True North AmeriCorps Service

WINTER POSITIONS AVAILABLE

App deadline: January 14, 2026
Start Date: February 2, 2026
Full-Time Locations (35+ hours per week):

• Carlton County
• Robert J. Elkington Middle School (Grand Rapids, MN)

Part-Time Locations (15, 18, or 25 hours per week):

• KEY Zone at Homecroft Elementary
• KEY Zone at Laura MacArthur Elementary
• KEY Zone at Piedmont Elementary
• Eagles Nest at North Star Academy

Click here to apply! More TNAC info coming soon!

School Age Child Care Volunteer

Programs: KEY Zone, Eagle’s Nest, and free Drop-In After School program.
Commitment: Once/week, or 20 hours total for 1 semester.
Days & Times: Anytime between 2-6 PM, Monday-Friday, from September-early June.
Minimum Age to Volunteer: 15.
Description: Volunteers will have the opportunity to work closely with a diverse group of students in our school-age childcare program. Volunteers serve as role models and extra support for the students and staff working on academics and engagement in program activities and clubs.  

Serve with youth grades K-5 in Duluth Public Schools (KEY Zone), youth grades K-6 in Edison Charter Schools (Eagle's Nest), or youth of all ages at Harbor Highlands Community Center (Free Drop-In After School program).

Cook County School Age Child Care Volunteer

Program: After School Child Care
Commitment: Once/week for 3 months minimum.
Days & Times: Anytime between 2-5:15 PM, Monday-Friday, from September-early June.
Minimum Age to Volunteer: 16.
Description: Volunteers will have the opportunity to work closely with a diverse group of students in our school-age child care program.  Volunteers serve as role models and extra support for the students and staff working on academics and engagement in program activities and clubs.  Ages of youth served: grades PreK-5.

Early Childhood Volunteer

Program: Early Childhood Development Center (ECDC) at the Y in Hermantown
Commitment: Once/week, or 20 hours total for 1 semester.
Days & Times: Anytime between 9 AM - 5 PM, Monday-Friday.
Minimum Age to Volunteer: 16.
Description: The ECDC serves infants, toddlers and pre-school age children year-round.  Volunteering with the ECDC involves caring for and encouraging play with infants and young children.  Children begin their lives by playing.  From their play activities, they learn about the world around them and the skills they need to grow.  Volunteers support and extend play through conversations and guiding interactions between children.  Volunteers can also help with various activities from reading a book to a child to assisting with food during mealtimes.

Cook County Early Childhood Volunteer

Program: Cook County YMCA Child Care Center
Commitment: Minimum 1 hour per week.
Days & Times: Anytime between 8 AM - 5 PM, Monday-Friday.
Minimum Age to Volunteer: 13.
Description: The Cook County YMCA and Cook County Community Education Program are collaborating in this Child Care Center to offer quality full-day childcare for infants, toddlers, and preschoolers.  Volunteers are needed to make sure the kids are having fun and staying safe. 

Kid’s Club Assistant

Programs: Downtown YMCA Kids Club, YMCA at the EWC Kids Club
Days & Times: Anytime between 9 AM - 1 PM, Monday - Friday | 4:30 - 6:30 PM, Monday-Thursday.
Minimum Age to Volunteer: 13.
Commitment: Once/week, or 20 hours total for 1 semester.
Description: Kid’s Club is a supervised play area for kids ages four months to nine years.  Volunteers are needed to make sure kids are having fun and staying safe.  Duties can include things like reading books to kids, holding babies, helping with art projects & doing activities with young children.  A great opportunity for someone who really loves getting down on the floor and playing with kids!  This position requires individuals to be outgoing, energetic and willing to engage kids ages four months to nine years. 

Medical Team Volunteer at Camp Miller

Calling all Registered Nurses, Medical Doctors, Physician Assistants or anyone who is a Licensed Prescriber!
Camp Miller relies on medical workers to provide basic health care on-site during the summer camp season. Benefits include: 
• Room and Board: As Camp medical staff, you will lodge in a private room in one of our cabins. 
• Camper Discount: For your week of service, you will be able to register two children of your choosing, at no cost.  Note: If you don't have a child to send to camp, you are welcome to send a child of your choosing to camp on your behalf.
• Access to Camp Facilities & Equipment: While serving as medical staff, all camp equipment and activities, including kayaks, canoes, paddleboards, archery, mountain bikes, trails, docks & lake swimming, are at your disposal. During off-hours, you can participate in the full summer camp experience or relax in a sky lounge chair and read!
Click here to view the full position description.

Summer Kid’s Camp Program Aid

Our summer Day Camp program is all about discovery. Kids have the opportunity to explore nature, find new talents, try new activities, gain independence, and make lasting friendships and memories. And, of course, it’s fun too. Volunteers are needed to assist counselors with their camper group, set-up & take down of activities and assisting counselors with traditional camp activities (such as archery, water fun, fishing, hiking, art, nature activities and field trips).

Minimum Volunteer Age: 13.
Commitment: 1/week for the summer, or 1 full week (maximum of 4 weeks throughout the summer).
When: M-F, shifts from 9 AM - 12 PM or 9 AM - 4 PM. From mid-June to mid-August.
Where: Cook County YMCA 

Swim Instructor Aide

No teaching experience necessary!  If you can blow bubbles and have a passion for working with kids, we can teach you the rest.  Volunteers are needed to help swim instructors with swim lessons. Volunteers just need to be able to swim and enjoy interacting with children.  
Minimum Volunteer Age: 14.
Location: Cook County YMCA Pool
Days & Times: Varies.
Commitment: One 6-week swim lesson period, on a set day & time of the week.

