Art

🎨 Share the Healing Power of Art

Many of the young people we serve express themselves best through art. Whether you love creating, teaching, or simply encouraging others, your time can help youth build confidence, discover their gifts, and experience the healing power of trusting relationships.

Volunteer as an Art Docent  – make a lasting difference by building relationships through art.

Commitment: Serve once or twice a month after school (3:30 p.m. or later) or on weekends. You’ll volunteer as part of a team of 2–4, making it easy to share ideas, encourage one another, and give youth plenty of individual attention.

You’ll:

  • Lead a creative art project for a cottage of 12–17 youth.
  • Use one of our proven lesson plans or bring your own ideas about your favorite art medium.
  • Encourage creativity while helping youth build confidence and discover new talents.
  • Build meaningful relationships by returning to the same group of students.

We Provide:

  • All art supplies
  • Lesson plans and project ideas (or you’re welcome to bring your own)
  • Staff support and coordination—our staff handles safety and classroom structure while you focus on inspiring creativity.

No teaching experience is required. Whether you’re an experienced artist or simply enjoy being creative, you can serve as a Lead, Co-Lead, or Assistant.

Come Once as a Visitor

Not sure what to expect? You’re welcome to visit once as a guest to observe an art class, meet our staff, and experience the environment before deciding whether volunteering is right for you. So echo can run a quick background check, you’ll be asked for your DOB and last 4SSN before coming.

If you choose to join the team, we’ll guide you through our volunteer clearance process before your first volunteer visit.

Getting Started

Volunteer Clearance: Complete a brief background check and orientation.

Flexible Scheduling: We’ll work with you to find a cottage and schedule that fits your availability.

Ready to use your creativity to encourage and inspire young lives?

Email us to learn more or to sign up to Volunteer Today!

Benefits of Art

These kids need positive ways to express themselves. Studies have shown that at-risk kids who participate in art programs develop higher self-esteem, more self-discipline, better social skills and over-all improved behavior.  Art improves attitudes toward school and resistance to peer pressure.  It increases the development of communication, cooperation, problem solving and creative thinking.

Creative projects can open up these kid’s minds and allow them to discover new talents.  They can actually be motivated by their artwork.

Sharing art is extremely rewarding.  The kids absolutely love having their docents come in and look forward to our monthly projects.  It is therapeutic for at-risk kids to be able to express themselves through art.  For some, this is the one thing they can really succeed at.

These youth come to understand that we invest our time because we care.  Their lives are changed forever when they discover someone cares.