Get Involved: City of Boulder

Partner with an English language learner for three hours per week to help them advance in their literacy skills. Adult Literacy Tutors must:

• Be at least 18 years old;
• Be comfortable reading and writing, speaking and listening in English;
• Complete the BoulderReads tutor training;
• Commit to 3 hours of tutoring a week for at least 6 months;
• Maintain regular contact with learners and BoulderReads staff;
• Meet learners at library branches or another public locations; and
• Be proficient with email, basic software and web-based electronic resources.

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Get involved in your community by becoming a member of the Boulder Teen Advisory Board! Earn volunteer service hours while helping the library meet the needs of teens in the community. For teens in grades 6-12. BTAB meets monthly at the following locations. Members may attend more than one meetup if they choose: 

• Main - First Wednesday of the month, 4:30-5:30 p.m. (hybrid, offered online and in-person) 
• Reynolds - Second Wednesday of the month, 4:30 - 5:30 p.m. (in-person) 
• Meadows - Third Thursday of the month, 4:30 - 5:30 p.m. (in-person) 

Additional opportunity as a BTAB member: Book Reviews - Write reviews on books you recommend for an opportunity to earn extra volunteer hours. Reviews featured on the library’s Reading Room webpage and Teen/Tween webpage.

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Our Conversations in English program is looking for new volunteer substitute facilitators to support our conversation sessions. Substitutes may have the opportunity to sub as often as once a week or as infrequently as once a month, depending on program need and volunteer availability.

Conversations in English (CIE) volunteers provide English learners with opportunities to practice their speaking and listening skills in a friendly and informal environment. Most groups currently meet remotely via the BoulderReads Zoom account. Our goal is that participants come together and practice their conversational skills in a supportive environment.

Interested? Follow the link to the right and fill out a volunteer application! -->

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Reading Buddies

Who doesn’t have fun reading with kids?!

Reading Buddies pairs young learners and adults/students at CU Boulder to promote a passion for reading and for books at an early age. Once a week “Little Buddies” and “Big Buddies” read together, draw, and compose an original short story. These original works are published, and the Little Buddies present their original storybook at the Final Book Presentation with their families present. It’s great fun! 

Priority will be given to CU volunteers. 

Duties & Responsibilities
• Reviews, uses and promotes Older Adult Services documents for age-inclusive communication

Primary Bike Group Leader:
• Works with Program Coordinator to schedule and market the group
• Serves as the contact person for Let’s Age Well Program Guide and Older Adult Services website
• Maintains a current list of group participants
• Works with Program Coordinator and group to update participant registrations
• Provides regular session attendance reports:
o Notifies front desk staff of attendance for groups that meet onsite
• Provides participants with reminders of meeting dates for programs
• Notifies participants of irregular meeting times and/or holiday closures which cancel the activity
• For onsite group meetings:
o Submits set-up needs and requests to Program Coordinator
o Responsible for participant waivers if not accomplished digitally/online.
• Other duties as requested by Program Coordinator

Assistant Bike Group Leader:
• Supports Primary Group Leaders for the duties listed above as requested.
• Can also act as Bike Sweep, ensuring no cyclist is left behind.

Desired Qualifications
• Experience working directly with people, with the ability to model the City’s values of customer service, respect, integrity, innovation, and collaboration.
• Good communication skills and patience
• Practice excellent customer service, patience, kindness, and communication
• Some experience working with adults 60 years and older
• Organized and reliable
• Basic technology skills

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Duties & Responsibilities
• Reviews, uses and promotes Older Adult Services documents for age-inclusive communication
• Receives the registration list of participants from Program Coordinator and tracks attendance for scheduled day trips.
• Coordinates participant signatures on waivers and returns completed waivers to Program Coordinator.
• Guides participants through the trip location for the duration of the trip.
• Responds to special needs and/or emergencies with participants; documents any accidents or incidents using designated forms and submits completed forms to Program Coordinator.
• Promotes future trips and programs with trip participants.
• Maintains positive, flexible attitude and is welcoming and patient with all participants; reports to Program Coordinator any problematic behavior or circumstances that occur during trip.
• Returns attendance sheets, receipts, name tags, & any reports to Program Coordinator.
• Participates in required trainings.
• Review, use and promote Older Adult Services documents for age-inclusive communication.
• Takes proper safety precautions, utilizes all required safety equipment and follows all safety regulations, policies and procedures. Reports all accidents and damage of city property to Program Coordinator.

