Park And Recreation

• Community Parks & Recreation Centers
• Golf Courses
• Mount Hope Cemetery
• Regional Parks and Open Space Parks & Preserves
• Senior Citizen Services
• Therapeutic Recreation Services
• Volunteer Office

Community Parks & Recreation Centers

• Recreation Centers
• Pools

Hours:   Vary; weekday afternoons or evenings; weekends.
Minimum Age: 13; Court Referrals: Yes (conditional)

Individual Volunteer Opportunities include:

Aquatic Program Assistant. Help to provide recreational opportunities in aquatics. Program areas include: Learn to Swim, Adaptive Aquatics, Youth Swim Team, Youth Water Polo and Water Fitness. Assist staff with classes and/or programs, pool maintenance, and help to conduct special events. Qualifications: 13 years or older; enjoys children; positive and enthusiastic; interest or experience in aquatics or other recreational activities; dependable; positive role model; must have the ability to pass the American Red Cross Intermediate Swimmer requirements. Time Commitment: Hours vary.

Grounds Maintenance Assistant. Assist with grounds maintenance and custodial duties at park and recreation centers, including irrigation inspections; trash pick-up; restroom cleaning; planting flowers and shrubs; native plant restoration. Qualifications: 18 years or older; able to lift and carry items weighing up to 30 lbs.; able to bend/stoop repeatedly; interest in park maintenance and plants. Time Commitment: Hours vary.

Office Manager Assistant. Assist recreation center office staff in everyday office procedures including answering phones; typing; copying; filing; providing public information; entering computer data. Qualifications: : 16 years or older; excellent customer service skills; flexible; able to type. Computer skills desirable. Time Commitment: 12 hours/week; 3+ months.

Recreation Council/Advisory Council/Board Member (Chair, Vice-Chair, Secretary, Treasurer, Member). Serve on Advisory Board as a member or officer. Attend meetings and assist in development and planning of recreation areas/programs/events, perform duties that relate to respective position on the council/board. Qualifications:Must be reliable, possess leadership skills, and be committed to your community. Time Commitment: Attend meetings and special events as needed, may serve on committees. Note: Positions have term limits. Call (619) 533-4017 for more information.

Recreation Program Assistant. Assist Recreation Leaders in planning and implementation of Recreation Programs for elementary and junior high age youth at one of 75 sites throughout City. Includes arts and crafts, athletics, special events. Qualifications: 13 years or older; enjoys children; positive and enthusiastic attitude; interest or experience in arts, crafts, sports or other recreational activities; dependable; positive role model. Time Commitment: 3 hours/week; 3 months.

Referee/Umpire/Official/Scorekeeper. Officiate the following sports: flag football; track and field; soccer; softball; basketball; volleyball; swimming; water polo. Qualifications: Referee/Umpire/Official 18 years or older; Scorekeeper 16 years or older; experience officiating at junior high level; good knowledge of sports and rules. Time Commitment: Entire season (varies with sport); games are usually late afternoon/early evenings or Saturdays.

Youth Sports Coach. Coach the following sports: flag football; track and field; soccer; softball; basketball; volleyball; swimming; water polo. Teaches skills/rules of game; emphasizes sportsmanship; schedules/conducts practices. Qualifications: 18 years or older; knowledge of game rules and fundamentals; enjoys working with children; friendly, helpful, enthusiastic attitude; can be firm as needed. Time Commitment: Entire season (varies with sport); scheduled practice days; meets, games, tournaments.

Group Volunteer Opportunities include:

Grounds Maintenance Group Volunteers. Assist in cleaning and maintenance of parks, playgrounds and recreation centers citywide. Qualifications: Desire to help maintain quality of public parks. Groups must provide own supervision; groups of children must have adult supervision. Time Commitment: Discretion of group; may be on a one-time basis, or "Adopt A Park".

Therapeutic Recreation Services

• Therapeutic Recreation Services

Individual Volunteer Opportunities include:

Therapeutic Recreation Services Activities Assistant. Assist Therapeutic Recreation Services staff in conducting successful recreational experiences for persons with disabilities, including program set-up and hands-on assistance. Qualifications: 13 years or older; Enjoys working with people; able to interact with persons with various disabilities and special needs; patient and understanding; able to work as part of a team.Time Commitment: 2 programs/month; 2-6 hours/program.

Group Volunteer Opportunities include:

Golf Courses

• Torrey Pines
• Balboa

Individual Volunteer Opportunities include:

Golf Course Marshal Volunteer. Assist Golf Course Operations staff at Balboa or Torrey Pines Golf Courses in providing enjoyable golfing opportunities for the public by maintaining speed of play and high level course conditions. Qualifications: 18 years or older; reliable; knowledge of golf rules. Time Commitment: Days/times vary; 12 months.

Group Volunteer Opportunities include:

Grounds Maintenance Volunteers. Assist in cleaning and maintenance of City golf courses. Qualifications: Desire to help maintain quality of golf courses. Groups must provide own supervision; groups of children must have adult supervision. Time Commitment: One-time basis, or "Adopt A Course".

Mount Hope Cemetery

• Mt. Hope Cemetery

Individual Volunteer Opportunities include:

Grounds Maintenance Assistant Assist grounds maintenance staff in general cemetery maintenance, including trimming around memorial markers/monuments, picking up flowers/litter, setting up for grave site services. Qualifications: G18 years or older; Good physical condition; able to perform strenuous tasks and lift up to 25 lbs.; some experience with gas-powered trimmers.

