Volunteer
Volunteer With Us!
At North Florida School of Special Education (NFSSE), we believe in the power of a legacy crafted by many hands. Volunteering at NFSSE provides you with an opportunity to help shape the future of our students, and fulfill an important role as a change agent in our community. As a volunteer, NFSSE has many ways for you to give of your time throughout the year, from helping out with a fundraising project, to lending your talents in our extracurricular activities, to sharing your leadership with an after-school club. We hope that you will build lasting friendships with our students and staff and learn something new along the way.
Summer Volunteering
June: 8-12 July: 6-10
June: 15-19 July: 13-17
June: 22-26 July: 20-24
NFSSE has many summer volunteering opportunities throughout our Activity & Specialty camps:
- Activity: Campers rotate through art, PE, culinary, yoga/karate, and more fun activities.
- Activity camps volunteer shifts: MUST commit to an entire week! Split into morning and afternoon shifts; 9:00AM – 12:00PM & 12:30PM – 3:00PM
- Specialty: A variety of specialized week-long activities for campers interested in certain areas like Barkin’ Biscuits, horses/barn, biking, golf, culinary, etc.
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- Specialty camps volunteer shifts: Volunteers can select individual days of the week in specialty camps for a morning and/or afternoon session: 8:30am – 12:30pm & 12:30pm -4:30pm. If you are completing a whole day by signing up for a morning AND afternoon camp, you would take your lunch between 12:00 and 1:00PM
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- After Care: Volunteers will be asked to support our activities. This may include helping instructors/teachers, getting supplies, or being a peer with our students. After Care is from 3:00PM – 6:00PM
Step One: Fill out this form: Summer Camp Enrichment 2026 Volunteer Agreement
Step Two: You will receive the Summer Camp Volunteer sign-up via email from Eden Resnik at EResnik@northfloridschool.org
Delores Barr Weaver Therapeutic Equestrian Center: Therapeutic Riding
We need lead walkers, side walkers, and enthusiastic individuals with a passion for horses and our riders. No prior riding experience required to volunteer! Must be ages 14 and older to volunteer independently.
Schedule:
School year: August – May: Mon, Wed, Thurs from 1:30 pm– 5:30pm, Sat from 8:30am – 1:30pm, Sun from 11:30am – 4:30pm
Summer: Mon – Fri from 8:30am – 12:30pm
6/8-12 7/6-10
6/15-19 7/13-17
6/22-26 7/20-24
To sign up to volunteer at NFSSE’s Delores Barr Weaver Therapeutic Equestrian Center over the summer, refer to the summer camp section at the top!
Equine therapy at NFSSE’s Delores Barr Weaver Therapeutic Equestrian Center helps children and adults with intellectual and developmental differences (IDD) reach their full potential by improving confidence, flexibility, balance, posture, and muscle strength, as well as psychological, cognitive, behavioral, social, and communication skills.
Every lesson is led by a Certified Therapeutic Riding Instructor, with volunteers playing a crucial role by serving as lead walkers to the horses and side walkers, helping to keep students stable in the saddle. Assisting staff with some general animal care may be included in the volunteer session as well. Volunteers also enjoy the environment with free-range chickens, bunnies, pigs, and even a turkey! No prior experience needed, the NFSSE barn team will get you oriented and teach you your role on your first day.
Barkin’ Biscuits
Schedule:
School year: August – May: Mon – Fri from 9:30am – 12:00pm (with exception to holidays & no-school dates)
Summer: June 8-12, June 18 & 19, July 6-10 from 8:30am – 12:30pm
To sign up to volunteer at Barkin’ Biscuits over the summer, refer to the summer camp section at the top!
Barkin’ Biscuits is welcoming volunteers to help in our pet bakery! At Barkin’ Biscuits, dance and sing the day away with our students as you help to roll out dog treats and assist with packaging. This is one of our more popular volunteer sites and can accommodate large groups.
Location: 400 Mill Creek Rd.
Art with Soul
Schedule:
School year: August – May: Mon – Fri 9:30am – 12:00pm (with exception to holidays & no-school dates). Check back in August!
Summer: Closed
Assist our Art With Soul artists as they complete art work. Volunteers may assist artists with their projects, or assist with finishing up final details of art projects independently. We are currently looking for volunteers with previous art experience or a passion for art.
Berry Good Farms
Schedule:
School year: August – May: Mon – Fri 9:30am – 12:00pm (with exception to holidays & no-school dates). Check back in August!
Summer: Closed
Berry Good Farms welcomes volunteer groups who would be interested in completing a project on the Farm. This could include helping to harvest, plant, or clean up certain areas of our ever-expanding farm.
Berry Good Blooms
Schedule:
School year: August – May: Mon – Fri 9:30am – 12:00pm (with exception to holidays & no-school dates). Check back in August!
Summer: Closed
Berry Good Blooms needs volunteers to assist with preparing, cutting and moving flowers to and from buildings. This program has a flexible schedule depending on when events pop up.
Delores Barr Weaver Therapeutic Equestrian Center: Project SADDLE
Schedule:
School year: August – May: Mon – Fri 9:00am – 12:00pm (with exception to holidays & no-school dates). Check back in August!
To sign up to volunteer at NFSSE’s Delores Barr Weaver Therapeutic Equestrian Center over the summer, refer to the summer camp section at the top!
Assist our Project SADDLE students as they complete various projects and clean our barn (cleaning stalls, pastures, grooming horses, etc.). You do not need to have horse/barn experience! The Project SADDLE program is held during weekday mornings throughout the school year: Check back in August!
NFSSE will be hosting summer camps at our equestrian center. To volunteer over the summer, register via the Summer Camp section at the top.
People Like Us Theatre Program
Schedule:
School year: October – May: Mon & Wed from 4:00pm – 6:00pm (with exception to early releases, holidays & no-school dates). Check back in August!
Summer: NFSSE is hosting Lion King Jr. theatre camp June – July from 8:30am – 12:30pm! Refer to the summer camp section at the top to get involved!
Assist our People Like Us theatre troupe students practice lines, learn a dance, or review songs with our actors, etc.
Extended Day/Enrichments
Schedule:
August – May: Mon – Fri 3:30pm – 5:30pm (with exception to holidays & no-school dates)
Volunteers for our Extended Day/Enrichments will be asked to support our programs depending on the day of the week they sign up. This may include helping instructors/teachers, getting supplies, or being a peer with our students.
Volunteer FAQ
Q: What days and times are available to volunteer?
Q: I am skilled at “x”. Am I able to share it with the school?
Q: Do I need to have experience with individuals with differences to volunteer at your school?
Q: What kind of volunteering could I be doing?
Q: What should I wear and bring with me?
Q: Who do I contact?
Thank you for supporting our cause! We look forward to connecting with you!
