Volunteer Information

volunteer helping during a swim class with kids splashing in the pool

Build confidence. Make connections. Strengthen community. Volunteering strengthens our community, enriches our lives, and provides us with opportunities. Use this page to learn more about becoming a volunteer in Halton Hills, or download our volunteer brochure.

IMPORTANT UPDATE: Due to the impacts of COVID-19, volunteer opportunities are limited. As more opportunities arise, please check this web page regularly. Currently, we are recruiting for the Trail Steward and Helson Gallery Docent positions.

Current opportunities (summer 2020):

Trail Stewards: Trail Stewards support the successful operation of the trail network by performing regular inspections, reporting deficiencies and performing light maintenance duties like removing litter. This is a unique position and a perfect opportunity to volunteer as a family! Spend quality time together, teach the value of volunteerism and help improve your community. Families and applicants of all ages are welcome to apply to the trail stewards positions. Please note children under 14 years of age will need to be supervised by parent of guardian and have an interest and/or experience in the outdoors. View the Trail Steward Volunteer position description
Docents: Docents facilitate conversations and lead activities with visitors in the Helson Gallery. Docents promote a deeper understanding and appreciation of exhibition goals and help ensure that Gallery visitors have amazing experiences. Volunteers must be 18 years of age or older and have an interest or experience in the arts. Docents will work at the Helson Gallery, part of the Halton Hills Library & Cultural Centre in downtown Georgetown. View the docent volunteer position description

Apply today!

Independent volunteers wanted

Volunteers are an important part of our programs and participants and we want to provide learning opportunities for all of our volunteers. In many cases volunteers become our future employees. We encourage the volunteers to take ownership in completing their own application, following up with reference checks, interviews and training. We value this process as an opportunity for youth to develop leadership and life skills. This will help them when securing future employment. Our team understands this is a new experience to all of them but we are happy to walk them through the journey.

When to apply for volunteer positions

You can apply to be a volunteer anytime! Some seasonal programs like aquatics, sports and summer camps have seasonal deadlines:

For positions in summer 2020: Apply before March 22, 2020
For positions in fall 2020: Apply before September 11, 2020
For positions in winter 2021: Apply before November 6, 2020
For positions in spring 2021: Apply before January 29, 2021

Candidates who submit their applications after deadline closes their applications will be held until the next set of interviews open up.

Future volunteer opportunities

As we move through the various phases of reopening, additional volunteer opportunities will become available. Here's a peek at some of the positions we have offered in the past:

Aquatics

Aquatic volunteers support recreation staff in delivering high quality aquatics programs to children and youth. Applicants must be at least 14 years of age and have successfully completed Swimmer Level 6 or can successfully complete an aquatics skills screening. Aquatic volunteers will be located at the Gellert Community Centre (Georgetown) and/or the Acton Lion’s Indoor Pool (Acton).

Aquatics volunteer position description

Camp

Summer camp, march break and more

Volunteers for march break, summer camp and family day programs will support recreation staff in delivering high quality programs to children and youth in the community. Volunteers must be 14 years of age or older and have an interest in supporting children in a high-energy camp environment. Camps take place at Town recreation facilities throughout Halton Hills.

Please note, there is a fillable PDF calendar link below for summer camps. Please indicate the camp weeks of interest and submit this along with your volunteer application or contact the volunteer coordinator using the contact information elsewhere on this page.

Skateboard basics workshop

To support staff in delivering high quality programs to children in the community. This position appeals to those who are 14 years of age or older and enjoy working with children, have a passion and experience skateboarding.

June 6, 2020 – 9.30-11.30am – Three Musketears Skatepark
June 13, 2020 – 9.30-11.30am – Gellert Skatepark
June 20, 2020 – 9.30-11.30am - Gellert Skatepark

Culture

Culture Days volunteers

Culture Days is a 3-day national celebration of arts and culture that requires volunteer assistance to put on a successful event. Volunteers must be 14 years of age or older and have an interest or experience in arts and/or arts and culture. Volunteer roles take place at various indoor and outdoor locations within Halton Hills, including the Library & Cultural Centre and downtown Georgetown. Culture days runs September 25, 26 and 27, 2020. Additional shifts are available prior to the event. Positions include greeters, activity support and farmer’s market volunteers.

View the Culture Days volunteer position description

Usher volunteers

Ushers assist theatre patrons to their seats, provide information about upcoming shows, ensure that the patrons of the theatre are safe and help ensure that visitors have amazing experiences. Volunteers must be 14 years of age or older and have an interest or experience in theatre. Ushers will work out of the John Elliott Theatre in downtown Georgetown.

View the usher volunteer position description

Docents

Docents facilitate conversations and lead activities with visitors in the Helson Gallery. Docents promote a deeper understanding and appreciation of exhibition goals and help ensure that Gallery visitors have amazing experiences. Volunteers must be 18 years of age or older and have an interest or experience in the arts. Docents will work at the Helson Gallery, part of the Halton Hills Library & Cultural Centre in downtown Georgetown.

View the docent volunteer position description

Hillsview Active Living Centre (Seniors)

Hillsview volunteers will assist the Hillsview staff with our mandate – to enjoy life in good company! Our centres are full of fun and activity, including regular drop-in programs, special events, fitness programs, arts, social activities and more. Volunteers will work out of the Hillsivew Active Living Centres in Acton or Georgetown. There are various volunteer opportunities available at the Hillsview Active Living Centres. These include, but are not limited to:

Board of Directors
Fundraiser or Fundraising Development
Grant Writing
Special Event Planning and Support
Program Planning
Reception Desk
Kitchen Assistance
Social, Funding, Program, Membership committee options

To volunteer for one of these or other Hillsview positions, please contact the Hillsview Active Living Centres directly.

