YouthFriends is a school-based mentoring effort that links caring adult volunteers from the community with students in schools and is open to all students, grades K-12, within participating school districts. All activities take place on school grounds before, during or after school hours. YouthFriends volunteers typically visit a school for one hour each week to do things like have lunch with a student, help with reading or academic tutoring, share an interest or a hobby or simply listen.

View the Olathe District schools that participate in YouthFriends.

Mentor
Come listen to, talk with, do homework with, play games with, be a positive role model for a student.

Lunch Buddy
Meet a student or group of young students on your lunch hour and enjoy eating and fun conversation.

Tutor
Assist elementary, middle school, or high school students with their studies before, during, or after school.

Reading Pal
Help students in grades K-7 practice and improve reading skills so they can gain the confidence necessary to be successful readers. Work with students one-to-one or in small group relationships for a minimum of one semester. Classroom teachers or reading specialists usually monitor student progress.

After School Tutor
Assist students with class assignments and/or other supplied academic work to enable them to succeed on a given task or subject.

After School Mentor
Come to Washington, Fairview or Central Elementary Schools to listen to, talk with, do homework with, and just be a positive role model.

YouthFriends English as a Second Language (ESL) Mentors
YouthFriends ESL Mentors is a special opportunity for volunteers to work one-to-one or with small groups of students in grades K-12 whose native language is one other than English. The goal is to enhance understanding, speaking, reading and writing the new language. Volunteers are not required to speak additional languages to qualify. Specialized one-hour mandatory supplemental training provided free-of-charge.

YouthFriends Corps
YouthFriends Corps provides an opportunity for high school students to volunteer with elementary school students in their own school districts. YouthFriends Corps promotes community service among youth in the hope of making volunteerism a lifelong commitment. Note: Many high school students use YouthFriends Corps hours for service hours.

WATCH D.O.G.S.
WATCH D.O.G.S.® (Dads Of Great Students) is the safe school initiative of the National Center for Fathering that involves fathers and father figures to help create a more safe and secure learning environment in our nation's schools. Who are WatchDOGS? Fathers, grandfathers, step-fathers, uncles, and other father figures who volunteer to serve at least one day each year in a variety of school activities as assigned by the school principal or other administrator.

FIRST Robotics
FIRST Robotics Competition is a unique varsity sport of the mind designed to help high-school-aged young people discover how interesting and rewarding the life of engineers and researchers can be. The FIRST Robotics Competition challenges teams of young people and their mentors to solve a common problem in a six-week timeframe using a standard "kit of parts" and a common set of rules. Teams build robots from the parts and enter them in competitions.

ACE Mentors
The ACE Mentor Program serves high school youth who are exploring careers in architecture, construction or engineering. The mentors are professionals from leading design and construction firms who volunteer their time and energy. The program is designed to engage, inform and challenge youth.