Youth Mentor Volunteer
The Good Fight Community Center | La Crosse, WI
Volunteer Position | Youth Ages 8–18 | Flexible Commitment
Make a Difference. Build Relationships. Be Someone a Kid Can Count On.
At The Good Fight Community Center, we believe that one caring, consistent adult can make a tremendous difference in a young person's life.
We're looking for positive, dependable volunteers who want to spend time with young people, build genuine relationships, have fun, and help create a safe and supportive environment where kids can learn, grow, and be themselves.
As a Youth Mentor Volunteer, you'll become part of a team serving approximately 20–30 young people ages 8–18 during our programming. You don't need to be a teacher, coach, or youth-development expert. You simply need to be someone who enjoys working with young people, is willing to get involved, and wants to make a difference.
What You'll Do
Our volunteers are active participants in the Good Fight community—not just observers.
You'll:
Supervise and interact with youth ages 8–18
Proactively engage young people in conversation, games, activities, and other programming
Build positive, respectful relationships with youth
Participate in activities alongside the kids rather than simply watching from the sidelines
Encourage youth to participate, try new things, and interact with others
Help redirect behavior and reinforce appropriate boundaries when needed
Be a positive role model and a consistent, supportive adult presence
Help create a welcoming environment where every young person feels valued
Assist staff with activities, transitions, meals, and general programming
Share your interests, skills, hobbies, and personality with the kids
Participate in occasional special events and activities as your schedule allows
The Right Mindset Matters
Working with young people can be incredibly rewarding—and occasionally unpredictable!
We're looking for volunteers who are patient, flexible, resilient, and able to meet kids where they are. Not every young person will immediately want to talk with you, join an activity, or accept your invitation to participate. That's okay!
The best mentors understand that relationships take time. You should be comfortable giving young people space when they need it, trying again later, adapting your approach, and not taking a child's initial hesitation or occasional attitude personally.
Most importantly, we're looking for people who can remain positive, calm, encouraging, and consistent, even when things don't go exactly as planned.
What We're Looking For
You don't need specialized experience to volunteer with us, but you should be:
Dependable and responsible
Comfortable interacting with youth ages 8–18
Patient, positive, and encouraging
Comfortable initiating conversations and activities with young people
Willing to proactively engage rather than waiting for kids to approach you
Comfortable setting and reinforcing appropriate boundaries
Able to accept that building trust and relationships takes time
Flexible and adaptable in a busy youth-programming environment
Respectful of young people's different personalities, backgrounds, interests, and needs
Willing to work as part of a team and follow staff direction
Interested in being a consistent and positive presence in the lives of young people
Training & Support
You won't be thrown into the deep end.
The Good Fight provides orientation, training, and ongoing supervision and support to our volunteers. Staff will be available to answer questions, provide guidance, and help you feel comfortable and confident in your role.
Schedule
The greatest current need for volunteers is Wednesday through Friday.
We can discuss available shifts and find a schedule that works with your availability and our programming needs. Consistency is especially valuable because young people benefit most from seeing familiar, dependable adults regularly.
Meals Provided
Meals are provided for volunteers during their on-site volunteer hours.
Background Check Requirement
Because you'll be working directly with children and teenagers, all Good Fight volunteers are required to complete a standard Wisconsin DOJ Caregiver Background Check before beginning their volunteer service.
Why Volunteer at The Good Fight?
You don't have to change the world to make a difference in a kid's life.
Sometimes it's playing a game.
Sometimes it's listening to a story.
Sometimes it's joining a kid at the table for lunch.
Sometimes it's encouraging them to try something new.
And sometimes it's simply showing up—again and again—so they know someone cares.
Your time, attention, and consistency can become something a young person remembers for years.
If you enjoy working with kids, want to be part of a positive community, and are ready to roll up your sleeves and get involved, we'd love to have you join The Good Fight.
Come spend some time with us. Have some fun. Build some relationships. And help a kid know that their community believes in them.