Open streets

During open streets, roads are closed to vehicles. This creates a fun, outdoor space for residents to take back their neighbourhood and enjoy activity together. Basically we play in the streets! Activities include giant Lego blocks, skip rope, toss balls and Frisbees, chalk on the road, dance to great music, play road hockey, and more! Open streets volunteers assist with set-up, delivery and clean-up of open streets events. Volunteers must be a minimum of 14 years of age or older and have an interest or experience in fitness, social work or recreation. Events take place during the summer months only (June-September) at various locations in Acton and Georgetown.

View the open streets volunteer position description

Parks and trails

Trail Stewards

Trail Stewards support the successful operation of the trail network by performing regular inspections, reporting deficiencies and performing light maintenance duties like removing litter. This is a unique position and a perfect opportunity to volunteer as a family! Spend quality time together, teach the value of volunteerism and help improve your community. Families and applicants of all ages are welcome to apply to the trail stewards positions. Please note children under 14 years of age will need to be supervised by parent of guardian and have an interest and/or experience in the outdoors.

View the trail steward volunteer position description

Sports

Baseball for adults with special needs - spring only

Special needs baseball volunteers support recreation staff in delivering high quality programs to adults in the community. Volunteers to this program must be 16 years of age or older and have an interest or experience working with inclusion participants, sport or recreation.

June 17 to August 12, 2020 from 6:45 to 8:00 p.m. at Park Public School, Georgetown
Pizza party celebration on August 12
View the instructional sports volunteer position description

Soccer for adults with special needs - summer only

Special needs soccer volunteers support recreation staff in delivering high quality programs to adults in the community. Volunteers to this program must be 16 years of age or older and have an interest or experience working with inclusion participants, sport or recreation.

Mondays from May 25 to July 6, 2020 from 6:45 to 8:00 p.m. at Centennial Middle School, Georgetown
Optional trip on July 4, and pizza party celebration on August 12
View the instructional sports volunteer position description

Halton Hills basketball volunteers

Basketball volunteers support recreation staff in delivery of high quality sport league programs to children and youth in the community. Volunteers must be 14 years of age or older and enjoy working with children. Programs take place at Christ the King Secondary School, Georgetown.

View the sports league volunteer position description

T.I.M.E (disability support)

T.I.M.E. volunteer – spring, fall, winter only (no summer)

T.I.M.E is an exercise program developed for people with a range of neuromuscular conditions such as a stroke, brain injury or Multiple Sclerosis. The aim of the program is to help improve balance and strength through a circuit station format designed to stimulate and respond to the participants’ individual abilities. Under the direction of the Fitness Leader, the volunteer will provide support and assistance to the participants of the program. Due to the specialized needs of the TIME program, volunteers must be a minimum of 18 years of age and have an interest or experience in fitness, social work or recreation. TIME volunteers will work from the Hillsview Active Living Centre in Georgetown on Mondays and Thursdays from 9-11 a.m.

View the T.I.M.E. volunteer position description

Frequently asked questions

How will my child receive confirmation of the hours they’ve volunteered to show to their school?
After completing their weekly feedback form, it will be shared with the Volunteer Coordinator, who will process their letters. These letters will be mailed to their home address on file by mid-October. It is the volunteer’s responsibility to submit to their school.
- Winter placements receive letters in April.
- Spring placements receive letters in June.
- Summer placements receive letters in September.
- Fall placements receive letters in January
How does the Town of Halton Hills communicate with volunteers?

We recommend volunteers check their emails on a regular basis. Due to the volume of our volunteer portfolio it can be challenging to call all volunteers individually. Therefore we will email messages to volunteers. At training, volunteers will also be given an orientation package with phone numbers and email addresses to contact staff.
What happens if my child is ill and cannot volunteer for a day (or two)?

It is the responsibility of the volunteer (not their parent/guardian) to notify the Volunteer Coordinator of their absence. Contact information will be given to volunteers at their volunteer training session. We encourage all volunteers to have their own email account so that communication can be clear and to help foster independence.
What if my child needs to make changes to their availability or the camp they wish to volunteer with?

It is the responsibility of the volunteer (not their parent/guardian) to notify the Volunteer Coordinator of their request to change location and/or availability. We encourage all volunteers to have their own email account so that communication can be clear and to help foster independence.
What does my child wear to volunteer at summer camp?

Each volunteer will be given a volunteer t-shirt and name tag at their training. We ask that they wear this every time they volunteer, along with comfortable pants or shorts that they can be active in. They will also need comfortable athletic shoes. Most summer camp volunteers will also be swimming, so they will need a ONE piece swimsuit and towel.
What does my child wear to volunteer in aquatics program?

Each volunteer will be given a mesh volunteer singlet at their training. We ask that they wear this every time they volunteer. Volunteers can either wear swim trunks or a one piece swimsuit and will be required to bring their own towel.
What hours will my child be working?

We ask all summer camp volunteers to commit to a minimum of 40 hours. This includes 4-5 hours of mandatory training, and 35 hours in a week-long camp session. The week-long camp hours are from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. We encourage all volunteers to be 15 minutes early for their shift. For Aquatics Volunteers we ask that they commit to the 9 week session. This may be either a daytime program daily or a once a week program for 9 weeks.
Does my child need to bring a lunch?

All summer camp volunteers will be given a 30 minute lunch break, where they are not required to be with the camp staff or campers. They can use this break to eat their lunch, go for a walk, etc. If they choose to eat their lunch on-site, we ask that all lunches are nut-aware, as we do have staff and campers with nut allergies. We also encourage all volunteers to use this break to check their phones, etc. Electronic devices (including cell phones, cameras, video games, etc.) are not permitting during their volunteering hours.
Who can I contact if I have more questions?

If you have questions, please contact the Volunteer Coordinator using the contact information on this page.

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