2008 PARDners Program

kent.mason@ci.austin.tx.us Teens helping other kids. This is one of the perks of being a PARDner working with the Summer Playground Program. PARDners is a summer youth volunteer program aimed at teens from 13 to 16 years old. The program utilizes teenagers with time and energy during the summer to assist the department in a variety of volunteer settings and to prepare teenage volunteers for future employment. Click here to download an application, a waiver, or a copy of the timline for applying for the program. Applications available beginning: March 14, 2008 Application deadline: June 4, 2008 Training: June 6, 2008 for new PARDners. CPR/First Aid training: June 7, 2008 PARDner begin volunteer work: June 16, 2008 PARDner last day of Playground Program: v Being a PARDner has many benefits like, providing work experience that may apply to a job or providing a supportive work environment that allows teenagers to show initiative, make mistakes, and learn from the process. For Amanda Robinson a PARDner at Pickfair, her benefit is "when the kids hold my hand when we're walking around or something. I love working with people. I think I help the kids the most by being kinda like a mentor. Show responsibility." Emily Smith, another PARDner at Pickfair, agrees with Robinson, "Kids do look up to us, even though we're not that much older than they are. We help them with their mistakes and talk to them. It's a lot of fun."

Objectives

• Utilize the resource of teenagers with time and energy during the summer to assist the department in a variety of volunteer settings.
• Prepare teenage volunteers for future employment.
• Teach teens responsibility and maturity.

Strategies:

• Recruit young people interested in working, but too young for paid employment, to channel their time and energy as volunteers.
• Provide teenagers with the work experience of applying and interviewing for a job.
• Match teenagers' personalities and interests with the needs and opportunities of various PARD sites.
• Provide a supportive work environment during the summer that allows teenagers to show initiative, make mistakes, and learn from the process.

Profiles:

• Teens, 13 years old & up as of May 31, 2008, and too young for paid employment.
• Teens, 13 years old & up as of May 31, 2008, that will be home alone during the summer due to working parents.
• Teens, 13 years old & up as of May 31, 2008, seeking volunteer hours to fulfill school, church, organizational, etc. requirements and with a sincere desire to learn and develop job skills, community pride, etc.

Sites

• Balcones Park, 12017 Amherst
• Bartholomew Park, 5201 Berkman Dr.
• Barton Hills Elementary, 2108 Barton Hills
• Chestnut Park, 2207 East 16th
• Brentwood Park, 6710 Arroyo Seco
• Civitan Park, 513 Vargas Rd.
• Davis-White Park, 5909 Crystalbrook Dr.
• Dick Nichols Park, 8011 Beckett Rd.
• Nichols Park ,8011 Beckett Rd
• Dottie Jordan Park, 2803 Loyola Lane
• Franklin Park, 4800 Copperbend Blvd.
• Garrison Park, 6001 Manchaca Rd.
• Little Stacy Park, 1400 Alameda
• Longview Park, 7609 Longview
• Mary Moore Searight Park, 907 W. Slaughter Ln.
• Oak View Park, 10800 Oak View Drive
• Patterson Park, 4200 Brookview Rd.
• Quail Creek, 1101 Mearns Meadow Dr.
• Ramsey Park, 4301 Rosedale Ave.
• Ricky Guerrero Park, 2006 S. 6th St.
• Rosewood Park,2300 Rosewood
• Shipe Park, 4400 Ave. G
• Springdale Park, 1175 Nickols Avenue
• Walnut Creek Park, 12138 N. Lamar
• West Austin Park, 1317 West 10th St.
• Wooten Playground, 1406 Dale Drive

Clerical Positions:

• PARD Main Office, Planning/Design Dept.,200 S. Lamar
  OR
• PARD Main Office, Personnel Dept., 200 S. Lamar

Recreation Centers:

Austin, 1301 Shoal Creek Blvd.

Dottie Jordan, 2803 Loyola Lane

Metz, 2407 Canterbury

Montopolis, 1200 Montopolis

Northwest, 2913 Northland Dr.

Pickfair, 10904 Pickfair Dr.

• Not all Recreation Centers participate in the PARDner Program. Contact the Site Supervisor at the Recreation Center you are interested in volunteering at. You must provide the PARDner Coordinator written approval from the Site Supervisor before you will be placed in a Recreation Center.