“You make a living by what you get. You make a life by what you give.”
– Winston Churchill
Volunteers are vital to our Y, and by opening up your heart and extending your hand to our Y community, you will be changing the lives of so many.
Each year, nearly 1,000 people of all ages contribute their time and talents as volunteers at the New Canaan YMCA. Whether through one-time events or ongoing help, each of our volunteers make a difference at the Y and our community.
The Benefits
- Give back to your community
- Make new friends and network with others
- Share your talents with a diverse group of people
- Learn and develop new skills
- Support an excellent cause
- Learn more about the Y
- Get your foot in the door for future employment opportunities
- Boost your career options
- Feel good about doing good for others
- Be a part of something bigger
- Just have fun!
Get Involved
At our Y, it does not matter how you get involved, we have so many opportunities for you to help; whether once a year or every week; for an internship or community service. We are here to provide those positive experiences for you. All of our volunteers share an equal passion for the Y’s work to strengthen our community. To volunteer, please contact Ida Lupinacci in our HR Department, ilupinacci@newcanaanymca.org.
Ongoing Volunteer Opportunities
Our Y Volunteers have direct contact with our Y and community members. Here are some great ways to get involved at our Y:
Y Childcare – Children from 6 weeks to 12 years of age benefit from Y childcare. Whether you are interested in singing songs to infants, reading books to toddlers, or assisting with homework for school age children we have it all!
Bouncing Bears – Bouncing Bears is a preschool movement and gym class for children ages 1-5. Volunteers work along with YMCA staff to supervise child/guardian and child-only classes. Classes include group circle time, singing, and movement fun. Activities may include slides, climb-ons, balance beams, rings, parachute, etc.
Y Swimming Lessons – The New Canaan YMCA offers swimming lessons to individuals of all ages, from infant to adult. Volunteers work along with YMCA staff to assist in swim instruction. No previous teaching experience required, but volunteers should be strong swimmers and comfortable working with people of all ages.
After-School Sports Instruction – Assist YMCA staff in instruction of diverse sports to children ages 5+. Each class is approximately 45 minutes. Class examples: soccer, basketball, baseball, flag football, group games.
Youth Basketball League – The New Canaan YMCA’s Youth Basketball League program provides children with the opportunity to play basketball in a fun environment, where the emphasis is on learning good sportsmanship, as well as our core values of caring, honesty, respect, and responsibility. Volunteers are needed to coach teams at regular practices and weekly games.
Middle School Night– Come relive your youth! Middle School Night is a monthly program designed for youth in grades 5 through 8. Volunteers help with such activities as basketball, arts and crafts, and special events. The Y also welcomes volunteers with special interests (e.g., music, face painting) to help out.
Y Special Needs Programs – From Friday Night In and Teen Scene to specialized sports, fitness and recreational programs, our participants with special needs are involved each and every day at our Y. if You have a passion for working with individuals with special needs, our Y has many opportunities for you.
Y Camps – If you went to camp as a kid, you know how much fun the experience can be. We are looking for individuals with special talents to share with our campers. From singing camp songs to sharing a special activity, this is a perfect opportunity to just have some plain old fun.
International Initiatives – If you are someone who travels all over the world or has a special place you want others to learn about, this would be a great opportunity for you to get involved. Whether it be sharing pictures of where you have been, doing an art project, or introducing cultural music to our childcare participants, we would embrace and welcome your knowledge.
Y Support – Y Support Team volunteers are always needed to help with various behind-the-scenes projects, either on a regular basis or as needed. Opportunities include preparing collateral material for camp, after-school programs or special events. Clerical and computer work are also needed in Finance, Membership, Marketing, and Development.
Membership Service – If you are a people person and are comfortable starting up a conversations or teaching community members about our Y, this would be something you should look into. Our Y is looking for individuals to welcome, assist and guide members as needed, including giving tours to perspective members, assisting with following rules on the pool deck or assisting participants in finding their program locations.
Marketing and Promotions – Help us get the word out about the wonderful work our Y does in our community from our Youth Development and Healthy Living Initiatives. Distributing promotional materials for our programs to local school and businesses and setting up signage for our community and special events are some of the tasks with which we need assistance.
Community and Special Events – At our Y, we hold a variety of community events throughout the year and are always looking for individuals to help plan, participate, and publicize.
Facilities Enhancement – Our maintenance staff work hard to keep the building running smoothly and the grounds clean and kept, but we are always looking for extra hands to help out. If you are someone who is handy, we could use your help.
Internship and Community Service – If you are looking to fulfill a class requirement, confirmation hours, or complete an internship, we have plenty of opportunities for you at our Y. Childcare, Health and Wellness, Marketing, and Maintenance are just a few.
Service To Others in our Community– As a service organization, we have plenty of opportunities that make a difference within our Y walls; however, we also like to support other local service organizations.
Can There Be More?
Absolutely! if there is a volunteer opportunity not listed here that you think our Y could benefit from, please contact Ida Lupinacci in our HR Department, ilupinacci@newcanaanymca.org.