Volunteer With ICYA
Join our team of dedicated individuals that are passionate about bringing hope and a future to youth and their families in the North End. Whether you’re looking to volunteer on your own or if you’re part of a group, there are tons of ways for you to get involved in helping to make a difference in these kids’ lives. In whatever area you’re looking to help out with, our hope is that your experience be both life-changing and life-giving; both for you and for those you serve. Whatever your commitment level may be, let us know! We would love for you to be part of our team!
Connect with us:
Reach out for information about yourself and/or group interested in volunteering!
Check out the opportunities below.
If you want to sign up and learn more contact us with the form below.
Current Volunteer Opportunities:
The Bridge Drop-in
The Bridge Drop-In is our weekly program, targeted at three different age groups (kids, preteens, teens) along with a small group Bible Study (Clubs) for our teens who want to take things a little deeper. Drop-in is a safe place for our youth to attend, where they can have fun, be young, meet positive role models, learn about God at Talk Time and develop lasting friendships as they grow up through our age groups together.
Kid’s Drop-in
Kids’ drop-in runs on Thursday evenings for our community’s 5-9 year olds. Staff and volunteers have a brief overview meeting along with a devotional at 6:00 PM before doors open at 6:30. Once the doors open, we welcome the kids and give them options including: supper, crafts, Wii U games, lego, a bouncy castle, occasional rock climbing and other activities! The kids can be kids and be around positive adults who are there specifically to care for them and help them have a good time. Doors close at 8:30 PM when we walk kids home, clean up and debrief.
A Bible lesson takes place in the middle of the evening, led by a staff member or a volunteer.
Preteens’ Drop-In
Preteens’ Drop-in runs on Wednesday nights for our community’s 10-12 year olds. Staff and volunteers have a brief overview meeting along with a devotional at 6:00 PM before doors open at 6:30. We offer supper, craft, gym games, Wii U games, PS4 games, air hockey, foosball and other activities. At this impressionable age, our leaders spend more time supervising, connecting with youth on a deeper level and helping with conflict resolution should it become necessary. We want our preteens to feel safe and valued and our programs are aimed at their interests.
A Bible lesson led by a staff member or a volunteer who wants to plan a lesson. Doors close at 9:00 PM when we walk kids home, clean up and debrief.
Teens’ Drop-In
Teens’ Drop-in runs on Tuesday nights for our community’s 13-19 year olds. Staff and volunteers have a brief overview meeting along with a devotional at 6:00 PM before doors open at 6:30. We offer supper, various gym sports, PS4, pool, air hockey, foosball, Sportsnet, Wii U games, Just Dance (when there is interest), a basketball court and other activities. At this program, our leaders connect with youth and build trust, providing support, a listening ear, Godly advice and spiritual counsel. These relationships are key in many youth’s lives and along with the fun times, we see much personal growth at teens’ drop-in.
A Bible lesson takes place in the middle of the evening, led by a staff member or a volunteer. Doors close at 10:00 PM before we clean up and debrief.
Clubs – Bible Study
Clubs is our weekly Bible Study on Monday nights for our community’s 13-19 year olds. Staff and volunteers have a brief overview meeting along with a devotional at 6:00 PM before doors open at 6:30. After eating dinner together, we have a group game, followed by a time of worship (most commonly through song) then a large group lesson on a chosen topic before breaking into small groups and sharing and talking in those smaller communities. This facilitates community learning and growth in a group setting, both bigger and smaller to allow for conversations and exploration to continue even at then end of the night.
After three Bible Studies, each participant who came 2/3 of the most recent Bible Studies are invited on a field trip to allow for fun times and memory building as a community.
Doors close at 9:00 PM before we clean up and debrief.
DVBS
In the summer, we run three DVBS camps for full days, Monday-Friday. There are crafts, Bible lessons, gym games and daily field trips! Fun times with kids in different settings and team activities can be expected, along with many DVBS songs! For more information, including dates, please contact us!
Full time paid positions available at the Bridge! Go to our Careers Page for more information.
Gem Lake Wilderness Camp:
Summer Camp – July & August
In the summer, Gem Lake Wilderness camp runs seven weeks of camp, each one running five days and four nights. There are various camp activities including swimming, hiking, tubing, wilderness supper and fishing. There are games and crafts and many other options for youth to choose from, seven Mini Churches and one-on-one mentoring pairs with one leader and one camper.
Over the August long weekend, we run a young adults camp from Friday-Monday with a vastly different program schedule.
We have some opportunities for volunteer counsellors as well as camp cooks! Please contact us for dates, age groups and options available this summer!
Winter Camp – January & February
In the Winter, Gem Lake wilderness camp runs various weekends of Winter camp, three days and two nights. There are loads of winter activities including cross country skiing, snowshoeing, tobogganing, snowmobile rides, winter hiking and much more! Throughout the weekend there are three Mini Churches and games to be played along with campfires and woodstoves for heating. It’s a true Canadian adventure! For dates and opportunities, please contact us!
Paid summer positions available at Gem Lake! Go to our Careers Page for more information.
Maintenance
Maintenance volunteers can do endless lists of things with our Facilities Manager! Inspecting and cleaning vehicles, basic constructions projects, painting and really whatever is needed! Volunteers can take the lead in some projects they have experience in or simply help out and learn from our facilities manager! Whatever your skill level or interest, we’d love to hear from you!
Kitchen – Meals for Kids
Our Meals For Kids program feeds youth at all four of our Bridge programs as well as various other times, including our community events! Along with our Kitchen Coordinator, volunteers can help prepare food, serve it, clean up and engage with the kids as they come for dinner! Baking, cooking and/or youth work experience is fantastic, but not required! If interested, please fill out our contact form!
Community Events
Twice a year, we host events open to our entire community.
Community Block Party – June
Each year in June, we host our annual Community Block Party. We close down Aberdeen Avenue from Salter to Powers Street and set up a giant bouncy castle, host a petting zoo, set up carnival games, have live music and hand out free hot dogs, popcorn, cotton candy and more! Volunteers can be placed at a variety of stations to help make this event the best it can be!
Community Christmas Party – December
In December, we host our annual Community Christmas Party. At this event we serve stew and bannock, desserts and coffee or tea, have a bonfire, hand out popcorn and provide free horse-drawn sleigh rides! Each event looks a little different, but the core is the same – reminding people of their community support at the most festive season of the year. We come together, eat dinner, serve coffee and snacks, and a hamper raffle for families in the community.
Opportunities for Groups:
Kids’ or Preteens’ Drop-In
The most common volunteer group activity is during our Wednesday and Thursday nights programs. Group individuals and pairs are often assigned to stations where they lead or assist in the craft room, canteen, bouncy castle, or other activity we have running that evening! Groups may take initiative and lead God Talks if interested and are a huge support to our regular team of leaders. Groups can come one time or on a periodic commitment. For more information or opportunities, please contact us!
Group-Initiated Activities
In some cases, groups approach us wanting to lead activities for our youth. Depending on staff availability and our current program schedule as well as relevance, we’d gladly open up conversations about service projects that would benefit our youth and shake things up around here!
