Volunteering with kids in Denver: what's actually available by age
📍 Denver
A breakdown of which Denver volunteer opportunities welcome families, teens, and young kids — and which ones require you to be 18 or 21.
Why we're sharing this
Parents keep asking us what they can do with their kids. Here's the honest answer, organized by age.
Most volunteer opportunities require you to be 18. Some require 21. If you want to bring your kids along, that narrows the field — but there are more options than you’d think.
All ages (bring the whole family)
Project Angel Heart meal bag decorating is the most family-friendly option in Denver. Pick up plain meal bags from their office at 4950 Washington Street, take them home, and let your kids go wild with crayons and markers. Return the decorated bags whenever you’re done. No orientation, no signup, no minimum age. Four bags count as one volunteer hour.
Denver Urban Gardens workdays are generally open to all ages. Kids can help with planting, watering, and light garden tasks. Check specific event listings at volunteer.dug.org — some events are better suited for young kids than others.
Volunteers for Outdoor Colorado accepts volunteers as young as 14 for certain projects. Their field season runs April through October with trail maintenance, habitat restoration, and conservation work across Colorado.
Ages 10 and up
Food Bank of the Rockies welcomes volunteers as young as 10, though anyone under 16 needs to be accompanied by an adult. Morning shifts run 8:45 AM to noon, Monday through Saturday, at their warehouse in Aurora. This is real physical work — sorting, packing, lifting — but it’s straightforward and the shifts go fast.
Ages 16 and up
Denver Animal Shelter accepts independent volunteers starting at 16. Monthly orientations run on Saturday mornings; the next one is March 14. Expect a two-hour-per-week commitment for at least six months. The junior program for ages 8-15 (with a parent) is currently at capacity, so check back monthly.
Ages 18 and up
Most tutoring, mentoring, and direct-service roles require you to be 18. This includes:
- Project Angel Heart kitchen and delivery shifts
- All ESL tutoring programs (The Learning Source, CRESL, English Learning Center)
- Partners in Literacy reading volunteers
- We Don’t Waste food market and warehouse shifts
- YMCA Reach & Rise group mentoring
- Urban Peak meal service
Ages 21 and up
The deeper mentoring commitments have a 21+ minimum:
- Big Brothers Big Sisters of Colorado
- Save Our Youth one-on-one mentoring
- Denver CASA court-appointed advocates
The simplest option for families
If you want one recommendation for a family with kids of mixed ages: decorate meal bags for Project Angel Heart at home and then drop them off together. Zero logistics, any age, and the kids get to see their artwork go to someone who needs it.