Join our volunteer team.
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Volunteers are key to the success of our Program!
We would like to encourage all of our volunteers to review our Volunteering Program Policy, in coordination with the Alberta Orienteering Association. We have a number of simple volunteer positions for all our levels listed below. |
SOGO Volunteer Waivers
We at SOGO believe in keeping our Volunteers and Kids safe. If you are interested in becoming a volunteer with our SOGO program, please follow the links to complete the appropriate form below.
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Positions for SOGO Squirts
We ask parents with kids in SOGO Squirts un-parented program (4 and 5 year olds) to come and help a few times per season. They join the group as a 'tail gunner' helping kids with the activities and encouraging the group. These volunteers do not lead a station but instead assist the paid SOGO coach. Ideally we would have one or two volunteers per program hour.
Due to SOGO Squirts 2 and 3 year old program being parented we do not need any volunteers for this program.
For more information or to volunteer, please contact our Squirts Head Coach.
We ask parents with kids in SOGO Squirts un-parented program (4 and 5 year olds) to come and help a few times per season. They join the group as a 'tail gunner' helping kids with the activities and encouraging the group. These volunteers do not lead a station but instead assist the paid SOGO coach. Ideally we would have one or two volunteers per program hour.
Due to SOGO Squirts 2 and 3 year old program being parented we do not need any volunteers for this program.
For more information or to volunteer, please contact our Squirts Head Coach.
Positions for Level 1
We have three roles on a SOGO Level 1 evening: Location Coordinator, Station Coach or Group Coach. Volunteers sign up for their child's hour. Parents can run with their child or run with another group. Requests can be made on the SOGO registration form.
1. Location Coordinator
This person remains at the meeting area for the hour. Responsibilities include
2. Station Coaches
The Station Coach role is very flexible, where coaches can take on as much or as little responsibility as they feel comfortable with. SOGO Adventure Running is run from a planned curriculum, so at its most basic level, the station coach’s role is straightforward. SOGO lessons are emailed out ahead of time and coaches can read over the preplanned station. All stations are set up by the Program Manager. However, if the station coach has a specific idea for an exercise they would like to run as part of their station, we wholeheartedly encourage running that variation instead.
This role involves delivering one exercise to two different SOGO groups over the course of the hour. Station coaches that have another hour to follow theirs make sure the station is set up and ready for the next group. Last hour station coaches are asked to pack up exercise and return equipment to check in area,
The programs exercises have evolved over years of running the program, finding out what works and what doesn’t. New blood and new ideas is what will keep the program fresh and exciting for the participants.
There are four different stations that require two station coaches
3. Group Coaches
Group Leaders are the backbone of SOGO Adventure Running training evenings. People with all levels of fitness can act as Group Leaders! We need people who can keep up with the fastest kids, but also bring up the tail end. Ideally SOGO would have 2 group coaches per colour group.
Group Leaders:
For more information or to volunteer, please contact our Level 1 Head Coach
We have three roles on a SOGO Level 1 evening: Location Coordinator, Station Coach or Group Coach. Volunteers sign up for their child's hour. Parents can run with their child or run with another group. Requests can be made on the SOGO registration form.
1. Location Coordinator
This person remains at the meeting area for the hour. Responsibilities include
- directing late kids,
- reminding kids to punch in and out,
- direct parents and kids to the nearest washroom and
- answering simple questions about the evening.
2. Station Coaches
The Station Coach role is very flexible, where coaches can take on as much or as little responsibility as they feel comfortable with. SOGO Adventure Running is run from a planned curriculum, so at its most basic level, the station coach’s role is straightforward. SOGO lessons are emailed out ahead of time and coaches can read over the preplanned station. All stations are set up by the Program Manager. However, if the station coach has a specific idea for an exercise they would like to run as part of their station, we wholeheartedly encourage running that variation instead.
This role involves delivering one exercise to two different SOGO groups over the course of the hour. Station coaches that have another hour to follow theirs make sure the station is set up and ready for the next group. Last hour station coaches are asked to pack up exercise and return equipment to check in area,
The programs exercises have evolved over years of running the program, finding out what works and what doesn’t. New blood and new ideas is what will keep the program fresh and exciting for the participants.
There are four different stations that require two station coaches
- Strength and Agility - Teaching kids about core exercises and how they improve running. Later exercises introduce agility equipment (ladders, low hurdles and slalom poles)
- Speed and Power - Intervals, hills and speed work. Most exercises are in the form of games or fun relays. Occasionally we build electronic timing into the exercises to motivate the kids.
- Endurance - What used to be known as the ‘Mud Run’, this is a short (2-400m) off trail loop, usually through some obstacle of some sort. The goal is for kids to run steady for 10- 15mins, to get a feeling what steady state cardio work feels like and to learn about pacing.
- Navigation - Teaching kids about the navigation aspect of Adventure Running. Map introduction, symbol interpretation and map orientation are the main goals of the 10-week season.
- Pre-5pm: Kids begin to arrive
- 5pm drop your kids at their colour bucket and head out to check out your station set up
- 5:10pm: Group number #1 are finished warm up (run by Group Leader) and starts your Station.
- 5:30pm: End Group #1 and send them off to their bucket to get a drink with their group coach
- 5:35pm: Begin Group #2
- 5:55pm: End Group #2 send them back to the meeting place, clean up your station so it is prepared for the second hour (or pack up equipment if it is the last hour, kids are happy to help)
- 6pm: head back to the meeting area to pick up your own children.
3. Group Coaches
Group Leaders are the backbone of SOGO Adventure Running training evenings. People with all levels of fitness can act as Group Leaders! We need people who can keep up with the fastest kids, but also bring up the tail end. Ideally SOGO would have 2 group coaches per colour group.
Group Leaders:
- Pick up a volunteer vest and name tag, check in with Program Manager.
- Meet their group (of max 15 kids) each week by their corresponding coloured bin . Kids come dressed in their pinnies. Colours groups meet by their bin.
- Attendance (check ins), in the coloured buckets punch cards have kids names on them and kids punch in when hey arrive.
- Group Coaches then take the group on a short 10 minute warm-up (easy running, strides or games) then bring the group to their first station where the Station Coach takes over. Group coaches then help with the station, run with the kids or stay out on course somewhere making sure the kids stay on track.
- After the first station is complete groups then come back to their bucket at the meeting area, have a drink and head onto their second station.
- On return, kids punch the second box to confirm they got back, this is our safety measure and kids need to be trained to punch out.
For more information or to volunteer, please contact our Level 1 Head Coach
Positions for Level 2 and Level 3
Volunteers are asked to run with the group and assist the lead coach with pre planned activities.
For more information or to volunteer, please contact our Level 2 Head Coach or our Level 3 Head Coach.
Volunteers are asked to run with the group and assist the lead coach with pre planned activities.
For more information or to volunteer, please contact our Level 2 Head Coach or our Level 3 Head Coach.
Other Volunteer Opportunities
Can't commit to volunteering in the evenings? SOGO has other volunteer jobs and they are listed on the SOGO registration page and often advertised on our SOGO Announcement emails. Jobs include but are not limited to: sewing assistance, event assistance, SOGO@School coaching and helping at fund-raising casinos.
For more information or to volunteer, please contact our Program Coordinator.
Can't commit to volunteering in the evenings? SOGO has other volunteer jobs and they are listed on the SOGO registration page and often advertised on our SOGO Announcement emails. Jobs include but are not limited to: sewing assistance, event assistance, SOGO@School coaching and helping at fund-raising casinos.
For more information or to volunteer, please contact our Program Coordinator.
