Volunteers Especially Needed Now For:

Adaptive Golf Progam
Volunteers needed to assist PGA instructors with the teaching curriculum in the Adaptive Golf Program for youth and adults with physical disabilities. Some golf experience is required. Classes are held Wednesdays and Fridays, 9-10:30 a.m., June 16 - Aug. 20, at the Eagle Lake First Tee Golf and Learning Center, 11000 Bass Lake Road, Plymouth, MN. Contact: Cherryl Gilmer, 763-520-0215 or Cherryl.Gilmer@CourageCenter.org

Rock Climbing
Help children scale obstacles and climb to new heights. Wednesdays, 2-5 p.m., July 14 - Aug. 4, 2010. Click here for details. To volunteer, contact Kurt.Wiger@CourageCenter.org.

Summer Special Events Internship Position: June - September
Courage Center is actively recruiting interns to join a dynamic team in the preparation and coordination for Courage Center’s 5K Your Way, Celebration of Courage, and Toast to Courage upcoming events.  Work collaboratively with the special events and volunteer staff to ensure a successful event.  This is a great opportunity to build your skill set as you prepare for your career, or nurture your passion in assisting a Minnesota non-profit reach its goals. Please send resume and letter of intent to: Kurt.Wiger@CourageCenter.org. 

Handwriting Without Tears for Printing - Age 6-12
Assist an occupational therapist in this six-week handwriting program for children with difficulties mastering handwriting skills. Each class consists of fun sensory and motor activities. Children participating have the ability to recognize letters of the alphabet and have had beginning instruction in letter formation.
Days/Times: Tuesdays, June 22 –J uly 27, 12:30 – 2:30 p.m.

Additional Volunteer Opportunities

Adapted Yoga Assistant
Assist the lead instructor, providing Iyengar yoga instruction to persons with physical disabilities. Experience with yoga is required. Training provided. Times: Mondays, 5 - 6:15 p.m. or 6:30 – 8 p.m.  Contact: Kurt Wiger, 763.520.0222, Kurt.Wiger@CourageCenter.org.

Advisory Committees
A broad range of perspectives help Courage Center expand and work better.  Share your professional expertise, knowledge, skills and experience by serving on a committee that supports our work. In most cases, advisory committee members are selected from our existing volunteer base or specifically recruited for their demonstrated skills or expertise. Contact:  Gail Peterson 763.520.0213 or Gail.Peterson@CourageCenter.org.

Archery - Saturday/Tuesday
Volunteers are needed to coach youth and young adults. This archery program features all levels of bow and arrow instruction for beginning, intermediate and advanced archers.
Times:  Winter - Saturdays, Jan. 9 - March 13;  9:15 a.m. - 1:15 p.m.; Tuesdays, Jan. 12 - March 16, 6:15 - 8:15 p.m.
Spring - Saturdays, March 20 - May 29;  9:15 a.m. - 1:15 p.m.; Tuesdays, March 23 - May 25;  6:15 - 8:15 p.m.
Location:  Courage Center garage archery range, Golden Valley
Contact:  Cherryl Gilmer, 763.520.0215, Cherryl.Gilmer@CourageCenter.org

Basketball Assistant Coach - Juniors
Share your basketball coaching experience with wheelchair athletes, ages 7 to 18, as they prepare for fall and winter tournaments.  Focus on teamwork, ball handling and wheelchair handling skills.  Times:  Sept. - March (Coaches meet early August.) Contact:  Cherryl Gilmer, 763.520.0215 or Cherryl.Gilmer@CourageCenter.org.

Basketball Table Officials
Assist as scorekeeper, scoreboard operator or shot clock operator at mens and womens wheelchair basketball games held late fall and winter.  Various metro area locations. Times: Sept. - March.  Contact:  Cherryl Gilmer, 763.520.0215 or Cherryl.Gilmer@CourageCenter.org.

Cars for Courage Driver
Work with one of Minnesota’s oldest car donation programs. Drivers are needed to transport donated vehicles to auction sites or storage lots in various metro area locations. These vehicles are then sold and the proceeds support Courage programs. Times: Weekday mornings and early afternoons, approximately three hours per week. Contact:  Kathy Hayes, 763.520.0255, Kathleen.Hayes@CourageCenter.org.

Cars for Courage Drop-off Volunteer
Provide warm and welcoming customer service. Assist donors gifting vehicles by collecting donor, vehicle and marketing information. One or two volunteers per shift. Training provided. Locations: Brooklyn Center, Stillwater and Apple Valley.  Times: Dec. 28-31, 2009 - four-hour shifts.  Contact: Kathy Hayes, 763.520.0255, Kathleen.Hayes@CourageCenter.org.

