Naperville fair helps teens find volunteer opportunities

KidsMatter is sponsoring a one-stop shop for teens and families looking to get involved.

Students in sixth to 12th grades and their families are invited to the eighth annual Volunteer Fair from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 22, at the Naperville Municipal Center, 400 S. Eagle St.

"There's research that does show that two-thirds of adults who volunteer started when they were young," said Katie Russell, program manager for the nonprofit KidsMatter. "This is a great way to find those opportunities in a short time."

One organization participating is the Western DuPage Special Recreation Association. Wendy Craven, manager of support services for WDSRA, said teens will be able to sign up to help with the new Young Athletes program.

Volunteers are paired with a "buddy" and guide him or her through half-hour lessons taught by a head instructor. The goal of the class is to introduce kids ages 2 to 7 years old to simple sports skills such as running, jumping and catching to encourage their social and cognitive development.

"For the younger crowd, that is such an age-appropriate program for them," Craven said.

Twenty-five other groups also will be at the fair, including Naper Settlement, Northern Illinois Food Bank, DuPage Children's Museum, Morton Arboretum and the Naperville Park District. There will be a group to fit just about everyone's interest, Russell said.

New to the fair this year is a 15-minute interactive workshop that will be offered twice during the evening titled "Family Volunteering - Creating Lifelong Patterns of Service in Kids."

In the past few years, KidsMatter has started to focus more on family volunteering. At WDSRA, for example, families can help with larger events such as fundraisers, dinner dances and swim and track meets, Craven said.

High school students looking for volunteer service to list on college applications make up a large segment of students who attend the fair, organizers said.

"They can take an evening and see 26 different places," Russell said. "It saves time and it really is beneficial for both the attendees and the organizations."

Last year, Russell said around 800 students stopped by the municipal center for the Volunteer Fair, along with roughly 400 adults.

For information, visit kidsmatter2us.org or call (630) 572-6562. Information about the Young Athletes program can be found at WDSRA.com or by calling (630) 681-0962.

If you goWhat: KidsMatter Volunteer FairWhen: 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 22Where: Naperville Municipal Center, 400 S. Eagle St.Details: Middle and high school students can learn about volunteering with 26 local groups and agenciesInfo: (630) 572-6562 or kidsmatter2us.orgFalse12622000Studies show that adults who volunteer started their community service in their youth, say organizers of the KidsMatter Volunteer Fair.Paul Michna | Staff Photographer, 2009False