Badger Volunteers (BV) is a semester-long program (11-week commitment) that pairs teams of students with community organizations to volunteer 1-4 hours each week at the same organization. The program is designed to foster meaningful and consistent connections between community partners and students over the course of an entire semester.
Badger Volunteers provides logistical support, transportation, training and educational workshops for student volunteers in the program.
Volunteer opportunities are organized within three focus areas: education, sustainability and public health. Badger Volunteers is open to all UW–Madison student (including graduate students) in any major and any interest! You do not need any special skills or prior experience to join Badger Volunteers!
CLICK HERE TO VIEW YOUR DASHBOARD
Badger Volunteers registration is now closed.
In-Person Volunteer Expectation
- Volunteer in-person weekly, following all UW and community partner-specific COVID-19 safety measures
- Attend in-person orientation during the time you will normally volunteer
- Attend one context-based education session and one focus area-based education session per semester of participation
- Attend virtual or in-person BV socials (not required)
- Complete weekly reflection in-person with team at or during travel to/from your community partner organization
Virtual Volunteer Expectation
- Volunteer virtually weekly, following all community partner-specific digital safety measures
- Attend orientation in-person during select times
- Attend one context-based education session and one focus area-based education session per semester of participation
- Attend virtual or in-person BV socials (not required)
- Submit weekly reflection responses via Google Form sent by your team leader
Each Badger Volunteers team is assigned a leader. This experienced BV is the main point of contact with the Morgridge Center staff and the community partner site liaison. In order to serve as a Leader, you must have completed at least one previous semester with the Badger Volunteers program.
BV Leaders:
- volunteer weekly with their teams
- track weekly team attendance
- coordinate transportation
- support and guide BVs in engaging with and problem-solving at their site.
Although BV leader registration has closed, we still have team leader openings. For more information, email Badger Volunteers Program Manager Lara Miller.
Badger Volunteers has relationships with over 80 community organizations in the fields of education, public health and sustainability.
If you are a community partner or interested in partnering with Badger Volunteers, please visit our community partner page.
Badger Volunteers Spring 2023
Timeline and Registration
Badger Volunteers will offer in-person and virtual volunteer opportunities for the fall semester. Registration for spring semester opens online Monday, Jan. 16 at 7am and closes on Friday, Feb. 3.
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Important Dates
Registration opens for all volunteers — 1/16
Registration closes — 2/3
Orientation week for team leaders — 2/3
Orientation week for volunteers — 2/11
Volunteering begins — 2/13
No volunteering for all sites — 3/13 – 3/17
No volunteering for education sites — 3/27 – 3/31
Volunteering ends — 4/28
Badger Volunteers Celebration — TBD
How to Register and Use the Dashboard
If you are new to Badger Volunteers, please create a profile before registration opens to ensure you are able to register right away. If you are a returning Badger Volunteer who has used the dashboard, you do not need to do anything prior to registration.
When registration opens, each volunteer site on the online listing of opportunities will have a “volunteer on this team” button. Click this button and it will prompt you to register. You will then receive an automated email with more details and expectations.
Registration accommodates those on first come, first serve basis. Volunteer opportunities fill up very quickly, so register as soon as possible!
Orientation
All Badger Volunteers are required to attend an orientation prior to volunteering. Sign up for an orientation time here.
Education Components
BVs are required to attend one education session and one workshop.
Education sessions are one-hour presentations and discussions that deepen the context of your service in one of BV’s focus areas: education, public health, and sustainability.
Workshops focus on themes of identity development, intersectionality, anti-oppression, asset-based community development and pathways of civic engagement.
More Information and FAQs
Connect
The BV Executive Board plans social events for Badger Volunteers to connect. We hope to see you at our upcoming social!
Contact
Badger Volunteers Program Manager Lara Miller
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History of Badger Volunteers
Check out our Badger Volunteers 10-Year Yearbook or watch “Celebrating 10 Years of Badger Volunteers”
Can I Volunteer for More Than One Site in a Semester?
Yes, however we strongly encourage you to make sure you can keep multiple commitments for the entire semester.
Keep in mind each volunteer opportunity has a cap on capacity. If you are interested in that opportunity but the capacity is full, you are welcome to join the waitlist and we will let you know by the end of registration if there is room.
We encourage students who join a waitlist to also register for a second-choice opportunity in case they don’t get their first choice.
How do I get to my Community Partner Site?
Badger Volunteers provides logistical support, including transportation. BVs can walk, use their ASM-provided city bus pass, or sign up for a BCycle membership paid for by BV.
If a community partner site is over a 35-minute bus ride, BV has previously provided transportation via Lyft, ZipCar, Union Cab, and UW fleet vehicles. BV Leaders are responsible for determining their team’s transportation methods. Please note, the time listed for volunteer hours does not account for transportation to and from the site. Make sure your schedule can accommodate extra time before and after volunteering.
If you are volunteering virtually this semester, work with your community partner to access the appropriate web tools to complete your service. Please contact Badger Volunteers Coordinator Anya Piotrowski if you need additional accommodations or have access issues.
What Happens if I Fail to Adhere to Volunteer Expectations?
Community partners rely on Badger Volunteers to serve as dedicated, responsible and engaged volunteers. Failing to meet any of the following expectations will prohibit a volunteer for participating in the program the following semester:
- Missing more than two volunteer sessions
- Dropping out of the program mid-semester
- Failing to complete an education session or workshop
What if I couldn’t join Badger Volunteers this semester?
No worries! The Morgridge Center has peer advisors who will help connect you to other volunteer opportunities that match your interests.
You can also sign up to receive Morgridge Mail, our weekly e-newsletter which includes volunteer opportunities, events, jobs and internships.
Badger Volunteers is generously supported by UW–Madison Facilities Planning & Management.
