Youth Opportunities
Supporters of All Ages
Partner-Up Volunteer Program
Volunteers between the ages of 10-15 are eligible to join our “Partner-Up Program.” Partner-Up teams consist of at least one adult (parent, guardian or trusted family friend) age 18 years or over and the child. The adult and child “teams” volunteer in Animal Care or Behavior & Enrichment. Click below to get started with volunteering and to explore our “Partner-Up” opportunities.
Independently volunteering (without a parent or guardian) at the shelter begins at age 16. Due to the nature of our services, children under 10 years of age are not eligible to volunteer at the animal shelter. Children of all ages can participate by providing foster care to an animal in need when their parent/guardian (21 years and up) joins the Foster Care Program.
Foster with Family
Children of all ages can participate in caring for foster animals with their families! When their parent/guardian (at least 21 years of age) welcomes a foster animal into their home, this is a great opportunity for children to learn about the care and socialization of animals in need. Adults will handle all communication with our Foster Coordinators, as well as bringing animals in for veterinary checks, while your child provides moral support and companionship!
Make Enrichment Items
Feeling crafty? Our team of staff and volunteers can always use help creating the items and toys that we use to enrich the daily routines of animals in our care! These “enrichment” items are distributed to all shelter animals on daily basis and improve animals’ well-being by keeping them engaged and occupied. Click below for a list of enrichment projects and their respective instructions. Please email volunteer@nocohumane.org the day prior to your planned drop-off.
Host a Donation Drive
Self-organized donation drives are a great way for children of all ages to learn about supporting those in need. Our youth can gain a sense of purpose and satisfaction from putting time and effort into a cause they truly care about. Brainstorm creative ways to gather donations, such as hosting a bake sale or setting up a donation box in a public place – the sky’s the limit! Check out our current “wish list” for suggested donations, or email development@nocohumane.org to learn how you can directly support NOCO Humane with a donation drive.
Organize a “Penny War” Fundraiser
A penny war fundraiser is a friendly competition between groups or individuals that encourages participants to donate coins and money to a charity or cause. It’s a fun spin on a traditional donation drive that can be used to involve multiple teams, classes, or even an entire school in a fundraising effort to support the animals.
Tour the Shelter
Come see our mission in action! We offer community tours to groups and classes for ages five and up. Tours include a guided walk through our shelter with the opportunity to add a humane education lesson. Tours last approximately one hour and include an opportunity to see adoptable animals (but not animal handling). Youth groups must have at least one adult chaperone per five children. Larger groups may be split into smaller tour groups of no more than 10. We are unable to accommodate tours larger than 20 people at this time.
Humane Education
We believe compassion for animals tomorrow begins with education today! Our Humane Education program provides hands-on educational experiences to animal lovers of all ages. We can provide your classroom or youth group with lessons on a variety of animal welfare topics to encourage growth, learning, and compassion.