Desired Qualifications
• Some experience working with adults 60 years and older.
• Experience working directly with people, with the ability to practice excellent customer service, patience, kindness, and communication.
• Organized and reliable.
• Current City of Boulder resident.
• Access to a mobile phone to use during trips.
• Have or create an email account that can be used to receive pertinent trip information from Program Coordinator.
• Access to a device to print documents.

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Older Adult Services Volunteers

Dream it! Build it! Love it! We need your help in spreading the message of stewardship. Does your skill set include outdoor photography and outreach messaging? Do you have a keen eye for those special moments that share inspiration? We are seeking help from an experienced and reliable volunteer who can capture photographic images during volunteer project events to help support future media and messaging. Come join us as we support the legacy of OSMP!  

Objectives:

• Take high quality images of One-Day Volunteer Projects (ODVP) and volunteers, ongoing volunteer work, OSMP landscapes and wildlife
• Work closely with Volunteer Coordinators for imagery needs that will be used for OSMP marketing, advertisements and internal and external documents

Responsibilities:

• Take photographs at ODVP that’s purpose is for future promotional needs (website, Twitter, Facebook, annual reports, etc.)
• Submit photos and report volunteer hours via Count Me In Boulder
• Follow the City of Boulder’s Volunteer Handbook and OSMP Standard Operating Procedures,  Guidelines and Policies
• Stay up to date on area closures, permit areas such as Habitat Conservation Areas. Work with  Administrative staff to obtain permits into these special places

Qualifications:

• Photography experience, preferably event photography and photo editing skills
• Comfort working outdoors - independently and with project managers
• Ability to hike on steep trails or off-trail areas safely
• Excellent record keeping and communication skills

Commitment/Expectations:

• Required to sign an Acknowledgment of Risk and Release Form;
• Annually, attend 10-15 outreach events, volunteer projects or other OSMP sites when applicable. Time commitment 1-2 hours per visit.
• Complete a background check
• Have a commitment to the mission of OSMP
• Work closely with OSMP staff on scheduling and ability to be self-organized when working independently
• Volunteers retain photo authorship rites and will receive credit but releases COB to use photos at will
• Volunteers will use own cameras and equipment and will share final photographs with OSMP digitally

Benefits:

• Gain experience with event photography and OSMP volunteer projects
• Work with staff to support OSMP stewardship and messaging
• Connect with others who care about OSMP sustainability
• Enjoy the beauty of OSMP!

 

 

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Join the City of Boulder Open Space and Mountain Parks Trail Guide Program! 

Trail Guides have been traveling OSMP trails for more than 25 years, enhancing visitor experiences and promoting sustainable land stewardship practices. Trail Guides educate the public on wilderness safety, cultural history, natural resources, recreation opportunities and more! As a volunteer trail guide, you will assist visitors in need and serve as extra eyes and ears on the OSMP system, collaborating with OSMP staff and rangers to keep the public up-to-date on seasonal closures, safety ordinances (including dog regulations) and other general trail and recreation information. 