Cars for Courage Program Assistant
Provide telephone and general clerical support for our vehicle donation program. Assist staff with arrangements for delivery or pick up of vehicles. Training provided. Location: Brooklyn Center.  Times: Tuesdays or Thursdays - noon- 4 p.m.  Contact:  Kathy Hayes, 763.520.0255, Kathleen.Hayes@CourageCenter.org.

Community Living Driver
Drive clients of Courage Center’s Transitional Rehabilitation Center to various community appointments.   Must have a clean driving record, valid driver’s license, be physically limber, and enjoy working with people with disabilities.   Training provided. Insured under Courage Center.  Times: Flexible weekdays.  Contact: Cathleen Godsall, 763.520.0241, Cathleen.Godsall@CourageCenter.org.

Competitive Swim Coach
Coach athletes with physical disabilities, ages 8 to 19.  Instruct swimmers in racing strokes and turns, race strategy and technique improvement.
Times: Winter - Sundays, Jan 10 - March 14, 3-5 p.m., plus occasional meets.
Spring - Sundays, March 21 - May 23,  3-5 p.m. plus occasional meets. 
Locations: Beginners - Courage Center Golden Valley pool; advanded - U of MN Aquatics Center.
Contact:  Cherryl Gilmer, 763.520.0215 or Cherryl.Gilmer@CourageCenter.org.

Connect with Courage - Tour Guide/Speaker
Be an ambassador for Courage Center and promote disability awareness in the broader community. Convey a compelling message about Courage Center programs and services. Good public speaking skills required. Training provided. Times: Varies; 4-8 hours monthly for prep and presentations; 2-3 hours for in-service meetings.  Contact: Kathy Hayes at 763.520.0255 or Kathleen.Hayes@CourageCenter.org.

Courage Country Championships
Make a difference when you volunteer at track, field, archery and/or swim events or with registration and awards. Adult and youth athletes who have physical disabilities use this regional qualifying competition to advance to nationals. Locations: 
Swim – The College of St. Catherine Athletic Center (PLEASE NOTE DATE CHANGE: May 23, 2010, 8 a.m. - 2 p.m.)
Archery - Rapids Archery Range (June 5, 2010)
Track & Field - TBA (June 6, 2010)
Contact: Cherryl Gilmer, 763.520.0215 or Cherryl.Gilmer@CourageCenter.org.

Courage Martial Arts
Qualified Yong Gi Do instructors needed to teach self defense and personal fitness to youth and adults with physical disabilities.
Times:  Winter - Saturdays, Jan. 9 - March 13;  11 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
Spring - Saturdays, March 20 - May 29;  11 a.m. - 12:30 p.m                
Location:  Courage Center gym, Golden Valley
Contact:  Cherryl Gilmer, 763.520.0215, Cherryl.Gilmer@CourageCenter.org

Courage Youth Leadership Academy Mentor
You have the ability to turn a young person's life around. Mentor a Courage Youth Leadership Academy participant now through the end of the school year. Boys and girls are 14-17 years of age with a physical disability or visual impairment. Experiences and activities can include sports (many are involved in basketball, soccer and other activities through Courage Center), movies or simply being there to talk about life. Mentors should meet their teen in person at least once but can communicate via email, Twitter or Facebook. Contact: Kathy Hayes at 763.520.0255 or Kathleen.Hayes@CourageCenter.org.

Evening and Saturday Leisure Outings Assistant
You can help clients with physical disabilities gain more independence by assisting them on community outings (shopping, dinning, movies, sporting events).  Volunteers will help the clients develop community resources and refine adaptive life skills in a socially relaxing atmosphere.  We are looking for volunteers who have good leadership/problem solving skills, patience, and are interested in helping clients gain independence for return to community living. Training provided. Monday/Tuesdays, 4-8 p.m. or 5:30-9 p.m.; or Saturday afternoons. One time per month.  Contact: Cathleen Godsall, 763.520.0241, or Cathleen.Godsall@CourageCenter.org.

Event Leadership
Courage Center services would not exist without the financial support and awareness raised through special event fundraisers. Share or develop your leadership skills by helping plan and implement a wide variety of special events, ranging from holiday parties for clients to large-scale fundraising events. In most cases event leaders are selected from our existing volunteer base or specifically recruited for their demonstrated skills or expertise.  Contact:  Gail Peterson 763.520.0213 or Gail.Peterson@CourageCenter.org.

