Best Outdoor Volunteer Opportunities For Families In Chicago
Instilling the importance of helping others in children can be a great way to teach your kids about charity. Not only will they take pride in helping those more unfortunate but it will teach them gratitude to appreciate all they have. Chicago has a number of volunteer opportunities for families with children so that you may be able to do something charitable together. Take advantage of the warm weather and have your kids do something outdoors with the abundance of outdoor volunteer opportunities in Chicago.
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PAWS Chicago
1997 N. Clybourn Ave.
Chicago, IL 60614
(773) 935-7297
www.pawschicago.org
PAWS Chicago's Adoption & Humane Center is 70 percent supported by volunteers and has a number of different volunteer opportunities available. The Family Service Volunteer Program is geared towards children over 12 years of age that are accompanied by a parent or guardian. This is a great program for parents looking to involve their children in a charitable organization. Duties in the volunteer programs offered through PAWS range from everything from simple interaction with dogs and cats to walking dogs and transporting to health care visits. Check out the website in order to sign up for volunteer orientation to get started.
Burnham Nature Sanctuary
5491 S. Shore Drive
Chicago, IL 60615
(312) 747-1615
www.chicagoparkdistrict.com/parks/Burnham-Park
The Burnham stewardship group is requesting volunteers for maintaining and improving the Burnham Nature Sanctuary. Volunteers will be involved in plant removal, brush cutting, seeding and planting. Volunteers will meet just west of Lake Shore Drive at the parking lot at 47th Street. Volunteers are expected to fill out an adult (17 years or older) or minor volunteer (16 years and younger) application, as well as submit to a background check. The volunteer dates are set for August 3, September 7, October 5 and November 2 from 9 a.m. to noon.
Paul H. Douglas Nature Sanctuary
5800 S. Lake Shore Drive
Chicago, IL 60637
(312) 922-3307
www.jacksonparkadvisorycouncil.org
The Jackson Park Advisory Council is holding a volunteer opportunity involving the Paul H. Douglas Nature Sanctuary. Volunteers will help with tree mulching, plant removal, seeding and planting. Volunteers will meet at the Darrow Bridge area just south of the Museum of Science and Industry and are required to fill out an adult (17 years or older) or minor volunteer (16 years and younger) application, as well as submit to a background check. The remaining volunteer dates for this year are July 27, August 24, September 28 and October 26 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Habitat Restoration: Bobolink Meadow
6401 S. Stony Island Ave.
Chicago, IL 60637
(773) 288-1260
www.openlands.org
Openlands is an organization that brings Chicagoans together to help with land and water protection. There are a number of projects this organization has been involved with, from providing a cleaner Chicago River to building school gardens at Chicago public schools. This particular event will be run in collaboration with the Chicago Park District on August 10, September 14, October 12, November 9 and December 14 from 9 a.m. to noon. Those with younger children must fill out minor volunteer applications in order to participate. Call the number listed to confirm interest in attending this event.
Lose The Training Wheels
2121 W. Indian Trail
Aurora, IL 60506
(630) 907-1114
www.fvsra.org
The Fox Valley Special Recreation Association is an organization that helps to enrich the lives of those with disabilities. The "Lose The Training Wheels" event is a week-long camp that helps to teach children and adults how to ride a bicycle. Volunteers are required to jog or walk briskly next to riders, must be at least 16 years of age, pass an orientation program and submit to a background check. The event will be held from August 12, 2013 to August 16, 2013 with five different session times. This event is a great way to get your teenagers out of the house to do something worthwhile to help those in the community.
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Sara Lugardo is a professional writer out of Chicago, Illinois. She has a Bachelor's in Communication and is currently working on her Master's. Her work can be found on Examiner.com.