 Responsibilities: 

- Work in a variety of terrain and weather conditions with people of diverse backgrounds 

- Greet and assist visitors within your training scope 

- Observe area conditions and report to staff 

- Contact emergency services (fire, medical, law) when appropriate 

- Educate the public on natural and cultural history of OSMP lands 

- Abide by all OSMP rules and regulations and set an example for others 

- Are comfortable wearing a uniform and name tag and assisting visitors in need 

- Fulfill reporting requirements based on observations and contacts 

Qualifications: 

- Experience and comfort with public interactions 

- Familiarity with City of Boulder Open Space & Mountain Parks trails and facilities 

- Interest in natural and cultural history of the area 

- Able to respond appropriately to emergency situations within your level of training 

- Reliable transportation to trails 

* Welcomed: First Aid/CPR; multi-lingual; and all levels of physical ability. 

Commitment:

Trail Guides serve flexible self-scheduled hours. They complete 2 to 4 hikes per month for 1 year, with an option to renew upon successfully fulfilling service. Annual update meeting is usually scheduled in the Fall with other optional trainings offered throughout the year. Applications accepted until program is full. 

Benefits: 

- Gain experience in natural resource management 

- Help protect OSMP land for future generations 

- Receive hands-on training with OSMP Staff and Rangers 

- Promote your own wellness and enjoy our wild spaces! 

 

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Flower bed champs adopt the flower bed(s) at a park site and work in this site from April to October or for a shorter three month commitment.

To apply, fill out an application (on the right) for the task you would most like to do. Be sure to identify the location you prefer in your application.

You can click the text “View Flower Bed Champ Listing” (below) to learn more about the areas we are recruiting.  If your desired Park is not listed, it may mean someone has already adopted it. You can write the name of the park in the space provided in the questions section on the application.

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Litter Champs adopt a site to pick up trash in our parks from April to October or for a shorter third month commitment.

To apply, fill out an application (on the right) for the task you would most like to do. Be sure to identify the location you prefer in your application.

You can click the text “View Litter Champ Listing” (below) to learn more about the areas we are recruiting. If your desired Park is not listed, it may mean someone has already adopted it. You can write the name of the park in the space provided in the questions section on the application.

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Park Champs help monitor, weed, and pick up litter in a park you love. 

To apply, fill out an application (on the right) for the task you would most like to do. Be sure to identify the location you prefer in your application.

You can click the text “View Park Champ Listing” (below) to learn more about the areas we are recruiting. If your desired Park is not listed, it may mean someone has already adopted it. You can write the name of the park in the space provided in the questions section on the application.

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You, or the organization you represent, can adopt a specific median, multi-use path, roadway, transit stop or pocket park for a period of one year (with the option to renew annually).

This option allows individuals and groups a volunteer opportunity to contribute to the beautifying of the public domain and overall community well-being. Volunteers can set their own schedule for this work. The City of Boulder will recognize participants for their contributions to keeping public property debris-free and enhancing the city’s overall aesthetics.

 Requirements:

• The desire to support staff by keeping the areas neat and clean
• Sign a volunteer acknowledgement of Risk and Release and provide signed copies to staff for any additional volunteers that are recruited to assist with clean-up efforts.
• Sign a adopt a spot volunteer application
• Review the Volunteer Handbook and provide to participants
• Attend an orientation training with a member of our staff
• Be familiar with the safety hazards of this job which are stated in the agreement
• Be our eyes and ears and report vandalism or any maintenance concerns to Public Works staff
• Use water-wise plants (preferred)
• Be courteous and personable when dealing with the public
• Be self-directed, willing to take initiative, and detail-oriented
• Report volunteer hours monthly using Count Me In Boulder.

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The City of Boulder is committed to multi-modal transportation, including year-round access to bus transit. The city’s new Shovel-a-Stop Program is an effort to increase the number of bus stops cleared after each snow event. The current budget supports contractors hired by the city to clear approximately 40 high-ridership stops after snowfalls resulting in at least 2-inches of accumulation. This program aims to bolster that number with community volunteer support. Clearing bus stops helps prevent slips and falls and increases safety and accessibility for bus riders of all ages and abilities.

This program is a great opportunity for individuals, families, neighborhood groups or community organizations. 

For more information and to apply to volunteer for this program, please click here. 

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