Are you interested in making a difference in your community? Do you have great skills that you would like to offer to those who need assistance? YOU can make a difference by becoming a volunteer. Whereas the pay is $0, the benefits are countless! The Department of Recreation, Parks & Open Space has a number of exciting and rewarding opportunities where you can shine. Please see below.

Download and complete the Adult Volunteer Application or Junior Volunteer Application (if under age 18), and submit by mail or in person to:

Shirley Tyree, Volunteer Coordinator
Norfolk Dept. of Recreation, Parks & Open Space
501 Boush St.
Norfolk, VA 23510

Prior to volunteering with the Department of Recreation, Parks & Open Space, an individual must submit to a criminal background and sexual offender check.  The background check is $25 per person, the cost of which must be incurred by the individual. Please submit your completed Authorization and Disclosure form and $25 check made out to Norfolk City Treasurer with your volunteer application.

Questions? Contact Shirley Tyree at 757-441-2400 ext 227 or shirley.tyree@norfolk.gov.

Division of Aquatics & Recreational Water Activities

Aquatic Special Events Support (ASES)  -  Assist at swim meets, both youth and adults.  Perform scorekeeping and time monitoring.  Assist with preparation and clean-up for social events. 

Aquatic Program Monitor (APM)  -  Monitors ladies and men’s locker rooms and pool deck area to enforce safety rules.

Aquatic Instruction Assistant (AIA)  -  Assist with youth, therapeutic and senior citizen swim classes.

Aquatic Support – Office (ASO)  -  Assist with the general office work (answer phones, class registration, facility use card system).  Responsible for the facilities decorations, and the public notice bulletin board.

Division of Athletics & Recreational Sports

Athletic Leader (ATHL)  -  Assist in the planning, organization, promotion and supervision of athletic programs such as:  football, basketball, softball and volleyball.

Coach (COACH)  -  Performs instruction, supervision and organization of sporting activities.

Athletics Office Support (AEOS)  -  Volunteers are to be utilized to assist in organizing youth league contracts, recording scores and clerical duties.

Athletic Equipment Room Manager (AERM)  -  Controls the distribution of various types of equipment during Saturday league games.

Facility Use Card Assistant (FUCA)  -  Assist staff in creating Facility Use Cards.  Duties include verification of application, photographing participants and card assembly.

Division of Recreation & Leisure Activities

Recreation Aide (RECAID)  -  Organize, lead and instruct a variety of recreational activities and use of athletic equipment and supplies.  Provide clerical support with duties to include:  preparation of center reports, meetings, training sessions, and registering center participants.

Center Support Committee (CSC)  -  Provide input from community to aid in achieving centers programming goals.  Assist in publicity, hospitality, fund raising and recruiting volunteers.

Gym Supervisor Assistant (GSA)  -  These volunteers assist with gym and athletic supervision as well as registration of participants.  Organize free play programs.  Controls site’s athletic equipment and supplies.

Community Service Volunteer (COMVOL)  -  Perform various community service projects and volunteer assignments. 

Theater Assistant (TA)  -  Support facility by organizing props and storage areas.  Compile and sort bulk mailings.  Organize theater scrap book.  General office support duties.

Set Construction Assistant (SCA)  -  Help build and paint sets for Dance/Music Productions.

Production Assistant – Stagehand (PAS)  -  Assist with placing props and set pieces during Dance/Music Productions.  Dance/Music Office Support (DMOS)  -  Provide general office support.  Organize costumes props, equipment, records and tapes.

Dance/Music Program Sales (DMPS)  -  Assist with selling advertising space in Dance/Music Performance programs,

Production Assistant-Costumes (PAC)  -  Responsible for designing and sewing costumes for productions.

Production Assistant Performer (PAP)  -  Design and fabricate costumes for Dance/Music Productions.

Pottery Room Volunteer (PTRV)  -  Mix glazes and assist with upkeep of the pottery room.

Art Center Support (ACS)  -  Organize art material.  Operate ceramic kilns.  Set-up and organize rooms for classes.

Division of Special Recreation Services

Senior Citizen Volunteer (SRCITE)  -  Assist in the supervision of senior citizens in a variety of events, programs and activities.

Therapeutic Recreation Class Assistant (TRCA)  -  Provide hands on assistance to participants with disabilities in classes such as bowling and aquatics.

Therapeutic Recreation Program Aide (TRPA)  -  Provide general office support.  Assist at special event programs by interacting with participants.

Internship (INTS) -  Provides hands on support to participants in all classes under the direct supervision of a CTRS. Plans, implements, and evaluates classes, workshops and special events. Performs intake assessments, weekly documentation and discharge summaries.

Bureau of Parks & Urban Forestry

Arbor Day Seeding (ADS)  -  Master Gardener Volunteers seed selected tree species at Norfolks nursery annually in May.

Arbor Day Tree Distribution (ADTD)  -  Master Gardener Volunteers staff Norfolk’s Arbor Day Committee booths (7-8 City wide) to educate and inform the public of benefits of trees and give away approx. 4000 tree seedlings.

Norfolk Significant Tree Project (NSTP) – Master Gardeners trained as Norfolk Tree Stewards are needed to evaluate potential significant trees in our City. Significant trees may be classified as such due to large size, advanced age, regional rarity, and/or association with local historic people, places or events, or other unique qualities.