Spend a day at Mashipacong Estate in Sussex County, NJ, supporting some of the operational elements that make camp possible. Examples of projects include:

• Set up campers to go on Vagabond, the multi-day backpacking trip, including prepping their hiking equipment and dropping them off on the trail
• Share your woodworking and other DIY skills with campers by leading a workshop in our woodshop
• Lend an extra pair of hands and a creative mind to organize a fun activity for campers
• Tend to the vegetable and herb garden, helping campers develop their green thumb as well as their appreciation for local and fresh foods

• A chance to spend a screen-free day outdoors (goodbye, Zoom meeting!) helping to deliver the camp magic that makes for a memorable and impactful summer full of growth and learning.
• An opportunity to learn some of the behind the scenes operations management needed to create and deliver an amazing summer – it looks easy but it’s not all fun and games!   
• If that’s not enough incentive, we’ll feed you!

Signing up is easy! Simply choose a day, with at least 48 hours advance notice, and email Christopher Thomasson, Dir. Overnight Programs. We will send you an email you details on how to prepare.

PLEASE NOTE:

• Parents, you will not be assigned to your own camper’s group
• Be sure to provide us with a phone number that you have with you on the day
• Volunteers must be vaccinated and will be required to wear masks throughout the experience; we recommend using Excelsior Pass to verify your vaccination status
• Trail Blazers is an active outdoor program, please be prepared to spend time in the woods and (depending on the project) to do a lot walking outside in the summer

Click to email Christopher Thomasson, Director of Overnight Programs

Lend an extra pair of hands and some of your exciting energy to the Brooklyn Day Camp! Small groups and supportive, individualized attention are very important elements of healthy youth development – which is why they are at the core of our programs. You’re invited to spend a morning or an afternoon supporting the Program Team in delivering this engaging, fun, and enriching experience for our youngest campers. We’ll start you off with an orientation before setting off for games, crafts, songs, exploration, and hiking.

• A chance to spend a screen-free day outdoors (goodbye, Zoom meeting!) helping to deliver the camp magic that makes for a memorable and impactful summer full of growth and learning.
• An opportunity to learn some of the child development tools our staff use to support and engage young people and create an enriching experience – it looks easy but it’s not all fun and games!   
• For each parent volunteer shift, we add $25 to the Scholarship Fund, or give you a refund on your tuition in the same amount!

Signing up is easy! Simply choose a day, with at least 48 hours advance notice, and email Callie Radday, Dir. of Day Programs with your preferred slot: morning slots run from 8:30am to 12:30pm in the morning, afternoon slots run from 12:00pm to 4:00pm. We will send you an email you details on where to gather and how to prepare.

PLEASE NOTE:

• Parents, you will not be assigned to your own camper’s group
• At the moment, slots are only available at the Prospect Park Carousel site
• Be sure to provide us with a phone number that you have with you on the day
• Volunteers must be vaccinated and will be required to wear masks throughout the experience; we recommend using Excelsior Pass to verify your vaccination status
• Trail Blazers is an active outdoor program, please be prepared to do a lot walking outside in the summer (go ahead and charge up your FitBit the night before!)

Click to email Callie Radday, Director of Day Programs 

Are you a high school student in Brooklyn who needs to complete community service hours or would like to add extra curricular activities to your resume?

Do you want to develop your leadership skills?

Does a career in childcare and/or education interest you? 

If you answered “Yes” to any of these questions, then volunteer at Trail Blazers Brooklyn Day Camp this summer!

You can dedicate one whole day or you can spend several hours spread over a few weeks. Under the supervision of the Program Team, you will help deliver an engaging, fun, and enriching experience for our youngest campers. After an orientation, you will:

• Lead games and songs that help campers connect and learn
• Guide campers in expressing their creativity through arts and crafts
• Guide campers in exploring and learning about our natural world through hiking observation and nature science activities

• Each volunteer shift comes with a $10 gift card to say thank you!
• You will receive some training in youth development strategies
• You will get a letter from your supervisor verifying your community service hours

Signing up is easy! Simply choose a day, with at least 48 hours advance notice, and email Callie Radday, Dir. of Day Programs with your preferred slot: morning slots run from 8:30am to 12:30pm in the morning, afternoon slots run from 12:00pm to 4:00pm. We will send you an email you details on where to gather and how to prepare – be sure to check your email!

