Great volunteer opportunities are available for diverse talents and interests. For a one-time volunteer opportunity, please look for the "Apply Here" link below. For all other volunteer opportunities, please use the
On-going Volunteer Application.
The City offers several opportunities to help preserve, protect and enhance our parks, open spaces and natural environment.
Note: Youth volunteers under the age of 14 must be supervised by an adult when volunteering with the City’s Parks & Community Services Department. A parent/guardian must sign a service agreement for any volunteer under 18.
Green Kirkland Partnership works to restore natural areas in the City. Many volunteer events are planned in parks all around the City. City contact: Sharon Rodman at 425.587.3305.
Eagle Scout/Capstone Projects are the perfect opportunity to make a lasting impression in the City. A limited number of projects are accepted at any one time. City contact: Nicci Osborn at 425.587.3342.
Park maintenance projects often need volunteers to plant, weed, and reforest landscaping areas in city parks and at City facilities. Persons with horticultural background and interest are encouraged to volunteer. City contact: Nicci Osborn at 425.587.3342.
Outreach “Super Scooper” Volunteers Needed: Encourage dog walkers to properly dispose of their pet’s waste to keep our parks and streets enjoyable and healthy! Provide positive one-on-one communication with the public to educate them about why it is important to pick up after their dogs. Hand out dog waste bags to dog walkers, as needed, and reward “Scoopers” with coupons & prizes. Refill pet waste bag stations. City contact:
Betsy Adams at 425.587.3858.
Storm Drain Markers Needed: Groups (a minimum of two people) are needed to apply markers to storm drains throughout the City with the message "Dump No Waste - Drains to Stream" to remind residents that all storm drains flow into streams and lakes, and in order to prevent the pollution of our natural resources, hazardous chemicals should not be poured into storm drains. The City will supply all needed equipment to do marking. Set your own hours! Please note this opportunity requires dry weather. City contact: Betsy Adams at 425.587.3858.
Adopt a Traffic Circle is a great way to keep Kirkland attractive by maintaining the traffic circles in our intersections. Help is needed to weed, clear, and maintain traffic circles in all areas of the city. Adopt one and make it your own, or volunteer on a short-term basis to help us keep them maintained. City contact: David Gourlie at 425.587.3867.
Public Safety
Volunteers are a vital part of the City’s public safety efforts. The City is fortunate to have trained emergency response and crime prevention volunteers.
Police Explorers are youth-aged (ages 14–21) volunteers who receive extensive law enforcement training to perform traffic control and other assignments. City contacts: Cpl. Phil Goguen or Cpl. Dan Wilson at 425.587.3400.
Pedestrian Safety Program Business Liaisons are needed for a new safety program—“Take It To Make It.” The City’s pedestrian safety initiative encourages local businesses to adopt a crosswalk where pedestrian flags are located. The volunteer liaison will contact local businesses to encourage participation and to follow up periodically. Flexible schedules available. City contact: Julie Huffman at 425.587.3012.
Domestic Abuse Response Team (D.A.R.T)—The Kirkland Police Department seeks volunteers with a commitment to assisting victims of violence. D.A.R.T. volunteers provide crisis intervention and support to victims of domestic violence after there has been police involvement and assist them during the court process. Volunteers are needed for weekday and weekend evenings. Volunteers are asked to commit to 1 shift and one meeting per month, for a minimum of 1 year. Prior to starting, volunteers are required to complete 25 hours of free training (scheduled for early 2011). Actual volunteer work will not start until winter 2011, but you can apply now by filling out this application (PDF-96 kb). You must pass a background check including a C.V.S.A (similar to a polygraph) to be considered for this position. Find out more information about the Domestic Abuse Response Team (PDF-186 kb). City contact: Julie Huffman at 425.587.3012.
Speed Watch volunteers support the Kirkland Police Department by monitoring vehicular speeds using handheld radar units in neighborhood, school and known problem areas. Flexible schedules available; 2-3 hours per week. City contact: Julie Huffman at 425.587.3012.
Amateur Radio Emergency Service (A.R.E.S.) ham radio operators are always looking for new members. A.R.E.S. is a vital communications link for the City in the event of a disaster or major emergency. Meetings and training are held the 2nd Tuesday of each month. City contact: Stephanie Day at 425.587.3630.
Right-of-Way Walkers is a unique program that has the enthusiastic walker in mind. While walking, volunteers observe public right-of-way looking for overgrown vegetation, sight distance hazards, obstructions and street sign damage. Volunteers can walk their neighborhood or be assigned an area. City contact: Julie Huffman at 425.587.3012.
Adopt a Pedestrian Flag Crossing is a program where citizens can make a big difference in a small amount of time. Volunteers “adopt” a crosswalk by ensuring there are always orange “pedflags” available at marked crosswalks throughout Kirkland. The flags assist pedestrians in alerting drivers to their presence when crossing the street. You may have one in your neighborhood or along your favorite walking route that is currently in need of a volunteer. City contact: David Gourlie at 425.587.3867.
Administrative Assistants who provide office support to the various departments enhance City services. Volunteering at the City allows you to gain valuable work experience, share your talents, and gain insight to city government operations. City contact: Julie Huffman at 425.587.3012.
Scrap booking volunteers are needed to maintain a chronological history of Kirkland by cataloging articles and other memorabilia into yearly scrapbooks.
The Multimedia Services Division manages the City’s local government access channels and graphics programs.
Video Production Assistants—Are you interested in video production? Learn the ins and outs of camera operation, lighting, and sound production.
Actors & Extras—Get your 15 minutes of fame and watch yourself in a City video. No acting experience required. Filming typically occurs during the business day.
Offer Your Home as a Set—Too shy to be on TV but want to help out? See a video unfold when you turn your home or yard into a film set.
City contact: Julie Huffman at 425.587.3012.
Many Kirkland citizens give their time and share their talents to serve as appointed members of Boards and Commissions. Annual recruitment occurs in the first quarter of each year. City contact: Kathi Anderson at 425.587.3190.
Teens are always welcome to get involved with the Kirkland Youth Council which provides a vital link between area youth and local government. Contact Regi Schubiger at 425.587.3323 for more information.
King County’s Long Term Care Ombudsman Program seeks volunteers who will be trained to advocate for the civil and resident rights of vulnerable people living in long-term care facilities. The commitment is 32 hours of certification training, attending monthly in-service meetings that focus on long-term care issues and four hours per week of volunteer time. There are several long-term care facilities in Kirkland whose residents need Volunteer Ombudsman to advocate for them. Contact: Mary Fogh, Volunteer Coordinator, at 206.694.6703.