CIT Volunteering FAQs
All swimmers 13 and older are welcome to be part of our CIT program in whatever capacity they want, they can just come for the social or just volunteer. We want them involved in any way, so please join us! This is an overview of the volunteer aspect of CITing to answer some questions.
WHY VOLUNTEER?
- Volunteering is a great way to build up your community, make friends, and learn new leadership skills.
- It is a nice way to start building a resume for jobs at Greenmeadow or elsewhere.
- High schools usually include volunteer hours on students’ transcripts, which may be considered for college applications (hours between 8th grade graduation and Fall 12th count)
- Many high schools require some community service as part of their curriculum for classes like Living Skills at Gunn and Paly.
- You can earn a Presidential Service Award, which is a National Service Award supported by most local schools and a very special achievement. YCS can help you with getting this award and more information about what is required and how to apply here.
WHAT VOLUNTEERING IS AVAILABLE AT GREENMEADOW?
We offer a variety of volunteering opportunities and please keep an eye out for special projects:
- Help coaches at the younger kids practices (schedule here). You can get in the water with the 8Us or help supervise a lane with the 9-12s. Great way to learn how to be a lesson instructor or coach.
- Assist at meets by helping the clerk of the course to find kids, organize relays, cheer loudly from the sidelines, hang at the blocks to remind littles to put on their goggles, do a 2 hand touch, and stay in the water until everyone finishes their races.
- Volunteer at social events like Luau, 4th of July, End of Season Party
- Helping at the Swim-A-Rama
- Packing and delivering Champs goodie bags
- Helping with special projects like revamping website, creating fliers, creating the Champs goodie bag delivery map
- GMCA clean up days throughout the year
WHAT IF I DIDN’T SIGN UP?
Please come anyway! While we prefer if you sign up so we have a general headcount, we will not turn anyone away. Please join us at events even if you didn’t sign up, show up at the littles practices unannounced, offer to help at events you are attending and those hours will still count.
HOW DO I KEEP TRACK OF MY HOURS?
You need to keep track of your own hours, we do not do that for you. I recommend that you create a spreadsheet with headings date, hours, activity, etc and that you update yourself after each event. You will need to put these into your school’s form and I will review and approve.
HOW DO I GET CREDIT FOR MY HOURS?
Each high school should have their own form to complete. For Gunn kids, you can find more information here and the form here. For Paly kids, they use a system called HelperHelper and you will need to set up an account (more information here). If you go to another school you should be able to find the information and forms by searching for your school and “community service.” The forms will probably ask for some or all of this information:
- Organization: Greenmeadow Community Association as the organization.
- Non-Profit Status: We are a 501(c)(4) non-profit organization (EIN: 94-1353562).
- Organization Website: https://greenmeadow.org/
- Service Supervisor name: Donna Hill
- Service Supervisor Title: Coach In Training (CIT) Supervisor
- Supervisor Email: [email protected]
- Supervisor or Organization phone number: 650-218-4582
WHAT DOES AND DOESN’T COUNT?
Most schools have their own guidelines for what does and doesn’t count so you need to review your schools criteria as well as Greenmeadow’s. Here are some examples of what counts for Greenmeadow and Paly/Gunn. Please ask if you ever have questions.
- What does count Greenmeadow:
- Everything listed above as volunteer opportunities.
- What does NOT count Greenmeadow:
- Social activities like inner tube water polo, volleyball, Great America
- At meets, competing and socializing at meets is important and encouraged, but does not count for hours. Please only put down the hours you were actively volunteering at the meet and not the full meet times if you only helped for part of the time.
- PALY/GUNN: Volunteering for Sports Guidelines
- Refereeing or coaching, and training/setup, announcing, time keeping, working concessions as a sports volunteer for a non-profit or school does count. [Greenmeadow is a non-profit]
- Helping to coach, referee, or perform any sports-related activities for a for-profit or fee-required organization (e.g., club sports, a martial arts studio, a gym, a social club, etc.) does not count.
- Practicing, playing, and fundraising for a sport do not count.
- Any activities required for players (such as Varsity players helping at JV games) do not count.
I HAVE AN IDEA ON HOW TO HELP THE TEAM?
We are open to any ideas you have on how to volunteer or improve our community. We can provide a budge for some projects and other support. We could use some help with our website, making marketing fliers, would love to add some fun videos to our website, maybe team cheer, season overview, coach profiles? See something that needs organizing around the pool? Just let us know, we are hear to help foster your interests and skills. Reach out to Donna Hill ([email protected]) with any ideas any time of the year, it does not need to just be during the summer.
WHAT OPPORTUNITIES ARE AVAILABLE OUTSIDE GREENMEADOW?
In case you are inspired to look for other local volunteer opportunities, here are few places to find more opportunities for middle and high schoolers:
- https://youthcommunityservice.org/
- https://www.volunteermatch.org/nonprofits
- https://www.handsonbayarea.org
- https://youthcommunityservice.org/service-hub/