The priority application deadline for Fall 2012 long-term (12 months) volunteers is February 1. Although we will continue to accept applications until May 1, priority placement will be granted to applicants  who apply by the earlier deadline.

Who should apply early?

We recommend the February 1 application date to prospective volunteers who have a strong interest in a particular service program, especially if the program has limited placements (Adult Education, Disability Services, Educational and Recreational Programming, Substance Abuse Recovery). We also recommend this deadline for college and high school seniors who would prefer to be interviewed before graduation. Please see our admissions timeline for full details.
Benefits of Long-term Volunteering
Long-term volunteers receive a multitude of benefits from their service time, including, but not limited to, the following:

• Immersion in a new culture
• Living in intentional Christian community
• Valuable job-related experience

Even though volunteers receive many intangible benefits, it is important to note that making a long-term commitment can be a significant financial sacrifice. We ask our volunteers to make sacrifices, but we do not ask them to become destitute. CAP offers the following benefits to long-term volunteers to help make volunteering more affordable and to ease the concerns that you or your family may have:

• Room and board
• Monthly stipend
• Health insurance
• Potential student loan deferment
• Potential AmeriCorps Education Award (currently unavailable)

Requirements
To become a long-term CAP volunteer, you must meet the following requirements:

• Minimum age of 18 years old
• Complete a volunteer application, including a complete driving records check, three personal references and a national background check
• Be personally interviewed by CAP Volunteer Program staff
• Pass a drug screening upon arrival at CAP
• For positions that require volunteers to drive a CAP vehicle, applicants must be 21 or older with a good driving record

We are looking for volunteers who are dependable, flexible, emotionally mature, sensitive to other cultures, religions, etc., able to live in community, have a sense of humor and have a desire to serve others. We can teach the particular skills needed to perform in your service position, what we can’t teach is a compassionate heart and a passion for our mission.

Please refer to our Frequently Asked Questions page for more information about long-term volunteering.