Community Service in Las Vegas

Community service programs are where kids and teens volunteer: food banks and pantries, animal shelters, park cleanups, hospital and library teen volunteer programs, and youth service clubs. Parents land here for two reasons: a kid needs service hours for school, a scholarship or a club, or a family wants to do something together that is not on a phone.

Age rules

Nonprofits set their own minimum ages, so ask before you promise a 10-year-old anything. Ask whether a younger kid can join when a parent volunteers alongside, and whether teens can work alone. For the hospital and library teen programs, ask when applications open; the 11-week summer break is when teens actually have the hours, and in my experience those spots go early.

Cost

55 of the 117 are listed as free; 25 post a price range. Where there is a cost, ask whether it is a membership, a project fee or a trip. 10 of these are in Summerlin, and downtown is where I would look next.

What to ask before you sign up

• What is the minimum age, and can a parent volunteer with a younger child?
• Is there an application, an orientation or training first?
• Will you sign off on school service hours?
• Is it one day or an ongoing commitment?