Office Assistant. Assist office staff with recording and verifying burial records, historical research, data input into new computer mapping program, and various office activities. Qualifications: 18 years or older; General office experience; speaks and writes well; basic computer skills; knowledge of Word, Word Perfect, Excel a plus. Time Commitment: Flexible; 5 days/week; 4-8 hours/day.

Group Volunteer Opportunities include:

Regional Parks and Open Space Parks & Preserves

Individual Volunteer Opportunities include:

Botanical Volunteer. Balboa Park-Assist park staff working at the nursery or Botanical Building. Qualifications: 18 years or older; Interest in or experience with plants; training provided. Time Commitment: Monday-Friday (no weekends); flexible.

Grounds Maintenance Volunteers. Assist in cleaning and maintenance of coastal parks and beaches from Torrey Pines Beach to Sunset Cliffs Park. Qualifications: Desire to help maintain quality of beaches and coastal parks. Groups must provide own supervision; groups of children must have adult supervision. Time Commitment: One-time basis, or "Adopt A Park" (clean every 3 months).

Habitat Restoration Volunteers. Work with park ranger staff in removal of non-native plants, transplanting natives, and fencing of sensitive areas. Qualifications: 16 years or older; good physical condition; able to perform strenuous physical tasks; enjoys working as a team. Time Commitment: 4 hours/day; mostly weekends, available to large groups.

Interpretive Volunteer Tour. Guide works with Park Ranger staff, volunteers, and gardeners in learning the rich history and horticulture of Balboa Park. Off shoot tour guides provide interpretive guided tours of the park's history and horticulture every Saturday morning at 10:00 a.m. Qualifications: 18 years or older; knowledge of the basics of interpretation; good verbal and written communication skills; able to work independently. Time Commitment: one year commitment.

Trail Crew. Work with park ranger staff in building and maintaining trails and installing fencing, signage, water bars, and steps. Qualifications: 18 years or older; good physical condition; able to perform strenuous tasks; enjoys working in a team. Time Commitment:, 1 day/month; 4 hours/day; mostly weekends.

Visitor Center Assistant Librarian. Assist in the organization and cataloging of library reference material; assist public with research; help with book sales and with promotion of library in community. Qualifications: 16 years or older; enjoys working with public and assisting people; is familiar with library organization and research. Time Commitment: 8+ hours/month; 12 months.

Visitor Center Volunteer.Assist park ranger staff in providing information to visitors and operating center, including answering phones; running audio visual system; operating gift shop; assisting groups in center. Qualifications: 16 years or older in Visitor Center, 18 years or older in Gift Shop; enjoys working with public; interest in natural and/or cultural resources of region; interest in educating public on park purposes. Time Commitment: 8+ hours/month; 12 months.

Volunteer Park Patrol. Assist park rangers in informing public about park rules and regulations; assist with nature programs; provide public assistance (first aid, CPR); etc. Patrol parks on foot, or on bicycle or horseback (must provide own). Qualifications: 18 years or older; good physical condition; possess or obtain valid Red Cross First Aid and CPR certificate; good public relations skills. Time Commitment: Varies; contact individual parks; generally 8 hours/month; 12+months.

Contact the Park Ranger:

Locations: Vary
Hours: Weekdays or weekends
Minimum Age: 18 years or older, or younger with adult supervision
Court Referrals: Tri-Canyon Parks/Mission Valley Preserve and the Tecolote Nature Center (858) 581-9961

Group Volunteer Opportunities include:

• Balboa Park
• Mission Bay Park
• Open Space Parks

Senior Citizen Services

• Senior Citizen Services

Individual Volunteer Opportunities include:

Senior Services Office Assistant. Assist Senior Services staff with various office functions, including information and referral, answering phones, assisting public at counter, updating lists. Qualifications: Excellent public relations skills, ability to work as part of a team. Time Commitment: 1X per week (4 hour shift). Office is open M-F, 8 a.m.- 5 p.m.

Senior Services Dance Assistant.Greet event participants, assist with event set-up and clean-up (decorating, kitchen assistance) and serve refreshments. Qualifications: Must be friendly and courteous, ability to work as part of a team. Time Commitment: 1-2X per month. Dances are held in Balboa Park on the 2nd and 4th Thursday of each month, volunteers are needed from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Senior Services Balboa Park Lounge Assistant. Greet guests, share Lounge resources, assist with setting-up and cleaning Senior Lounge. Qualifications: Must be friendly and courteous, ability to work as part of a team. Time Commitment: 1X per week (4 hour shift). Senior Lounge is open 7 days a week, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.

Group Volunteer Opportunities include:

Newsletter Collating. Collate quarterly newsletter to be mailed out. Qualifications: Ability to focus on and complete tasks. Time Commitment: Varies, depends on # of people in group (6000 newsletters need to be collated).

Volunteer Office

Special Event Assistant. Assist staff with special projects, organization of training materials, creating and formatting documents, creating PowerPoint presentations and conducting administrative/office duties including copying, filing, and faxing. Assist with special event/program budget tracking, volunteer application processing/ referrals, and volunteer recruitment fairs. Qualifications: 13 years or older; Computer skills: Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, database development (Access) & internet search knowledge. Ability to follow directions, perform detailed work accurately, work as a team and independently; possess excellent interpersonal and organizational skills; be creative and dependable. Time Commitment: 1-3 days/week; 2-4 hours/day for 3-6 months. Hours: M-F, 8 a.m. - 4 p.m.