Volunteer as a Guest or Buddy Reader

Literacy is at the heart of Horizons work to help students grow in reading and math. The Guest and Buddy Reader Programs offer opportunities for community members to donate time to help students build a love of reading during our 6-week summer program.

Guest Readers come in to share a one time reading with a classroom. Click here to be a GUEST READER VOLUNTEER. A member of our staff will be in touch to set up a day and time.

Buddy Readers are paired with a student to read with once or twice a week over the 6-weeks of summer. Click here to be a BUDDY READER VOLUNTEER. A member of our staff will be in touch to pair you with a student based on your schedule.

Volunteer to Be a Guest Speaker in a PreK - 8th grade Classroom

Horizons uses a project-based learning model to structure our classroom learning. Each grade explores a theme.

PreK - Discovery through the 5 Senses

Kindergarten - Plants and Life Cycles

1st grade - Animals and Habitats

2nd grade - Music and Movement

3rd grade - Healthy Minds and Healthy Bodies

4th grade - Telling Our Stories

5th grade - Expression and Activism

6th grade - Journalism and Truthseeking

7th grade - Engineering for a Better World

8th grade - A Force for Good

Classroom Guest Speakers join a class for an hour-long session to serve as an expert related to the class theme. Do you have an interesting hobby, career, or expertise in an area that may fit with one of our grade level themes? Click here to be a GUEST SPEAKER VOLUNTEER. A member of our staff will be in touch to discuss further.

Volunteer with our 9th Grade Career and Academic Success Academy

Our 9th Grade Success Academy focuses on setting Horizons students up positively navigate high school and the workforce. During our 6-week program, students will explore their identity, strengths, and areas of growth. Students will spend time investigating different career pathways, develop an understanding of work etiquette and professionalism, hear from guest speakers and panels in a variety of professions, create cover letters and resumes, solidify academic and organizational skills to support high school success, participate in community service to better understand the community, and build mindfulness skills that will support them throughout high school and careers.

9th Grade Academy Guest Speakers speak about their career, the path that got them there, what is great and not so great about their job, average salary, and tips to help them as they begin their own entrance to the working world. This is a one-time, approximately hour long commitment. Click here to be a GUEST SPEAKER VOLUNTEER. A member of our staff will be in touch to discuss further.

9th Grade Academy Career Panelists join with other speakers with jobs in a shared field (sports, engineering, arts, medicine, aviation, law, culinary arts, etc). The goal is to have individuals share about different ways to be involved with an area that may be an interest or passion of students. Panelists would join for a one-time, approximately hour long commitment. We would love to have you join as a panelist or have your help in building out a panel of guests to come share. Click here to to volunteer to be on a CAREER PANEL. A member of our staff will be in touch to discuss further.

9th Grade Academy Work Place Tour Sponsors assist the Horizons staff in scheduling a trip to visit a work place to see what it is like to be on the job. Would your work place be willing to open its doors for students to get an inside peek at your industry? If so, we’d love to partner with you and your organization. Click here to volunteer to be a WORK PLACE TOUR SPONSOR.

Volunteer with Horizons Mentorship Program

Horizons at St. Richard’s newest initiative centers on the impact of powerful adult relationships on students lives. Numerous studies show that mentorship yields significant positive youth outcomes, improved academic performance, better mental health, higher self-esteem, and enhanced social skills. Mentored youth are more likely to pursue higher education, avoid delinquency, and build stronger, supportive relationships. Long-term, these relationships boost economic mobility, with mentored youth experiencing increased earnings and better career outcomes.

8th & 9th Grade Mentors are partnered with one or two students to provide a supportive adult relationship where the student feels seen, heard, and can ask for advice. Our mentorship program is based on a group facilitation model. The time commitment would involve a one-hour meeting on Thursday mornings during the 6-weeks of program and one 1.5 hour meeting one Saturday per month September through May. Click here to learn more about the MENTOR PROGRAM.

Volunteer on one of our Committees

Horizons at St. Richard’s has committees that support the staff in setting the course for the program, hosting events, fundraising, and evaluating our success. It takes a lot of hands to help keep this amazing program running smoothly and growing continuously.

Committee volunteers serve on one of four committees: governance, finance, program, and development. Committees meet once a month or once every other month for approximately 1.5 hours to work on initiatives and make sure the organization is sustainable. Click here to sign up to serve on a HORIZONS COMMITTEE.