Volunteer as a Chaperone
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Our after-school enrichment program depends on parent and caregiver volunteers to make it all happen. Every on-campus enrichment class is required to have a PTA chaperone present — this is an insurance requirement and is essential to keeping our students safe. Without chaperones, classes cannot run.
This page is for adults interested in volunteering as a chaperone. If you're looking to register your child for a class, visit our main enrichment page. If you'd like to teach or offer a class, visit our provider page.
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What does a chaperone do?
Chaperones are not expected to teach, lead activities, or discipline students — the class instructor handles all of that. Your job is simply to be a trusted adult presence in the room. This ensures one adult can handle an emergency while the instructor manages the class, and provides a witness to all class activities, protecting both the instructor and the students.
On your assigned day(s), you'll arrive 10 minutes before class, check in at the main office, wear a volunteer badge, take attendance on the class roster, and remain on campus to sign students out to their approved pick-up person at dismissal. Plan on about 80 minutes per hour session and 140 minutes per two hour session. You are not responsible for students before sign-in or after sign-out. Siblings not enrolled in the class may attend at the discretion of the instructor.
Who can be a chaperone?
A parent, grandparent, aunt, uncle, nanny, neighbor, or any adult who is 18 or older, a Geneva PTA member, and a district-approved volunteer.
What's the commitment?
We need 1–2 volunteers per class. One volunteer can cover the full session (every week), or two can split it between them. If splitting, you'll coordinate between yourselves who covers each week. Sessions typically run once a week for 6–8 weeks, directly after school dismissal.
What do chaperones receive?
Chaperones receive priority registration for their child and a tuition scholarship — full scholarship if you cover the whole session, or partial if you split with another volunteer. It's one of the best ways to support the program while guaranteeing your child a spot in the class.
Questions? Contact genevaenrichment@gmail.com
How to Volunteer as a Chaperone:
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Step 1: Complete Your District Volunteer Application
Bellingham Public Schools requires all volunteers to complete an online application, which includes a background check through Washington State Patrol. The approval process can take up to one week, so please apply early.
Step 2: Review the Chaperone Policies
Before your first session, please review the Chaperone Policies, which outlines expectations and responsibilities.
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Step 3: Sign Up to Chaperone
Once your volunteer application is approved, sign up for available chaperone slots using the Google Form below. We'll post openings before each session (Fall, Winter, and Spring).