Humane Society Silicon Valley (HSSV) needs more voices for animals! At HSSV, kids and teens can develop responsibility and compassion for animals in need through our many education-focused volunteering programs.

Compassion In Action (CIA)

CIA is a three-month long program for students who have a passion for helping animals. Students will volunteer directly with dogs and cats, learn about trending animal welfare topics and work on critical community service projects to help the animals in our care.

Read testimonials from past students and read our FAQs section for more information.

For Ages: 14 – 17 years old

Cost: $90.00 for entire 3 month program

Contact: If you have any questions, please call us at 408-262-2133 x160 or email education@hssv.org.

Please check back in September to register for CIA Fall 2019. You may also email education@hssv.org with any questions.

Testimonials

“My interest in animals has increased and I’m not nervous around cats anymore!” —Nallely N.

“I think that doing CIA made me realize how many homeless dogs there are, and I see the importance of doing something to change that.” —Jordan A.

“I have been in this program for about a year. I really enjoy socializing the animals, and I feel very trusted.” —Jessica H.

“After CIA I think I have better people skills than I originally thought.” —Natalie S.

“I have had such an amazing experience. There’s so much I can share now, with my friends and family and I hope all the animals I have come to love at HSSV will find a loving home.” —Katrina S.

“Overall, everything I learned gave me more of an understanding of why pets do the things they do.” —Gabriella Z

“I became a lot more interested in dogs. The program also allowed me to see what life is like for animals in shelters. I made a few good friends and the program was definitely a good experience.” —Emma R.

FAQs

Where does the CIA program take place?

What is the schedule for the Required Training and Optional Volunteer days?

You will sign your child up for required training days when you register, and your student will sign up for upcoming volunteer days when they are onsite volunteering. Your child must attend at least 1 of EACH required training (i.e. dog training and cat training) and they are held twice. Optional Volunteer days vary per session, however they are typically scheduled after school, Tuesday – Thursday and on Saturday afternoons for about 2 hours each.

How do I register for the CIA program?

Can my child stay at HSSV after the CIA program is over?

No. The safety of youth participating in education programs is a priority for us. To ensure your child is safe and not left at our facility unattended, please pick your child up no later than 15 minutes after the CIA class has ended. If you are later than this time, we will charge $1.00 per minute, past the 15-minute grace period. We also ask that your child remain in the classroom until he/she is safely picked up. If your child drives him/herself to the program, please let us know and your child will be exempted from the pick-up requirement.

What should CIA students wear and bring with them?

What is the cell phone policy during CIA?

What if I have to cancel?

Can I still volunteer after CIA is over?

Who should I contact if I have questions?

Summer Camp Counselors

Volunteer camp counselors play a huge part in making the camper experience exciting, fun, and memorable. Camp counselors get community service hours and have an experience that will last a lifetime!

Here Are Some Things You’ll Want To Consider Before Applying:

Are you 14 – 18 years old?
Are you mature, self-motivated, and dependable?
Do you love working with animals and kids?
Can you come to a 2-hour group interview at the shelter?
Can you volunteer in at least one camp session and attend one camp counselor training?

How Do I Apply To Be A Camp Counselor?

Fill out an application (note: a link to the application will be available in March of each year)
During the application process, you will sign up for a Group Interview!
About 10 days after your Group Interview, we’ll let you know if we have a spot for you this summer. We’ll also confirm your camp dates and ask that you bring your $90 registration fee with you to the first day of camp training

Want To Be A Camp Counselor?

Watch the video to see what it’s all about!

Animal Starz

Students are trained to work directly with the animals in our care and get community service hours while they’re at it! They’ll also learn about important and trending topics in animal welfare and do projects around the shelter.

Registration for the 2018-2019 school year has closed and all waitlists are FULL. Registration for the 2019-2020 school year will open in Fall 2019.

For Ages: 10–13 years old

Cost: $65.00 per session

Registration: The same child may only sign up for a maximum of two (2) sessions total in the year.

What to bring: If your child’s school requires volunteer hours, please have him/her bring the hour log to the program.

Contact: If you have any questions, please call us at 408-262-2133 x160 or email education@hssv.org