Youth Opportunities by Age Group

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A friendly reminder that anyone under 18 participating in an event hosted by Volunteer Alexandria must have a parent or guardian sign for them. Either sign during event check-in, or email mail@volunteeralexandria.org for a copy of the waiver. For volunteer opportunities hosted by our partners, make sure to contact the opportunity coordinator listed on the post about waivers. 

*Due to the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act, you must be 13 or older to sign up for an opportunity alone. Volunteers 12 and under can be added as a guest volunteer or be a part of the team under a parent/guardian's account.

*All Ages:

Monitor Macroinvertebrates for Rivers – Collect river organisms to determine river health with the Stormwater Management Division on Saturday, October 17 at Holmes Run and on Saturday, November 7 at Taylor Run.

Remove Trash and Invasives from Local Trails – Join Friends of the Mount Vernon Trail to improve natural areas on various Saturdays. These are all-ages events. 

• Rosslyn on October 3
• At the Marina Towers for the Trash Bash on October 17

*12 and older:

Support Athletes for Miracle League of Alexandria  – Assist players by running for them or pushing wheelchairs this fall season. 

13 and older:

Volunteer for the Senior Olympics – Help provide senior adults with an opportunity for competition and fellowship at events from August to October. 

Join a City Board -- The City of Alexandria is looking for high school and middle school students to fill board seats on the Commission on HIV/AIDs.

14 and older:

Support Disaster Preparedness Outreach – Staff a table to talk about the Volunteer Reception Center (VRC) at the Patrick Henry Rec Center on Saturday, October 17. No experience is required. (14+ with an adult) 

Support a Children's Soccer Celebration – The Alexandria Soccer Association is looking for friendly, reliable volunteers to assist with check-in, welcoming families, and event setup for the TOTS Fest on Saturday, November 7.

Prepare Medically Tailored Meals – Assist Food & Friends with food prep and packaging tasks, which may include chopping vegetables and assembling meal trays.

Play Games with Families at Shelters – Volunteer for Community of Hope’s Fam Club by playing games and doing arts and crafts with families. Located in 3 DC neighborhoods: SE, SW & NW.

Become a Bicycle Mechanic – Help refurbish donated bicycles with the Velocity Bicycle Cooperative! No experience is necessary.

15 and older:

Assistant Coach Girls Soccer Games – Help with simple drills, games, setup, and creating a fun, supportive environment for girls on Saturday mornings with 703 Warriors. 

Set up for the Spooky Mad Science Expo – Be a behind-the-scenes hero for the Chrysalis Development Group and help with setup, planning, and event logistics. This takes place on Saturday, October 17.

Distribute Food to the Community – Once a month, join the Department of Community and Human Services at community centers to sort and hand out groceries!

16 and older:

Classical Music Usher – Usher for concerts at the Alexandria Symphony Orchestra, then view the concert once they're seated. 

Tutor Groups of Afghan Refugees – Tutor middle and high school students on various subjects for NOVA RAFT. Sessions take place on Tuesday and Thursday evenings and Saturdays from 11 am to 1 pm. 

Support for the 4 Mile Run Farmer’s Market – Set up the market, greet shoppers, assist with events, and close the market in 3-hour shifts on Sundays.

Do It Yourself Projects:

Support the Animal Shelter -- You can support the Animal Welfare League of Alexandria by completing projects at home. Support can include making portraits, cutting food, decorating bags, creating blankets, and more. Donations can be dropped off at the shelter. At-home projects are eligible for service hours.

Agencies that work with youth volunteers 16 and older: City of Alexandria Parks & Recreation | Fly Minds Youth Development Club | Girls on the Run NOVA | The Child & Family Network Centers | Wright to Read

 Community Events and Resources:

ALXBeyond Youth Programs List -- ALXBeyond maintains a list of youth programs in the City of Alexandria, along with helpful information such as cost, timing, and transportation.