Volunteer Opportunities - Education
Department of Animal Services
Our volunteers care for more than 25,000 thousands of cats, dogs, livestock and exotic animals every year. These are animals that have been abandoned, hurt, lost or neglected. They deserve the high level of care we give them. We can do that, in part, thanks to our dedicated volunteers.
Volunteer Coordinator:
Rachael Borrelli
(760) 966-3237
DAS-Suggestions@sdcounty.ca.gov
UC Cooperative Extension
4-H / Master Gardener Programs
Do you enjoy interacting, teaching and mentoring the future movers, shakers and leaders of tomorrow? If the answer is yes, becoming a 4-H adult volunteer and club leader may be for you. 4-H isn’t about cookies and cows anymore - youth can study and learn about science literacy, veterinary science, citizenship, public speaking, photography and foods and nutrition to name just a few. Through hands-on learning and positive youth-adult partnerships youth acquire knowledge and develop life skills that enable them to find and focus their energy into their passions while also giving back to the community.
Do you enjoy all things home horticulture-related? Do you like learning about how to care for plants, distinguishing good bugs from bad bugs and extending that knowledge to the community? If the answer is yes, the Master Gardener program may be for you. Applications for new Master Gardener participants are given out every two years. Call our Master Gardener hotline - 858-822-6910 for more information.
Volunteer Coordinator:
Leah Taylor
(619) 829-3753
leataylor@ucanr.edu
Health & Human Services
HHSA - Behavioral Health Services, Edgemoor
Volunteer opportunities at Edgemoor include library activities, music, pet therapy support, recreational support, assist with chapel services, taking wheel chair residents on walks and other activities to enhance the resident's life at Edgemoor.
Volunteer Coordinator:
Kristina Seales
(619)
672-8299
kristina.seales@sdcounty.ca.gov
More on volunteering with Behavioral Health Services, Edgemoor
HHSA Child Welfare Services - Polinsky Center
Polinsky emergency shelter volunteers provide special attention and activities for the children at PCC. This may include helping children up to 18 years of age with homework, gardening, art projects, sports, and social activities.
Volunteer Coordinator:
Elizabeth Rosas
(619)
336-5711
elizabeth.rosas@sdcounty.ca.gov
More on volunteering with the Polinsky Center
Library
Volunteers perform a variety of duties, including, but not limited to: presenting and assisting with branch events, tutoring adult literacy learners, reading to children, helping students with homework, leading book discussion groups, etc.
Volunteer Coordinator:
Renuka Pottathil
(858)
694-2429
renuka.pottathil@sdcounty.ca.gov
More on volunteering with the Library
Parks & Recreation
Our award-winning park system features 154 facilities across 56,000 acres of land, including parks, camping parks, sports parks, community and teen centers, open-space preserves, nature centers, and historic sites. Some 380 miles of trails take visitors through multiple climates and habitats - from the coast to the desert and the valleys to the mountains.
That is a lot of outside! To maintain, operate, and enjoy these incredible locations, we engage local community members who volunteer their time so everyone can experience “the upside of outside” throughout San Diego County!
Volunteer Coordinator:
Tony Richardson
ParksVolunteer@sdcounty.ca.gov