Fund Raising Sales Assistant
Assit the Courage Center Sports and Recreation Department in selling candy and T-shirts at a kiosk in Courage Center Golden Valley. Kiosk is open 9 a.m. - 3 p.m., Monday - Friday. Morning and afternoon shifts are available; hours are flexible. Contact Kurt Wiger: 763.520.0222 or Kurt.Wiger@CourageCenter.org.  

Hand Cycling
Want exercise and fun?  Get involved with the Courage Center Hand Cycling program.  Volunteers provide support and bike alongside persons who are mobility impaired.
Times:  Wednesdays, May 5 - Aug. 25, 2010;  6 p.m. until dusk
Location:  Various public trails around the Twin Cities
Contact:  Cherryl Gilmer, 763.520.0215, Cherryl.Gilmer@CourageCenter.org

Hairstylist
Cut and style clients hair at Courage Center. Prefer a professional hair stylist who has interest in working with people with disabilities, and good communication skills. The schedule is flexible with the volunteer's availability.  Times:  Flexible, weekdays or weekends; 3-4 hour shift, once a month.   Contact: Cathleen Godsall, 763.520.0241, Cathleen.Godsall@CourageCenter.org.

Martial Arts Assistant
Qualified Soo Gahk Do instructors needed to teach self-defense and personal fitness to youth and adults with physical disabilities. Times: Saturdays, Fall, Winter and Spring.  Contact: Cherryl Gilmer, 763.520.0215 or Cherryl.Gilmer@CourageCenter.org.

Physical Therapy Gym Assistant
Assist clients to build strength by working on pulleys and individual weight lifting programs.  A great opportunity for students interested in pursuing a career in rehabilitation. A 3-month commitment is required.  Training is provided. Times: Volunteers work one three-hour shift per week. Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-noon or 1- 4 p.m.  Contact: Kurt Wiger, 763.520.0222, Kurt.Wiger@CourageCenter.org. 

Power Soccer Coach/Assistant
Volunteer to coach adult and youth wheelchair athletes power chair soccer. This is an opportunity to share your soccer experience and your love for the game.
Times:  Sundays, March 21 - June 13;  Beginners 1 - 4 pm, Advanced 1 - 4 pm       
Locations:  Beginners - Courage Center gym, Golden Valley;  Advanced - King of Grace Church, Golden Valley
Contact:  Cherryl Gilmer, 763.520.0215, Cherryl.Gilmer@CourageCenter.org

Wheelchair Tennis
Share your passion for tennis with adults and youth with physical disabilities.  Coach participants to increase their skills and game knowledge. Location: Fred Wells Tennis and Education Center.  Times: Saturdays, Fall, Winter and Spring.  Contact: Cherryl Gilmer, 763.520.0215 or Cherryl.Gilmer@CourageCenter.org.

Water Therapy Assisted Stroke Class
Be a pool partner and assist people who are stroke survivors in low impact exercises, range of motion and stretching exercises. The class is led by an Aquatic Specialist.
Times: Mondays and Wednesdays 10 – 11 a.m.
Contact: Kurt A. Wiger, 763-520-0222 or kurt.wiger@couragecenter.org

Community Swim Program
Assist an Aquatic Specialist in swim lessons for community members at large.
Times: Wednesday and Thursday evenings 4 – 7 p.m. and Saturdays 9 a.m. – noon.
Contact: Kurt A. Wiger, 763-520-0222 or kurt.wiger@couragecenter.org

Youth Softball
As a coach share your softball experience with wheelchair athletes ages 8 to 19 who want to increase their softball skills and participate in local scrimmages.
Times: Mondays, June 7 - Aug. 9;  6:30 - 8 p.m.
Location: Brooklyn Park Community/Activity Center, Brooklyn Park
Contact: Cherryl Gilmer, 763.520.0215, Cherryl.Gilmer@CourageCenter.org

Youth Track & Field
As a coach share your track and field experience with wheelchair athletes ages 8 to 19 who prepare for competition with the goal of reaching the Junior National Games.
Times:  Saturdays, April 10 - July 10;  9 - 11 a.m.; Wednesdays, May 5 - July 14;  6 - 8 p.m.
Contact:  Cherryl Gilmer, 763.520.0215, Cherryl.Gilmer@CourageCenter.org

This is a sampling of volunteer opportunities at Courage Center Golden Valley. If you have other volunteer interests, please contact us.