Volunteer Opportunities

Session Volunteers (Side Walking)
Minimum Age: 16
Side Walkers walk beside the horse for the entire therapy session (30 minutes), and their primary job is maintaining the safety of the patient/client at all times. Side Walkers are integral members of our treatment teams. Experience with horses or people with disabilities is not necessary — just enthusiasm, strong backs, and the stamina to keep up with our patients and horses!

Qualifications for Side Walking:

- Ability to walk continuously for 60 minutes and jog for short distances on uneven ground.
- Bend, twist, and raise arms to shoulder height. Assist a child or adult from horseback to the ground.
- Make a regular commitment to NCEFT (1-2 hours per week). We operate Mon- Fri, 10a to 5p.
- Volunteers should be 16 years (responsible teenagers) or older. Documentation is available for school credit or work. Those 18 and older are subject to background checks.
- Volunteer training/orientation required.

Facility/General Grounds Volunteer
Minimum Age: 12
We always need assistance keeping our grounds and facilities looking sharp. If you have handyperson skills, or just enjoy being outdoors around people and animals, we welcome you to contact us for volunteering opportunities. Hours are flexible and year round.

Office Work & Special Events Volunteers
Minimum Age: 16
Throughout the year, we need help in the office with campaign mailers and special events, such as our annual Gala, Family Holiday Party, and Spring Fling Riding Showcase. We welcome volunteers to help stuff and stamp envelopes, help with crafts, photography, and more!

Junior Volunteering Ages 12-15
Minimum Age: 12
Individuals ages 12 -15 are welcome to volunteer per arrangements with our volunteer coordinator. Tasks include sweeping and landscaping; there is no direct interaction with our horses. After a small orientation, they should be able to perform tasks with minimal supervision. Documentation is available for school credit.

Wish List Items

Funding For Compensation Packages
Our most pressing need is for adequate funding to create compensation packages competitive enough to help recruit and retain the highly educated and skilled therapeutic practitioners necessary for expanding our patient and client services.

Facility Improvements: Better Access For Patients
NCEFT is actively seeking funding for creating improved access (e.g. ramps and pathways) and an all-weather overhang structure to provide protection for those participating in our special education class school programs, social skills groups, and equine-assisted mental health programs.

Wish List
For our local friends, toss one or two of the following items into your shopping basket and drop it by our office! Or shop directly from our wish list on Amazon and ship it directly to NCEFT.

We can always use the following:

Small paper drinking cups (i.e.Dixie size 3 or 5oz)
Hand wipes, Lysol spray
Copy paper (regular and 28lb letter paper)
Paper towels, Facial tissue (square boxes)
Stickers
Bubbles
Small party favors (i.e. Mardi Gras beads, blow horns, super balls, etc.)
Hand sanitizer (in the giant economy size!)
Copy paper (regular and 28lb)
Stanley TR150HL SharpShooter Heavy Duty Staple Gun
Heavy Duty Packing Tape Dispenser - Tape Gun