The Junior Volunteer Program enables Fidos to benefit from
the services of young people in the Baltimore-Washington Metropolitan
Community who desire to perform voluntary community service.
The Junior Program focuses on three areas:
- Education:
We learn about dogs, dog training, the Fidos for Freedom
program methods and disability awareness.
- Public Service:
We do numerous projects around the center including decorating
for the holidays, crafts for nursing home visits, assisting
at the annual banquet and helping at fundraiser's and
demos.
The Juniors participated in their own fund-raiser by acting
as ring stewards and runners at an agility dog competition.
- Fun: The
juniors take part in all of the Fidos parties and even manage
to have some fun on their own.
Who May Participate:
 Must
be between the ages of 12 and 17
Must
be home schooled, or attend middle school or high school in
Maryland, Virginia or Washington, D.C.
Once a junior volunteer reaches age 18, and graduates from
the program, they can then participates as an adult Fidos
volunteer.
Community Service Hours
Participants earn one community service hour for each hour
they work as a junior volunteer. Young people who attend the
Wednesday evening sessions during the school year can earn
approximately 40 hours of community service.
Activities
The junior volunteers are involved in many different activities
at Fidos, including:
holiday
decorating;
dog
walking;
helping
at info booths during fund raisers;
assisting
with general office duties;
newsletter
folding and addressing;
help
setting up and tearing down booths, tables or other fund-raising
accouterments;
craft
projects to give out at therapy visits; and
fund
raising.
Regular Fidos volunteers permit the junior volunteers to
work with their Assistance or Therapy Dogs during the Wednesday
night training classes to help the young people develop dog
training skills. Junior volunteers are matched with participating
dogs according to the canine's skill level, temperament and
availability.
The Junior Volunteer Program offers classes on a variety
of subjects, including:
disability
awareness issues; and
dog
care and training.
Typical classes provided by Fidos volunteers are:
a
skills demonstration (“demo”);
discussions
on growing up with disabilities;
classes
on the theory of dog training;
lecture/demo
on hearing disabilities;
classes
on dog first aid;
a
class in sign language; and
classes/coaching
sessions on dog training skills.
How
To Apply
The Fidos Junior Volunteer Program has an excellent reputation. If you are interested in applying for the program, you must arrange to make a visit to the Fidos' Center and meet with the Junior Coordinator. During that visit you will get a tour of the Fido's facility, discuss the program with the Junior Coordinator, have a brief interview and fill out an application for the upcoming year's program. All interviews must be scheduled in advance. Most are scheduled for Wednesday evenings at 7:00 p.m. before the junior program starts for the evening.
For further information about the Junior Program please first click on the FAQ button at the top of the page and then the Junior link. After having read these questions and answers if you have further questions or wish to make an appointment for an interview please e-mail us.
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