Internships with the Cook County YMCA

Nature Based Child Care Specialist

Hands on experience in Early Childhood development & nature-based education planning and implementation. Assist teachers with activites, prepwork, & supervising pre-school aged children. Click here for the full position description.

Pediatric OT Internship

Support the developmental & functional needs of children in our infant, toddler, and preschool classrooms. Collaborate with educators & families on strategies for enhanced sensory processing, motor development, self-regulation, and independence. Contribute to an inclusive, developmentally appropriate learning environment for all children! Click here for the full position description.

Building Maintenance

We’re looking for volunteers who enjoy tinkering with things and working on maintenance projects.  Come with experience or an interest in learning from our Maintenance Team.  Volunteers have an opportunity to work with everything from landscaping and painting to building maintenance.  This is an excellent opportunity for someone who wants to learn life-long skills like how to use tools, grounds work and maintaining equipment.
Minimum Volunteer Age: 15.
Locations: Downtown YMCA, YMCA at the Essentia Wellness Center.
When: This opportunity has flexible hours and can be done whenever we have someone available on our maintenance team.

Cleaning, Organizing and Work Project Volunteer

If you like to pop in a podcast and get down to work, this is the gig for you! You will help our staff interact with members and provide a safe and clean facility for all.  Duties may include things like wiping dust from surfaces, folding towels and organizing storage spaces.
Minimum Volunteer Age: 12.
Locations: Downtown YMCA, YMCA at the Essentia Wellness Center, or Cook County YMCA.
When: This opportunity has flexible hours and can be done whenever the Y is open.

Grounds Crew

If you like working outside, this is the gig for you!  Summer help includes: watering, raking, weeding, mowing, trimming, pruning and picking up garbage.  Winter help includes snow removal, of course! Shoveling, plowing, etc.
Minimum Volunteer Age: 18.
Location: The YMCA at the Essentia Wellness Center in Hermantown
When: This opportunity has flexible hours and can be done whenever the Y is open.

Gardening Project Assistant

Assist our Day Campers and Preschoolers with planting and maintaining a garden and flower beds. We’re looking for someone who is comfortable working with kids and willing to teach them about gardening. Also includes assisting with the harvest at the end of the season.
Staff members will be supervising the children, so volunteers can focus on the garden & teaching kids about gardening.

Goal: Gardening instruction for Day Campers M/W/F & Preschoolers Tu/Th. May be shared between volunteers or covered by 1 volunteer.
Where: Cook County YMCA, or ask about our other sites!
Minimum Volunteer Age: 16.
When: Mornings or Afternoons, ~30 minutes for a few days/week. Time is very flexible, please reach out!

Volunteer Service Club

We’re looking for people who want to join our Volunteer Corps!  This is for people who want to volunteer but might not want or be able to make a regular commitment to the Y.  It’s as easy as joining the service club and then we’ll call upon you when an opportunity arises and you can say “count me in” or “no thanks!”

Photographer and/or Videographer

Help us capture images of our services, programs and events. Photos will be displayed on our website and in other electronic and print communications, such as brochures, social media, newsletters, etc. You should have a knowledge and interest in photography and experience as a photographer (either as a professional, hobbyist or amateur).

Graphic Design Volunteer

In consultation with the Marketing Team, you would be designing and producing posters and flyers announcing the YMCA’s programs and services.  This involves developing design concepts, selecting appropriate graphics, typestyles, papers and colors and creating designs using a variety of computer programs.  A great way to build your portfolio! 

Assist with Rock Steady Boxing Program!

Rock Steady Boxing offers boxing-inspired fitness classes for people with Parkinson’s disease.  The goal is to improve the quality of life of people with Parkinson’s.  Volunteers are needed to help assist the boxers in wrapping hands, putting on boxing gloves, assisting boxers in getting up and down off the floor, explaining modifications and keeping morale of classes positive.  No experience necessary.  We’re looking for people who are compassionate and engaged.  Minimum age to volunteer is 16.
Location/Program Sites: Duluth YMCA
Days & Times: Wednesdays and/or Fridays from 9:45-11:15 a.m.

Assist with our Diabetes Prevention Program

Volunteers will assist a Lifestyle Coach in implementing the CDC’s National Diabetes Prevention Program.  This is a group-based program consisting of weekly sessions led by a trained Lifestyle Coach who facilitates a small group of people with similar goals.  Discussion topics include healthy eating, increasing physical activity, reducing stress and how behavior changes can benefit health.  

Greeter at the Member Service Desk

If you know what great customer service looks and feels like, this is the volunteer opportunity for you!  Greeters are responsible for providing a high level of customer service.  Responsibilities include greeting members, checking them into the Y, handing out towels and equipment.  Minimum age to volunteer is 18.  Must have some computer skills and able to provide excellent customer service.
Locations: Duluth YMCA, Cook County YMCA
Days & Times: Volunteers for Duluth needed evenings & weekends (esp. Tuesday & Thursday) | Volunteer hours for Cook County are flexible.

Facility Monitor

We’re looking for assistance with monitoring the facility.  This is a great opportunity for someone with an eye for detail and who likes to engage with the public.  Duties include: taking strolls through the building looking for anything that needs attention (cleanliness, youth not following age policies in certain program spaces, members that need assistance, etc.)  May also include opportunities to give building tours.
Locations: Cook County Branch  
Days & Times: This opportunity has flexible hours.
Minimum Volunteer Age: 18