Youth Volunteer Opportunities
Why Be a Youth Mediator?
Through your mediation training and experience, you will:
- Take a leading role in changing how your community resolves conflict
- Improve your communication skills
- Develop highly marketable skills that you can later use when applying for jobs or college
- Enhance your college and career portfolio
- Meet other teens from Kitsap County who are involved in mediation
How Would I Become a Youth Mediator?
Youth can become a youth mediator if they have graduated from a Peer Mediation Program in their school, or by taking our open-enrollment 40-hour Mediation Training. Both are free of charge for youth 18 and under. The trainings are interactive and provide practice through exercises and coached role plays. Topics include:
- The nature of conflict – its causes and typical ways we react
- The multi-step mediation process
- Core mediation skills (e.g. communication and problem-solving)
The DRC provides experienced trainers, coaches, and all training materials.
Following completion of their training, teen volunteers will follow a process of hands-on training that allows them to observe and then co-mediate live Parent Youth mediations toward receiving their mediator certification.
Ready to Get Started?
Contact our Training Coordinator at trainer@kitsapdrc.org to get more information or speak to one of our DRC staff about this opportunity!