The Youth Service Program is designed to introduce students from ages 13-17 to an employment environment through volunteer opportunities in a recreation or park setting. Some students are assigned service hours by their school to fulfill a program or class assignment; others have court-referred hours; others are members of a group from a church, a school, or the community. Some projects can easily accommodate individuals or small groups. Other projects require large groups, and some require the presence of adult(s). Volunteer jobs may be used on any job application.
Service hours are available throughout the year in two categories-Community Service: One-time projects/events designed to help others, but planned by another person or agency; and Community Service: Planning and implementing a special event/project for a specific purpose, with planning and implementation at least partially designed by the student or students.
Community Service Projects are an on-going component of Brooklyn Park teen programming. Besides the chance to socialize and learn more about their community, teens may fulfill service hours by participating in the planning and implementation of service projects selected by teens under the guidance of the department's teen specialist. Service hours will be given for the time spent actually planning and implementing youth projects.
Special events/projects offer opportunities to fulfill two to six community service hours at a time. From January to December events such as Winter Fun Day, Shingle Creek cleanup, Adopt-A-Park, summer Family Nights, Spooktacular, and Breakfast with Santa allow youth a chance to learn about the community and recreation programs in a group setting. Students age 15 and under will be placed with a parent or another adult, and everyone under age 17 who volunteers is required to have the signature of a parent or guardian, or be a part of an approved school or youth program.
The Brooklyn Park Recreation Department will place youth who want to volunteer in their community in an appropriate program, or refer them to another program based on needs and interests.
