ISO of a badass volunteer job

[tag]

I have been really shocked at how hard it is to find a fulfilling volunteer job. I am willing to give my time for free but in return I want to make a difference, learn new things and socialize and if there are any other perks that is ok too.

Does anyone have any specific suggestion - things you've done before or heard of or places you suggest I look?

[Greenback Reproduction Specialist]

Volunteer fire fighter, rural fire departments that are volunteer based always need help. Only catch is that you usually need to live in their district. But it is fun, training is usually once per month, plus responding to calls. Plus, there is sometimes opportunity to earn extra money if the local department is called out to help with larger events such as forest fires.

For more involvement and fun you can join the board and help with running things, its tough to find people with enough time to adequately take care of things that need to be done. But a lot of this could be done without actually being on the board.

[wordnerd]

Food banks sometimes have wraparound services (e.g., ESL and GED tutoring) that need active/committed volunteers. I imagine animal shelters are as well. Unfortunately, I think a lot of it depends on your local organizations.

 

[kamille]

Check your local hospital because many have volunteer programs. My unit has one where volunteers hold babies. In college I volunteered by just talking and giving emotional support to cancer patients.

[DumpTruck]

I want to volunteer for Sea Shepard.

Was thinking I could do armed security. Big time commitment to live on one of their boats though.

But they ended their boat campaign. I still want to help them.

Pretty much the baddest of the baddest volunteering jobs if you ask me.

[slappy]

Nothing more bad ass that helping abused/neglected children.

http://www.casaforchildren.org/site/c.mtJSJ7MPIsE/b.5301295/k.BE9A/Home.htm

[ixtap]

If you live near a large body of water in the US, check out the USCG Auxiliary. In addition to the volunteer jobs, you can train to work directly with the Coast Guard.

Police departments sometimes have volunteer forces, as well.

Food banks need people to collect the food from various sources.

Youth mentoring.

Meals on wheels.

Hospice car

Entertain the kids at a children's hospital.

Tutoring/ ESL/ GED

Ham radio operators train for events like what has happened in Puerto Rico and are generally a social group.

Habitat for Humanity.

[Lnspilot]

I volunteer for the County Arts Department as an usher. Duties include: ticket taking, showing patrons to their seats, working coat check, or other misc. tasks. Pretty menial labor, but the benefit is huge. Once the show/musical/concert/symphony starts, you get to watch as well.

This may not have the same "making a difference" requirement as you are looking for, but I learn something new every shift, and interact with other volunteers and patrons constantly.

[Frankies Girl]

You could try looking at United Way's site to see if anything pops up that sounds interesting to you.

I volunteer as a wildlife rehabilitator (I work with small animals like squirrels and opossoms, but they take in bunnies, birds, reptiles and amphibians, etc.)

I also work with a therapeutic horse riding program geared towards children with disabilities. I primarily do the horse stuff (clean stalls/water buckets, groom & tack, lead horse), but they also use folks to work with the kids themselves.

Could look into running something class-like at your local country library. I am the alternate lead for a yoga class I started taking there (for free) years ago, and I love yoga... I just stress I'm the substitute teacher, I am not trained, just enjoy doing it so anyone else that wants to do it when the instructor is out is fine to join in. But they offer sewing, language, coding, even financial stuff because there is someone willing to volunteer their time and expertise to teach a regular class there.

[Noodle]

I don't know if it counts as badass, but museum docents often go through really substantial training courses and then have plenty of continuing education opportunities. They get to see new exhibits before the public, get behind-the-scenes access, etc.

The quality of volunteer programs usually depends on the quality of staff (or fellow volunteers) running them. Unfortunately, in a lot of organizations, being the volunteer manager isn't considered a very prestigious job (and some volunteers, no surprise, can be a real headache which also makes the job undesirable) so it can be staffed by fairly young and inexperienced staff members.

[RyanAtTanagra]

OP start with your interests.

Yep.  I volunteer teach/help run a non-profit co-op sailing club.  I used to volunteer assist my ju jitsu instructor in his college self defense classes in exchange for free JJ training, but I'd have done it even without the benefit, it was a lot of fun.

Animal shelter is also an easy one which I would consider if I had more free time.  Also trail building seems like it could be rewarding hard work.

[nancy33]

Foster care for abused and neglected children

[FallenTimber]

I’m not sure where you live, but if you like the outdoors you could consider a local search and rescue team. It will keep you in shape, take you into all kinds of terrain, plenty of socializing, and a rewarding way to spend your time.

[Lmoot]

I work part time at a zoo so I get paid. But it's a nonprofit, so not much. If I didn't work here, I'd volunteer. We are simultaneously facing a backlash against, and a powerful support of environmental issues because of current events (and administrations). It's even more important now to nudge the next generation to the "right" side of importance issues like climate change and conservation. Not to mention renewable energy is the next big industry. That's why I do it at least.

I love it. I get to hang out with kids and animals, and have learned so much myself about life, our environment, our world. And I am getting PAID for all this free education. I get exercise and plenty of vitamin D, and get to have some pretty awesome day to day experiences. I am even pursuing outside education and have been taking classes towards becoming a certified naturalist for my state. I've also joined my state's trail association to help maintain our national trail, and have been motivated to work towards going back to school to get a science degree (have an English degree). Reading about the history of naturalism, and conservation is just as fascinating to me as keeping up with the present and future efforts (and detriments). What is more primal than the desire to understand this world we live in, and the beings we share it with?

Plus I get to go to other zoos and attractions for free or half off, nationwide :)

[scissorbill]

I deliver meals on wheels.  It's something I can work an errand into by leaving early and picking up groceries near the church that I get the meals from or reorganizing my route so I end up near another store after my l last meal is dropped off.  It's rewarding because I really feel like these meals keep the recipients in their homes and the daily check in/human contact is good for them.  I do one day a week and it takes just over an hour.  I can chose to get reimbursed for mileage. 

[kpd905]

If you have any hiking trails in your area, especially a National Scenic Trail, look into volunteering to help build and maintain the trail.  It can be a very physically difficult job, but really satisfying when you see what can be accomplished by a hard working group of people.

[AMandM]

Financial training/mentoring.

Teaching at-risk kids [insert your hobby here].