Volunteer Opportunities

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kindness ambassadors at magical bridge playground

Community service and volunteer opportunities are activities designed for Santa Clara residents to help society by donating time, skills, or resources to help others in need.

We have several seasonal and year-round opportunities offering different roles and responsibilities to match your interests and availability.

Youth Leadership & Volunteer Programs
Youth Volunteer Getting Started Steps Register for Students of Service. Once registered, e-notifications about upcoming community service opportunities will be sent to the email attached to your account. For Kindness Ambassador, training (in-person or online) is required prior to participating in an event. Once you register for an event, you will receive an email with the Zoom link and login information for the training. After completing the training, you will be eligible to volunteer at future Magical Bridge Playground events.
Students of Service (SOS) The SOS community service program is for high school students, ages 13-18. Register for e-notifications about upcoming volunteer opportunities for various recreation programs, events, and projects throughout the year. The program benefits teens looking for opportunities to serve the community, gain work experience, and earn community service hours for graduation. Year-Round Opportunities Magical Bridge Kindness Ambassadors Participate in Magical Bridge Playground events (requires a mandatory 40-minute orientation; counts toward hours) Performing Arts: Roberta Jones Junior Theatre and The Nutcracker Assist with rehearsals, concessions, ushering, and technical operations Youth & Teen Center Support afterschool workshops, Kids Rock, Rec City Nights, and special events Community Garden Help with garden projects, maintenance, and public events City-Wide Special Events Volunteer at events such as the 4th of July Celebration, Art & Wine Festival, Children’s Halloween Party, Holiday Tree Lighting, and Breakfast or Evening with Santa Seasonal Opportunities Dance Recitals - Spring Dance Recital & Nutcracker Recital	Summer Junior Leader Program Sign up to volunteer as a Junior Leader for our summer camps or swim programs. Gain volunteer hours, hands-on work experience, and valuable leadership skills. All interested candidates must apply, interview, attend in-service training, and volunteer for a minimum of two weeks. Applicants must be 14-18 years old. This program requires fee, which includes admission fees, bus transportation, training materials, and supplies. The 2026 Junior Leader Application will open soon.	Youth Kindness Ambassadors (YKA) Youth participants ages 13-17 are encouraged to sign up for Students of Service to participate in Kindness Ambassador Events for all ages and abilities. Training is required in-person or online prior to participating in an event. Once registered, students will receive an email with meeting information. Upon completion of training, students are eligible to volunteer at future Magical Bridge Playground events. Participants will continue receiving emails about upcoming volunteer opportunities.

Youth Leadership & Volunteer Programs

Youth Volunteer Getting Started Steps

Register for Students of Service.
Once registered, e-notifications about upcoming community service opportunities will be sent to the email attached to your account.
For Kindness Ambassador, training (in-person or online) is required prior to participating in an event. Once you register for an event, you will receive an email with the Zoom link and login information for the training. After completing the training, you will be eligible to volunteer at future Magical Bridge Playground events.

Students of Service (SOS)

The SOS community service program is for high school students, ages 13-18. Register for e-notifications about upcoming volunteer opportunities for various recreation programs, events, and projects throughout the year. The program benefits teens looking for opportunities to serve the community, gain work experience, and earn community service hours for graduation.

Year-Round Opportunities

Magical Bridge Kindness Ambassadors
Participate in Magical Bridge Playground events (requires a mandatory 40-minute orientation; counts toward hours)
Performing Arts: Roberta Jones Junior Theatre and The Nutcracker
Assist with rehearsals, concessions, ushering, and technical operations
Youth & Teen Center
Support afterschool workshops, Kids Rock, Rec City Nights, and special events
Community Garden
Help with garden projects, maintenance, and public events
City-Wide Special Events
Volunteer at events such as the 4th of July Celebration, Art & Wine Festival, Children’s Halloween Party, Holiday Tree Lighting, and Breakfast or Evening with Santa

Seasonal Opportunities

Dance Recitals - Spring Dance Recital & Nutcracker Recital

Summer Junior Leader Program

Sign up to volunteer as a Junior Leader for our summer camps or swim programs. Gain volunteer hours, hands-on work experience, and valuable leadership skills. All interested candidates must apply, interview, attend in-service training, and volunteer for a minimum of two weeks.

Applicants must be 14-18 years old.

This program requires fee, which includes admission fees, bus transportation, training materials, and supplies.

The 2026 Junior Leader Application will open soon.

Youth Kindness Ambassadors (YKA)

Youth participants ages 13-17 are encouraged to sign up for Students of Service to participate in Kindness Ambassador Events for all ages and abilities.

Training is required in-person or online prior to participating in an event. Once registered, students will receive an email with meeting information.

Upon completion of training, students are eligible to volunteer at future Magical Bridge Playground events. Participants will continue receiving emails about upcoming volunteer opportunities.

Adult Volunteer Opportunities
Adult Volunteer Getting Started Steps Submit a Volunteer Application. Create an account. Be sure to select “Parks & Recreation” for your desired service. All questions in the application with the red asterisk must be answered accurately. If using a mobile device to fill the application, please download the Release of Liability form and upload as an attachment. Email prcustomerserve@santaclaraca.gov after submitting your application to get fingerprinting instructions and form.
Volunteer Opportunities Community Garden Beautification Days Performing Arts Events Senior Center Activities Magical Bridge Kindness Ambassadors To create some consistency for our park visitors, a commitment of a minimum of 12 hours within 90 days is required. Attend a 30-minute orientation prior to the start of your volunteer hours. Date will be coordinated with the program supervisor.

Adult Volunteer Opportunities

Adult Volunteer Getting Started Steps

Submit a Volunteer Application.
- Create an account. Be sure to select “Parks & Recreation” for your desired service. All questions in the application with the red asterisk must be answered accurately.
- If using a mobile device to fill the application, please download the Release of Liability form and upload as an attachment.
Email prcustomerserve@santaclaraca.gov after submitting your application to get fingerprinting instructions and form.

Volunteer Opportunities

Community Garden Beautification Days
Performing Arts Events
Senior Center Activities
Magical Bridge Kindness Ambassadors
- To create some consistency for our park visitors, a commitment of a minimum of 12 hours within 90 days is required.
- Attend a 30-minute orientation prior to the start of your volunteer hours. Date will be coordinated with the program supervisor.

Youth Volunteer Questions

Youth and Teen Center
Phone: 408-615-3760
Email: YTC@santaclaraca.gov

Adult Volunteer Questions

Community Recreation Center
Phone: 408-615-3140
Email: prcustomerserve@santaclaraca.gov

Please indicate that you are an adult volunteer when calling to reach the proper department.

Last Updated:

01-06-2026