Volunteers

Requirements for coaches and volunteers

Head Coach

A Head Coach is employed on contract by Empower Play Inc. These coaches are responsible for organizing a camp based on Empower Play’s set curriculum. These coaches are responsible for:

1. The learning process of the children
2. Following Empower Play’s set guidelines and curriculum for the involved camp
3. Designing a lesson plan for each day of the camp
4. The teaching (and learning) process of the volunteers
5. The health and safety of everybody within the camp’s confines
6. Making sure any safety equipment is worn properly with no exceptions
7. Making sure the integrity of the equipment owned by Empower Play is to regulated standards
8. Making sure all camp participants have been picked up by a parent/guardian safely (Required to stay at camp site until all children are picked up and have left the building)
9. The safety of any child that has been injured by participating in the camp
10. Making sure the equipment owned by Empower Play and/or another party is used safely and without damaging it
11. The work of the Assistant Coach is to Empower Play Inc. standards

Credentials required to be a Head Coach at Empower Play Inc. are:

A. First Aid/CPR certificate with defibrillator training
B. Criminal Record Background Check
C. Must be 18 years or older
D. Must have substantial experience in the field of the camp they are coaching
E. Must be able to follow guidelines set out by the Board of Directors of Empower Play Inc.
F. Must have clean driving record
G. Must have knowledge of how the equipment they will be using works.
H. Must be (at least) Ten years older than the age group they are instructing

Optional (But highly recommended) Credentials

A. High Five Camp Counselling Certification
B. Non Violent Crisis Intervention Certification
C. A Teaching Degree
D. Any Level of coaching certification issued by the Coaching Association of Canada
E. A college diploma in sports and recreation management
F. Respect In Sport Certification for Coaches/Program Leaders
G. CPR/First Aid Certification with Defibrillator Training 

Assistant Coach

An Assistant Coach may be employed on contract by Empower Play Inc. or volunteering his/her time with the organization. These coaches are responsible for:

1. The learning process of the children
2. Following Empower Play’s set guidelines and curriculum as planned out by the Head Coach
3. The teaching process of the volunteers
4. Making sure any safety equipment is worn properly with no exceptions
5. Making sure the integrity of the equipment owned by Empower Play is to regulated standards
6. Making sure the equipment owned by Empower Play and/or another party is used safely and without damaging it
7. Making sure the younger, less experienced volunteers are completing the necessary tasks assigned to them
8. Making sure the children are behaving in a safe, controlled manner that ensures a safe and healthy camp atmosphere emotionally as well as physically
9. Making sure he/she is in attendance at all times watching over everything within the confines of the camp
10. Making sure all of the correct paper work is filed and reports are written if a child injures themselves at a camp
11. Making sure parents/guardians are aware of their child’s unsafe play/disobedience

Credentials that are required being an Assistant Coach for Empower Play Inc.

A. Criminal Record Background Check
B. Must be 18 years or older
C. Must have clean driving record
D. Must have knowledge of how the equipment they will be using works.
E. Must be (at least) Ten years older than the age group they are instructing

Optional (But highly recommended) Credentials

A. High Five Camp Counselling Certification
B. Non Violent Crisis Intervention Certification
C. A Teaching Degree
D. Any Level of coaching certification issued by the Coaching Association of Canada
E. A college diploma in sports and recreation management
F. Respect In Sport Certification for Coaches/Program Leaders
G. CPR/First Aid Certification with Defibrillator Training

Empower Play Volunteers

Empower play volunteers are welcomed at all camps and will usually be students at a high school or college level that just want to help out where they can. These volunteers will be responsible for: 

1. One on one coaching with the children who are behind others in skills and fundamentals
2. Equipment control (Setting up and cleaning up equipment)
3. Following the day plan set out by the Head and Assistance coaches
4. Positive re-enforcement of the children at camp
5. Being a leader and positive role model for all children at the camp
6. Making sure all communication between camp participants is positive, non-threatening, and encouraging so that everybody can have an enjoyable experience.
7. Doing any jobs that are required by the Head/Assistant coaches

Required Credentials for Empower Play Volunteers are

A. Must be 15 years of age or older
B. Must have a criminal record check
C. Must have a recommendation (letter or verbal) by a teaching professional or a well-known coach in the community
D. Must have some experience in the field of the camp they are coaching
E. Must be able to follow guidelines set out by the Board of Directors of Empower Play Inc.

At Empower Play, we consider ourselves lucky to have great volunteers. Our goal is to maximize the potential of all youth- even the ones volunteering for us. A Head Coach is required to teach not only the children in the camp- but the young volunteers as well. Assessments will be done for all young volunteers and the more serious and committed volunteers will be rewarded with certifications and other credentials provided and funded by Empower Play Inc. This will overall improve the functioning of all camps and make every kid that comes through our program that much better.

If you are interested in contributing to Empower Play Inc. as a volunteer please contact us by phone or E-Mail.