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We love our teen volunteers - they're amazing! Each summer roughly 70 teens staff our Summer Reading sign up table. Think your teen would like to be a Summer Reading Club volunteer? Have them come to the library and pick up an application in either the YA area on the 2nd floor or the Teen Lounge on the 3rd.

I've been working with teen volunteers for several years now and I'd like to talk about how you, as a parent, can prep your teen to make the most of their volunteer experience.

Help them find a volunteer opportunity that they enjoy.

The library has many volunteer opportunites for teens and I love it when teens want to make Cards for Hospitalized Kids or become a Summer Reading Club volunteer. However, it's frustrating for them and me when they clearly do not want to be here. What's your teen's passion? I know a library patron who LOVES dogs. She started helping out at an animal hospital and then created a charity for shelter dogs - and she's only 12. Fantastic! She's putting her energy and enthusiam to good use. Whether your teen decides to devote their time to the library or not, make sure they're looking forward to their volunteer experience.

Teach them phone skills.

Even though teens communicate with each other mostly through text, the ability to communicate by phone with an adult is essential. When a teen takes on the responsibility of volunteering in the community, they need to know how to leave a proper voice mail and to listen to messages that are left for them. This point may seem silly, but it will be critical as they start applying for jobs.

Let them be responsible.

One of the most important lessons teens can learn is to be responsible for themselves. Let your teen call me if they have a question. They might be nervous about calling but I promise I'm nice! After all, they're the one who will be the volunteer, not you. Allow your teen to take responsibilty for their schedule. It might be hard to let go but as they get older, teens have to keep track of more and more things. Knowing their schedule and when they should be here is an easy way to start prioritizing time. 

Sure, sometimes they learn this lesson when they fail to follow through on something. It is hard when teens forget that they need 10 service hours by the end of the month. I sympathize, but cannot make exceptions for teens who fail to plan ahead. As a parent, it's hard to let them learn this lesson, but a little slip-up will help them remember to be more responsible next time.

Acknowledge their hard work!

When teens become Summer Reading Club volunteers, they're making a big commitment. For some teens it means giving up free time, being extroverted when they might prefer being quiet, or trying something new. I am so proud of all our teen volunteers because I see the hard work they do and I know how fun (and crazy!) it can be during summer. Talk to your teen about their volunteer experience and take time to acknowledge the hard work they're doing. I love getting to know all of our amazing teen volunteers and to thank them for all their hard work. At the end of the day, they are still teens and your recognition of what they're doing means more to them than mine.

Being a volunteer is a great experience. Whether your teen becomes an amazing volunteer at the library or makes a difference some other way, the most important part is that they enjoy it and how they're helping the community.