BENEFITS

Volunteering offers numerous benefits, including enhanced mental and physical health, increased social skills and confidence, a sense of purpose and the opportunity o learn new skills and make a difference in your community, according to HelpGuide. org. Depending on the opportuniies available in your area, you might even be able to voluneer as a family. Volunteering fosters a deeper connection with the ocal community, allowing ndividuals to meet likeminded people and work ogether towards common goals.

Volunteering can also help you gain skills that might help

advance your career, such as leadership skills, teamwork and problem-solving, or even skills specific to your career field.

FINDING OPPORTUNITIES

Publicly funded parks and recreation facilities have myriad needs for volunteers. This is even more true during the

summer months, when summer camps and recreation opportunities are in full swing, and special events such as concerts and other cultural events are typically held.

For example, the New Orleans Recreation Development Commission welcomes volunteers to help with recreation centers, special events, sports and outdoor activities.

California State Parks use volunteers as docents and campground and park hosts, and to assist with park maintenance, natural resource management such as beach and park cleanups, public safety and more.

To get started on your search for volunteer roles, visit VolunteerMatch. org or Volunteer. gov, or your local and state

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parks and recreation department websites.

Be sure to check into the requirements for volunteers for a specific role. For example, you might need to be over 18, pass a background check or commit to a minimum number of volunteer hours per week. You might be required to undergo training, depending on the role you’ re pursuing.