Volunteer at the YMCA
Volunteers are vital to the YMCA mission.
At the Y, your time and talents go a long way. Without you, we wouldn’t be able to meet the needs of the kids, families, and adults who live in our community. There are opportunities every single day to give back to the Y. Find yours here.
Y Volunteers Enjoy:
- A wide variety of locations and programs to fit personal interests
- Options for one-time, seasonal, and ongoing volunteerism
- Making new friends, networking, and gaining experience
What do Y Volunteers Do?
Y volunteers do many things—here are some examples of how you can get involved:
- Coach sports teams
- Help create a safe and welcoming environment within YMCA branches
- Help Feed kids and families across metro Detroit
- Mentor or tutor young people
- Support fundraising efforts to provide access to all
- Care for kids and teens in a variety of Y programs such as Day Camp, Y Learning Centers, Kids Club, Swim Lessons, and Sports.
- Support Community Events such as Healthy Kids Day, Golf Outings, and 5K runs
Get Started as a Volunteer!
Our Commitment to Safety
The Y is committed to providing a safe environment for every person who enters our doors, most importantly children who are entrusted to our care. The Y maintains a zero-tolerance policy toward child abuse and child endangerment, and staff and volunteers are to report any questionable behavior they see, or violations of the Code of Conduct Working with Youth. The Y provides anonymous ways for staff and volunteers to report rule breaking or concerns to senior leadership. As an organization, we take the following actions to keep kids safe in our Y facilities, camps and programs and to maintain the reputation of safety we have built during our long history.
- Conduct criminal history and sex offender registry checks on staff and volunteers
- Conduct staff and volunteer reference checks
- Require staff and volunteers to complete training on preventing, recognizing and responding to abuse.
- Require staff and volunteers to agree to our child safety code of conduct.
Should any allegation arise, the YMCA will proactively work with the authorities and all parties involved to respond in a prompt, thorough and empathetic manner.
Learn more about the YMCA’s commitment to safety HERE
Frequently Asked Questions for Volunteers
How old do Y volunteers need to be?
To volunteer at the YMCA you must be 18 years or older; 16 to 18 years old with parental permission; or, if under 16 years of age, you may volunteer with the permission and in the presence of a parent or guardian.
Does the YMCA offer training?
We are excited about engaging volunteers in the YMCA, and making sure our volunteers have the tools and training to make an impact. For most volunteer opportunities, an orientation, background screening, and child abuse prevention online training is required. After a volunteer has completed orientation and made a commitment to the Y, a staff member will discuss training opportunities that match the interest of the volunteer and meets the needs of the YMCA.
Creating an Active Account to Register as a Volunteer
To Volunteer with the YMCA, you’ll need to create an online account in Active. If you are not a YMCA member, you can still sign up for an account to see all of the offerings! Below are some frequently asked questions…
How do I create an account in Active?
If you are a member with an email address on file, you already have an account through ACTIVE. Go to apm.activecommunities.com/ymcadetroit and click the sign in button. On the login page, click “forget your password?” and type in the email address that you gave to communicate with the YMCA of Metropolitan Detroit when you signed up for your membership. An email will be sent to you with your password.
If you are a member without an email address on file, or you do not know your email address that you use to communicate with the Y, then get started by creating a new account (apm.activecommunities.com/ymcadetroit/Create_Account). Be sure to opt in for text messaging to get the latest information!
I forgot my password. Now what?
When you are prompted to sign in, check the Forgot your Password box and click Continue. You will be requested to provide the email address you used to create your account. To protect your information, after providing your email address, you will be requested to verify your identity by providing your first and last name as well as your date of birth. Upon submission, an email will be sent to you containing a temporary password. Upon signing in, you will be prompted to change your password.
If after completing this procedure you are still experiencing difficulties, please contact our office during regular business hours and a member of our staff will assist you.
*Please DO NOT create another Customer Account.
Will I receive unwanted emails?
No. By providing your email address, you will receive important communications from the YMCA of Metropolitan Detroit and its branches, mainly regarding your transactions and activities for which you’ve signed up. From time to time, offers and promotions from the YMCA of Metropolitan Detroit will be sent to your email. You can unsubscribe if you do not wish to receive promotional emails from the Y.