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.

The Fall Cohort is not open to new students. However, we will be offering “Drop In” community service Saturdays, for students interested in volunteering at the shelter! Sign up on the Interest List below for more details!

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

For Ages: 14 – 17 years old

Cost: $100.00 for entire program

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

To be notified when registration opens for Spring 2020 OR when “Drop In Service Saturdays” begin, please fill out this Interest List Form.

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?

How does the schedule work?

Weeks 1 – 3: Student Training & Practice

Introduction to HSSV, animal sheltering and current animal welfare topics
Training in how to read animal body language, positive reinforcement training techniques, and basic socialization skills
Practice, working directly with the shelter animals in their habitats
Participate in critical community service activities to help the animals

Weeks 3 – 5: Group Interviews

Opportunity to interview for a specialized volunteer role, based on interest, skill level and focus
Volunteer roles may include one or more of the following:
- Advanced Dog or Cat Socializer
- Social Media Sidekick
- Marketing Production Designer
- Medical Assistant

Weeks 6 – 15: Volunteer Placements

Placements (including accompanying schedule) are discussed in advance, with both students and their parents/guardians
- They also vary in terms of their rigor and time commitment, so we should have something suitable for everyone

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.

October – November Sessions are FULL. To be notified when registration opens for January – March sessions please fill out this Interest List Form.

For Ages: 10–13 years old

Cost: $75.00 per session (2 hours each week, for 4 weeks)

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