Why get involved with NYA?

We’re a small, diverse and Northern-focused team with a lot of energy and creativity! We have big hearts and work hard to make sure the youth we serve have every possible opportunity available to them. We have high expectations of ourselves and others, and we collaborate and lift each other up to pursue what’s possible. Each year, NYA relies on hundreds of volunteers who support our participants in many different capacities and make our programs possible. We have a number of volunteer opportunities to get involved, including in-person and remote roles, in a number of locations and for different time commitments. Learn about the current opportunities and how to get involved below!

Volunteer Signup

Northern-based

Mentor | Nunavut or the NWT, | year-round

• Local Mentors work in-community with NYA Participants and Alternates. Mentors support youth applications in their community, and then volunteer a few hours a month to help youth complete assignments and fundraising. Mentors then help youth prepare for their summer placements. Youth select their Mentor when they apply for NYA in the fall.

Southern-based

Next Program Volunteer | Ottawa, ON | July

• The NYA Next Program offers 16-18 youth from Nunavut and the Northwest Territories the chance to explore and prepare for their next steps after high school by living in the Algonquin College student residence, and taking part in trades classes and a wide variety of workshops, volunteering, and career exposure activities. We are looking for volunteers in Ottawa in July to support the group in areas such as Sports and Recreation, Food & Nutrition, Arts & Tech, Culture & Language, and Leadership & Entrepreneurship through the following activities:
  • Job shadowing and career interviews – tell or teach a youth interested in your field about your job!
  • Cooking and group life – help participants develop cooking skills by making a meal together!
  • Academic and learning support – support youth in completing their assignments!
  • Workshops and events – share a special skill or take participants to an event!

Host Families | Any Canadian Province | June & July

• Northern Youth Abroad looks for host families in all provinces for youth from Nunavut and the Northwest Territories for June & July every year! The participants are 15-20 year olds who gain high school credits, new skills and work experience, confidence, motivation, lifelong friendships, and experience in southern Canada while participating in the program. Learn about Northern Canada, share your community, and offer a life-changing experience to two youth! Host families receive a stipend of $500 per week to help with the costs of hosting. This is a great opportunity for connection and cultural exchange! More info available at https://nya.ca/host/.

Remote/Canada-wide

Building/Property Champions | Anywhere in Canada | Ongoing

• Northern Youth Abroad is looking to purchase a property that will serve as our permanent home – meeting our combined needs for office space, meeting space, outdoor facility space, storage, short-term accommodations, and a social enterprise. We are looking for people who have experience in fundraising, property acquisition, social enterprise, or experience with Northern Youth Abroad who could champion our cause and reach out to their networks as we raise funds for our home!

Billet and Travel Chaperone Support | Key travel hubs | Year-round

• We are always looking to build our volunteer networks in key hub communities/cities that Northern youth typically travel through on their way to our programs such as Yellowknife, Iqaluit, Rankin Inlet, Winnipeg, and Ottawa, especially during core program season in June & July. Billets and chaperones help youth who are overnighting or traveling through these cities by meeting them at the airport, accommodating them in their homes or staying at a hotel with them overnight, sharing meals, and helping them get back to the airport for their next flights. Volunteers provide guidance and supervision to the youth while assisting them on their exciting travels! Expenses such as meals, transportation, and accommodations are covered.

Student Support Network | Anywhere in Canada | September-April

• We support Northern youth attending post-secondary across the country through our Northern Compass program! We are looking for volunteers who would like to connect with these students as they settle into life in their new communities for school. This could be in any city where Northern youth typically go to school like Ottawa, Winnipeg, Edmonton, Calgary, and Vancouver. Your role could include things like picking participants up from the airport when they arrive, helping them get supplies and doing their first grocery run, going to local events together, inviting them over for Thanksgiving dinner, and/or including them in family life. Knowing even one person dramatically increases the chances of a youth’s success in post-secondary! This is a great way to make a connection and help someone out.

Social Events Volunteers | Anywhere in Canada | September-April

• Want a gym buddy? Like to organize events? Want to share fun activities in your city with Northern students? We are looking for volunteers who want to organize events or accompany Northern youth on recreational activities. This could be in any city where Northern youth typically go to post-secondary like Ottawa, Winnipeg, Edmonton, Calgary, and Vancouver. Activities could include dinner and a movie, rock-climbing, escape rooms, rollerskating, sewing & beading nights, going to see a game or performance, doing outdoor activities like hiking, skating, or skiing – anything you like doing and want to share with someone else!

Social Media Support | Anywhere in Canada| Ongoing

• Flex your communications and social media skills while helping promote opportunities with a rewarding organization! We are looking for a social media volunteer who would like to develop their skills, gain experience, and support our work by creating and posting social media content about our programs and participants.

Outstanding Volunteer Award

The Outstanding Volunteer Award is presented to volunteers that offer their time and skills to the organization in a variety of ways that often include working directly with NYA Participants. Facilitators, Group Leaders, Mentors, and Host Families are some of the volunteers who have been recognized with this award for the dedication they have shown to Participants, and the positive impact they have made in their lives. The Outstanding Volunteer Award is also presented with an NYA Builder designation to individuals who have been instrumental in the creation, maintenance and growth of the organization. Recipients of this award include individuals who have dedicated years to the improvement of Northern Youth Abroad and who have made a lasting positive impact on the governance, direction and success of the organization.