Volunteer
Why Volunteer
Our volunteers are the heart of The Laurel Foundation. Each year, over 200 volunteers donate approximately 13,500 hours to improve the lives of at-promise youth, youth impacted by HIV/AIDS, and transgender/gender diverse youth. Volunteers are truly the lifeblood of The Laurel Foundation. They are the change agents in the lives of the children, youth and families that we serve.
Ready to join the team?
Ways to Volunteer
The Laurel Foundation’s volunteers come from a wide variety of backgrounds and life experiences. Whether you are a student, working professional, or just someone with a passion for working with kids, there are so many different ways to get involved!
Please note: Camp Laurel refers to programs that serve at-promise youth. Camp Mulberry refers to programs that serve transgender/gender diverse youth ages 6-17.
Plan ahead and check out our Volunteer Opportunities Calendar Please reach out to our Director of Volunteers Eliot Downes for more information, or Call us at 626-683-0800 if you would like to attend any of the events as a volunteer. We hope to see you soon!
VOLUNTEER WITH US AT CAMP LAUREL FAMILY CAMP
Camp Laurel Family summer camp dates:
SUMMER 2026 CAMP DATES: September 4-7, 2026
Training: August 22 & 23, 2026 (Pasadena)
Pre-Camp: Sept. 4, 2026 (Angelus Oaks, CA)
Camp: September 4-7, 2026 (Angelus Oaks, CA)
For more than three decades, Camp Laurel has been a place of hope and healing for children and families immediately affected by HIV/AIDS. Because of our volunteers, thousands of children grew up knowing they were loved, accepted, and not alone.
As medicine, education, and prevention have evolved, the needs of youth have changed as well. Camp Laurel is now moving forward into HIV prevention education and youth leadership programs focused on those youth who are key populations at risk of HIV. But before we turn that page, we want to properly honor where we came from.
It is for this reason that we are hosting our final Camp Laurel Family camp session to celebrate our history and community. Many of the families attending will include former campers, children you may remember, who are now adults and returning with families of their own. It is a full-circle moment that none of us could have imagined all those years ago.
We have positions for cabin counselors, program counselors, mental health professionals, and medical professionals open!
Click here for more information!
For more information on how to become a volunteer, please email our Volunteer Coordinator or call 626-683-0800 for more details.
VOLUNTEER WITH US AT CAMP MULBERRY!
Camp Mulberry summer camp dates:
SUMMER CAMP 2026 DATES
Training: June 20th & 21st, 2026 (Pasadena)
Pre-Camp: June 27th, 2026 (Angeles Oaks)
Camp: June 28th – July 4th, 2026 (Angeles Oaks)
Camp Mulberry is a safe space for transgender and gender-diverse youth. Our program allows our campers to experience the magic of camp surrounded by peers and mentors who understand their unique experiences. Being a volunteer is a great way to empower and support our youth.
We have positions for, cabin counselors, program counselors, mental health professionals, and medical professionals!
Click here for more information!
For more information on how to become a volunteer please email our Volunteer Coordinator Eliot Dowens or call 626-683-0800 to for more details.
What our volunteers have to say…
Camp is a time to forget about the worries in our own lives and make a child smile! It is a time to just be silly and send out some good love and get some back!
The kids at Camp Laurel are unlike any I’ve encountered before. I’ve never met such a spirited, enthusiastic, entertaining, intelligent, and loving group before in my life.
The Laurel Foundation will change your life; it brings out the best in all of us and is hard to imagine a better group of people.
Camp has taught me that it is possible for a group of people, no matter how different, to work together and build a community that makes things better for each other.
