Volunteering
Volunteers are crucial to the success
of the CHTR program and its participants! Without volunteers CHTR would not be able
to offer this invaluable service! We would love (and greatly appreciate) your
time as a CHTR volunteer. There are several types of volunteer opportunities,
so we’ll sure to find one that find one (or two!) that matches your interest.
Volunteering is great way to meet new people, get involved with the community
and provides a tremendous feeling of pride and satisfaction by helping others!
Volunteering with participants and horses:
Working with a horse and participant can be one of the most rewarding experiences
when volunteering at CHTR. In therapy riding lessons you have the opportunity
to work with directly with our participants, and contribute to their individual success.
Volunteers must be age 14 or older and training is required and is provided
to all volunteers working with participants and horses at no charge. The training
sessions focus on the importance of safety, understanding and fun! Each therapy
lesson requires 3 volunteers, 1 volunteer will lead the horse, and 2 volunteers
work as side aides to assist and attend to the safety of the participant. Lessons
are taught Tuesday – Sunday from 10:00AM thru 6:00PM at Pleasant View
Farm.
Volunteers usually sign up to work at least 2 consecutive time slots on a weekly basis in order to better know the participant and for ease of scheduling. Volunteers arrive 30 minutes before the scheduled lesson time, the lesson runs 30 minutes, and clean up (putting equipment away, sweep, etc) usually lasts 15-30 minutes. Its important volunteers arrive on time ready to prepare for the lesson. It’s possible that a participant may have to forfeit their lesson if there are not enough volunteers present. As you can see, volunteers are very important to the success of our participants!
High School Volunteer Credit
Working
with CHTR is a great way to earn school volunteer credit hours or explore a
career path. The program is a fantastic way to meet new people, make friends
and get involved with the community!
CHTR has volunteer and career exploration opportunities we would like to share with your students. Volunteers perform many tasks that are vital to successful program operation. A typical day may include, grooming horses, preparation of horses and arena for lessons, working with staff, providing feedback, exchanging ideas and making suggestions about participant’s lesson, assisting participants during their therapy lessons, (under the guidance of the instructor), leading the horse during the lesson, safeguarding the participant during a lesson, and caring for equipment. Additional opportunities include grant writing, fund raising, marketing, special events and promotions.
Some of our high school and college-aged volunteers have pursued the following career paths: Physical therapy, Occupational therapy, Physicians, Psychology, Sociology, Social workers, Athletic trainers, Veterinarians, Veterinary technicians, Non-for-profit development and fundraising, Teaching, Marketing, Public relations, Event planning, And more!
Volunteering to create public awareness
and raise funds
Creating awareness and raising funds are important to the development and growth
of the CHTR program. If you have that special knack for writing, speaking, and
raising money then we need you! CHTR is seeking assistance with grant writing,
public relations, marketing, special events, fund raising, volunteer recruitment,
corporate sponsorship and more.
Are You Interested?
Good! So are we! If you are interested in becoming a volunteer please send us an e-mail. Be sure to let us know what volunteer opportunity interests you. We look forward to working with you and thank you for your support!