Volunteer with LoveWay
make a difference in the lives of students with special needs
A rewarding experience that inspires growth.
Our participants with special needs often require physical, emotional, mental and/or cognitive support to get the most out of their experience. Class volunteers assist our instructors with the participants before, during and after class with typical activities and tasks.
Most class volunteers help participants prep their horses for class, walk (and sometimes jog) alongside them during the lesson and assist with post-class responsibilities as well.
When you compare the large number of participants served at LoveWay each year and the small size of LoveWay’s core staff, you see that it is truly the volunteers that make our work possible.
Who can volunteer?
Volunteers must meet certain safety requirements in order to assist in classes or with our horses. Additional requirements may apply, but at a minimum volunteers must:
Be at least 16 years of age
Be able to lift a variable amount of weight
Be able to see and hear clearly
Be able to follow directions and stay on task
Be able to walk or jog on uneven ground
COMPASSION & CONNECTION
Students come to LoveWay to bond with horses and learn horsemanship and/or riding skills but they also form relationships with the volunteers who bless them with their time and support.
Opportunities
LoveWay truly enjoys and values having members of the community volunteer in whatever ways are needed. Below are common areas that volunteers bless us by dedicating their time, resources and/or expertise. If you do not find something on this list of which you believe might be a volunteer benefit to our organization, or if you’re interested in volunteering in one of the areas below, please fill out the application below and the LoveWay Program Coordinator will contact you.
Therapeutic
Riding
Grounds & Maintenance
Special
Events
School/
Work Groups
Internships/
Education Hours
Note: We are currently unable to support Court Ordered Community Service due to time constraints and the high level of attention that our riders and horses require.
How to volunteer at LoveWay
1. Fill out application
To get started, complete an online application so we can learn more about you and your skills and interests. You will also need to provide information for a background check, which is mandatory for all volunteers working directly with students.
2. Complete training
Don’t have experience working with horses or individuals with special needs? That’s OK! The LoveWay staff provide training during certain times of the year to help individuals decide if volunteering in classes would be an appropriate fit and if not, what other opportunity would!
3. Make a difference
The relationships you form at LoveWay will help inspire growth within our students. Thank you for blessing us with your time!
2021-22 LoveWay Class Calendar
Fall Session
Winter Session
Spring Session
Therapeutic Riding
As a volunteer in these classes, you would be helping our instructors as we partner with our horses to provide participants an educational and beneficial experience; learning about horsemanship and relatable responsibilities along with riding skills.
Class volunteers are usually paired with the same participant and horse throughout the session to offer the chance to form bonds amongst one another, including the horse, which has proven to be beneficial for all!
What is the time commitment required?
If helping in classes, we ask our class volunteers to help in the class(es) they sign up for every week for the entire session, which runs for eight weeks. We have daytime, evening and Saturday classes during each session so volunteers can choose the available class(es) that would work best with their schedule.
What if I can’t commit to volunteering every week or my schedule is inconsistent?
If you only plan on missing a week or two during the session, we encourage you to continue to apply as a Therapeutic Riding volunteer. We’ll mark your absence on our calendar and make other arrangements for that week.
If you still aren’t sure if you can commit to a full session, we still have a place for you at LoveWay! We are always looking for substitute volunteers to fill in when needed during classes – which happens often. You can also check out the other volunteer opportunities, like grounds and maintenance or special events, for other ways to help.
What if an emergency comes up?
We understand this happens! In that case, we ask that you call our Volunteer Coordinator as soon as possible so that we can try to find a substitute for you.
Grounds & Maintenance
LoveWay does offer the opportunity to help with upkeep of the property, barns and pastures on an as-needed basis and according to staff availability for supervision purposes. This opportunity is also often seasonal. Minimum age requirement is 12 and anyone under the age of 16 must have parental/guardian supervision at all times. Volunteers must also meet safety requirements which can be discussed with the Volunteer Coordinator.
Special Events
Help prepare for or assist either leading up to or on the day of a LoveWay fundraising event such as Derby Day or Ride-A-Thon! This opportunity is offered to volunteers on an as-needed basis.
To learn about upcoming opportunities, complete LoveWay’s online volunteer application and indicate that you are interested in helping at special events!
School/Work Groups
SCHOOL GROUPS
We enjoy having students from surrounding schools within our community pay us a visit to help with various needs. Minimum age requirement is 14. This opportunity is offered as-needed and according to staff availability for supervision purposes.
WORK GROUPS
LoveWay comes to need the help of a larger group at times, usually during the summer season, for various outside-focused tasks. Work group sizes vary depending upon LoveWay’s need(s) and staff availability. Minimum age requirement is 12 years old and anyone 15 or younger must have parental/guardian supervision at all times.
HOW TO GET STARTED
To learn more about volunteering at LoveWay as a group, reach out to our Volunteer Coordinator at [email protected] or by completing the form below so we can learn more about your group and your interests.
Internships/Education Hours
INTERNSHIPS
LoveWay does offer the opportunity to help with upkeep of the property, barns and pastures on an as-needed basis and according to staff availability for supervision purposes. This opportunity is also often seasonal. Minimum age requirement is 12 and anyone under the age of 16 must have parental/guardian supervision at all times. Volunteers must also meet safety requirements which can be discussed with the Volunteer Coordinator.
EDUCATION SERVICE HOURS
Are you looking for an opportunity to complete required education service hours for a temporary period of time?
Let us know what your needs are in regards to hours and availability and we will see if we have something available for you. This may include assistance with office work, barn chores, classes or general facility clean up.
We ask that you contact our Volunteer Coordinator for more information at 574-825-5666 or through email at [email protected]. If sending an email, please be sure to include the school you need the hours for, how many hours you need, what your availability is and what your deadline is to complete those hours.