PLEASE NOTE:

• Volunteer slots are only available at our Prospect Park Summer Day Camp in Brooklyn, for now. We are working on having volunteer slots throughout the fall and spring at our After School programs in Brooklyn.
• Provide us with a phone number that you have with you on the day.
• Volunteers must be vaccinated and will be required to wear masks throughout the experience.
• We recommend using Excelsior pass to verify your vaccination status.
• Trail Blazers is an active outdoor program, please be prepared to do a lot walking outside in the summer

Click to email Callie Radday, Director of Day Programs 

A day of service and a day of fun, what better way to spend a day away from the office? 

Trail Blazers has hosted volunteer groups as small as 10 and as large as 150! Opportunities exist at our Brooklyn sites (including after school partners) and our NJ overnight camp site. There are projects for all skill sets and interests, past volunteer days included:

• hack-a-thons to create operational efficiencies for our lean administrative staff
• revitalizing the learning gardens at our after school partner sites, where campers learn about nature hands-on and screen free
• clearing trails and setting up program elements, such as an archery field, at our overnight camp site

• A fun day away from the office is perfect for team-building, boosting morale, developing new skills, and getting in some exercise!
• Positive publicity for your company! We publicly acknowledge your support by including you on our Annual Report, on our Funders and Partners page for one year, and dedicated social media posts (one example and another example) to highlight your work in the community.  
• Raise funds, at no cost to you! Some companies have volunteer grant programs, where they will donate funds to organizations where employees volunteer. This is a great way to do even more good for free! Check to see if your company participates in such a program at doublethedonation.com/trailblazers.

A fun tradition, Operation Muscle is our largest annual volunteer event. Spend a Saturday with alumni, current families, board members, staff, neighbors, and friends as we prepare Mashipacong Estate, our overnight camp site, for summer programming. All ages are welcome!

There’s a job for everyone: 

• clearing trails and setting up smallcamp areas
• cleaning buildings
• inventorying supplies and prepping equipment
• preparing the garden

Transportation from Brooklyn and lunch are provided, however you are welcome to drive yourself.

• Escape the city and spend a screen-free day out in nature
• Reconnect with alumni/current families OR make new friends, after all we’re one Trail Blazers family!
• Get a chance to see Mashipacong Estate in all it’s beauty – perfect for Day Camp or After School families who are considering Overnight Camp programs.
• Have a real impact on our ability to deliver an amazing summer program
• We’ll feed you!

We look forward to seeing you at the next Operation Muscle, May 2022!

The date has not been set yet, if you would like to be notified when the date has been finalized, join our mailing list.

The Parent Advisory Board is a brand new volunteer group, comprised of parents with child(ren) in a Trail Blazers program.

The purpose of the Parent Advisory Board (PAB) is:

• To provide advice and assistance to the Trail Blazers Senior Leadership Team and Board of Directors in order to help Trail Blazers attain our goal of becoming and continuing as a “Best in Class” youth organization
• To engage and connect with parents, including organizing opportunities for parents connect with each other and with Trail Blazers
• To provide prospective parents with opportunities to get a first hand account of the Trail Blazers program experience

As a brand new committee, the PAB’s first order of business is to establish a PAB charter.

• Network with fellow parents and other professionals who seek to give back.
• Use your skills in a new way or develop a new skill set altogether, while supporting the Trail Blazers mission and moving us forward
• You will have a direct line to TBC leadership and will be able to advise on a range of matters that directly affect campers, including programs, governance, fundraising, and DEIB (diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging)
• Did we mention it is fun?
  
• PAB members who still have campers in the program will receive a 10% discount on tuition, after TIER reductions, in appreciation of your service

If you are interested in learning more or are ready to join the PAB, reach out to one of the the PAB leaders:

Jennifer Choi, alum and parent

bio and contact information pending

Jennifer Kersey, parent

bio and contact information pending