City of Des Moines Parks and Recreation Department

Can Play Recreation

Where Play Has No Limits!

Join Des Moines Parks and Recreation as we host a new adapted recreation program, in partnership with Can Play. Adapted sports offer a range of physical, emotional, and social benefits for children with disabilities or chronic health issues. They are specifically designed to accommodate individual needs and abilities, ensuring that all children can participate and experience the joy recreating can bring. 

Each team will have a coach (staff member). Volunteers will assist the coach. As a volunteer, you will provide a positive role model, help participants build self-confidence and self-esteem, relieve stress, improve their health, help them develop motor skills, foster collaboration, teach cooperation, and help them communicate with their teammates and build social connections. 

TIME COMMITMENT:   

Consistency is key. Committing to the entire session (4 dates) helps participants know what to expect and who to expect. This can reduce anxiety, increase their comfort level, and help them focus on coming to have fun! We prefer volunteers commit to being present at ALL the dates in a session.  Volunteers who can commit to the entire Session will be given preference. 

• If you can commit to all 4 dates, select the "PREFERRED OPTION" below. 
• If you can't commit to all 4 dates, select the "ALTERNATE OPTION" and select as many shifts as you are able to commit to. 

Your shift times below include on-site briefing/training with a coach (paid staff) on individual needs, and two back-to-back classes/groups on each date (total hours/each date are approximate) Committing to an entire Session (preferred option) =  4 days x 2.5 hours/each= total of 10 hours. The first half are younger participants and the second half are typically older.

You will receive two confirmations (one for your volunteer application/background check you just completed and one for the shifts below you are signing up for). Please keep your confirmation as it contains important information to review before your shift on dates/times, where to go, and how to be prepared.