Please review the requirements below in advance of your on-site job.  Given the shifting nature of COVID-19 and federal and local health and safety guidelines, information may be updated to include reinstatement of a health screener and/or vax attestation.  Thank you for helping ensure the safety of students, staff and community members.  

For Summer 2025 families, Caregiver Participation job sign up opens on Saturday, May 17 at 10am.  Please sign up early to accommodate your schedule.

• Caregiver Participation: Please sign up for one Group #1 and one Group #2 duty PER CHILD. 

• Wishlists: Please help by providing in-kind donations of basic and enrichment supplies.  Keep checking back for new items! Links: Classroom wishlist | School wishlist

• Sponsor a Book: Donate a new Daruma no Gakko library book.  An acknowledgment bookplate will be included when the book is added to our library.  See this year's calendar page for more info about how and where to buy books.

• Caregiver Volunteer Health Screener: At this time, a health screener will not be required before volunteering.  

Why is Daruma no Gakko a caregiver participation-based school?

Since its inception in the 1970s, Daruma no Gakko was built on leadership from caregiver volunteers.  Family is at the core of our curriculum and is what keeps our program thriving for multiple generations.  Caregiver participation allows for our tuition rates to stay far below other non-profit and privately run camps.  

I tried to sign up for a volunteer spot and they are all gone.  What can I do?

Prime volunteer spots go fast!  Please make sure to have your schedule ready and commit to a day so you are able to take the job and timing that works best for you.  In the case that you are unable to make any day work and do not have another close family member who can serve in your place, please be ready to be called on as additional needs arise.  You can also fulfill volunteer responsibilities by serving on our Board.

What happens when I volunteer on-site?

Complete your attestation of vaccination and health screener at least 24 hours in advance of your scheduled time/date.  

Please show up for your specified time and check in at the front desk (main Church lobby). You will be given a nametag and duty sheet to use for the duration of your time on site.  

We know that volunteers have varying levels of experience in a school setting.  For this reason, volunteers will always be in shared spaces when working with children.  The primary student supervisors are the teachers and directors.  If you are unsure about how to handle a situation, please ask a staff member for guidance.

If you are working at a DNG event then you will be contacted in advance by a Board member for planning.  You may be assigned to other jobs if needed.  We appreciate flexibility and can-do attitudes!

May I sign up for more than one spot?  

Yes and yes!  We will take all willing volunteers if there is work to be done.

What happens if I cannot make it for my volunteer day?

Contact one of the Directors and we will do our best to cover your position.  We can always use extra hands at the move-in and move-out days as well as any of the Daruma events.  Schedules are tricky but many hands make light work.

I tried everything and I cannot make my schedule work.  How can I help?

We are a 501(3)(c) organization and will have to outsource any jobs that are not filled.  In addition, the pandemic has taken a hard toll on our non-profit organization.  Donations are always appreciated or consider taking on a year-long leadership role on our Board.