looking for individuals who enjoy children and are committed to engaging parents and children in fun and interactive activities. Volunteers must be at least 15 years old and complete an application, interview, background check, and training. 

    Families First Children’s Museum works to strengthen community by empowering families through parent education and learning through play. The community-based exhibit program will feature hands-on interactive experiences designed to support children’s physical, creative, emotional and social development. 

    Hours: Volunteers typically work 1-2 hour shifts. 

    For additional information, please contact Families First Children’s Museum at (406) 721-7690 or info@familiesfirstmt.org.

    Girl Scouts of Montana and Wyoming

    Mentor Girl Scouts in Missoula.

    Girls Scouts of Montana and Wyoming is looking for individuals who want to make a lasting impact on the lives of young girls through volunteering in various capacities. It’s your commitment to her, combined with our experience, that will help strengthen her belief in herself and in her inherent power.

    At Girl Scouts, we’re all about practicing everyday leadership, preparing girls to empower themselves, and promoting G.I.R.L. (Go-getter, Innovator, Risk-taker, Leader)TM experiences. Because girls who practice leadership like a Girl Scout are more likely to reach their full potential. Again, Girl Scouts doesn’t empower girls—we prepare girls with the skills and experiences they need to empower themselves for life.

    Hours: The time commitment is up to you.

    Visit the Girls Scouts of Montana and Wyoming website to learn more about the duties, tasks and qualifications for a Girl Scout volunteer. 

    Contact Ben Stone at bens@gsmw.org or call 406-252-0488 ext. 2308 for more information. 

    Missoula Children’s Theatre and Missoula Community Theatre (MCT, Inc.)

    MCT is in need of volunteers year round who would like to contribute their time and talents either on stage, behind the scenes, or in a variety of other areas. 

    Within our home community of Missoula, Montana, we are an arts organization committed to staging local productions, children's musicals, revues, showcases, and operas. Across the country and throughout the world, we are recognized as the premiere group that brings performing arts opportunities to communities-most notably to kids-who might not otherwise have access to them. 

    Call Dylan Wright, volunteer coordinator, at (406) 728-1911 or go to the MCT Inc. website to learn more about volunteer opportunities and to submit a volunteer form.   
    Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) of Missoula, Inc.

    Become a court appointed special advocate for abused and neglected children.

    CASA is a nonprofit organization that recruits, trains, and supports volunteers to represent the best interests of abused and neglected children in the courts and various other settings. CASA volunteers are the voice for abused and neglected children in the judicial system who advocate for each child to reside in a safe, permanent home as quickly as possible. 

    Hours: Volunteers spend approximately 5-20 hours a month on a case and are asked to agree to at least a one-year commitment.  The average length of time is about a year and a half.

    To start the volunteering process in the Missoula or Mineral County area, you can contact CASA of Missoula online. 

    YMCA

    Help children and families by volunteering at the YMCA.

    YMCA of Missoula utilizes volunteers in various areas depending on their time availability and talents. Some areas include board and committee members, youth sports coaches, Special Olympics organizers, chaperones and many more.

    The YMCA is the largest nonprofit community service organization in the nation and aims to build strong families and communities across the nation through engaging young adults and children in healthy lifestyles, healthy pursuits, and providing assistance to parents who can help to build strong futures for their children.

    Visit the YMCA website to learn more about volunteering at the local YMCA. 

    GUTS!

    Mentor and support young women in Missoula.

    The GUTS! (girls using their strengths) program at the YWCA is looking for individuals who want to help young women ages 9-18 discover their strengths and explore their own personal values in a safe and supportive environment during lunchtime and after school in school-based action groups.

    Hours: Volunteers must fill out an application, pass a background check and complete an orientation and 4-hour training session to be eligible.  Volunteers work in pairs to facilitate 1.5-hour, after-school or lunch action group programs for girls that last 10-12 weeks at a time from September-December and February-May. Visit the YWCA website for more information about GUTS! and other volunteer opportunities through the YWCA.

    To volunteer, email guts@ywcaofmissoula.org.

    Watson Children’s Shelter

    Helping Montana's children in crisis, Watson Children’s Shelter (WCS) provides emergency shelter for children, infant to age 14, who have experienced physical or sexual abuse, severe neglect, or a family crisis, such as abandonment or homelessness. For the last several years, WCS has remained at or near capacity, serving 24 children at any one time, and over 100 children annually.

    As a volunteer, there are many ways that you can contribute directly or indirectly to benefit WCS and the children who reside here. It is important to us that we match your skills, talents, and interests with a unique volunteer opportunity. Here are a few examples of volunteer opportunities: outside maintenance, clerical work, group projects such as food drives, and more. In addition, there are volunteer opportunities with our two major events, Bike for Shelter in May and the Tennis Pro-Am in Sept/Oct.

    Volunteers, please understand, because of the trauma frequently experienced by the children before they arrive at WCS, our professional staff is educated and experienced in child-related programs and complete extensive training in dealing with childhood trauma. Therefore, we are not able to have volunteers work directly with the children. Please know that we appreciate you and your willingness to serve!

    Hours: Vary

    For more details about volunteer opportunities and to fill out a volunteer application, visit the Watson Children's Shelter website.

    Please return volunteer applications to our administrative offices at 4978 Buckhouse Lane, or email office@shelter4children.com. We will add you to our volunteer mailing list so you receive information about our current volunteer needs!

    Writing Coaches of Missoula
     
    Help students learn to write and think clearly.
     
    Writing Coaches of Missoula needs volunteers to mentor Missoula area middle and high school students on their writing skills.  Coaches meet individually with students during the class period to work on persuasive writing projects assigned by their teacher as part of the class regular curriculum.  We currently have programs at Big Sky, Hellgate, and Sentinel High Schools.  In addition we serve C.S. Porter, Meadow Hill, and Washington Middle Schools.
     
    We work with every student in the classroom. Coaches meet twice with each student-first on a rough draft, and then on a revised second draft. We practice "student-centered" coaching, with an emphasis on clear communication and critical thinking. Scheduling is flexible-work if and when you have time.

    All trainings are held on the University of Montana campus. To register, please email writingcoachesofmissoula@gmail.com.

    Scouting America, Montana Council

    Volunteers bring Scouting to life across Montana. When volunteering with the Montana Council, you help build the foundation for our youth that ensures ethical, moral, kind and prepared leaders for tomorrow.

    The advantage of Scouting is not limited to the Scouts. 

    Adults develop leadership and physical skills with every training experience.

    We hear it a lot.

    Those who invest their time with Scouting say they are better citizens, parents, leaders and team members. We welcome any level of participation, whether helping Scouts directly during an event, or by assisting at the unit, district or council level.

    For more information about volunteering with Scouting America, contact District Executive Grace Friend at grace.friend@scouting.org,  406-926-1810, or visit our website at www.montanabsa.org