Volunteer at MountainStar
Volunteers are integral to our organization! Below you will find a list of volunteer opportunities that are typically available and our volunteer spotlight. If you are interested in getting involved, fill out the form below to get started.
New classroom volunteers and/or interns are required to have an informal, one-hour training before they begin. These are held every last Wednesday of the month at our Bend campus, from 2:30-3:30pm : 2125 NE Daggett Lane
MountainStar LOVES its volunteers!
See how YOU can get involved!
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Interact with children in therapeutic classes. Requires positive attitude, sense of humor, patience, and a willingness to engage with kiddos and support staff. Shifts are typically once per week (M-Th) for 3 hours.
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Help with projects around the office including making posters, filing, administrative work and more. Requires ability to follow instructions, creativity, and attention to detail. Shifts are flexible, weekdays and vary in length.
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Help with current fundraisers or create one of your own! Requires flexibility depending upon the needs of each fundraising event.
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Become an official advocate, represent MountainStar at community events. Requires personable and approachable demeanor, ability to lift/carry/set up items. Speak to MountainStar’s mission. Shifts vary.
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Find out more here.
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Unpaid internships are available within our therapeutic classes, mental health program, and development (fundraising/marketing) department. Requires interest in the relevant area and dependability.
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Come connect with your team and give back to your community!
This weekly calendar is an example of our classroom schedules (each site varies slightly).
Once you’ve gone through the onboarding process, you will select a shit from across our five locations: La Pine, Bend, Redmond, Madras, and Prineville.
For more information, please connect with our Community Engagement Manager, Elaine Klautzsch, at elainek@mtstar.org
Volunteer Spotlight
🌟 Our Dynamic Duo: Jeannie Coyle & David Penne 🌟
At MountainStar, our volunteers help create a strong circle of care around children and families. Jeannie Coyle and David Penney bring something truly special to that circle—volunteering together as a couple. Each week, they share their patience, curiosity, and heart with the children, bringing warmth, joy, and connection to our classrooms. We are so grateful for the meaningful impact they create. 💙
David, a retired educator and father of five, brings over five decades of teaching and learning experience to his volunteer work. He began his career in 1971 on the Oregon Coast, teaching science and physical education for grades 3–8, then taught in Prineville and Baker County.
After a health scare, David ran a dairy farm in Tillamook for fifteen years, gaining resilience and hands-on experience. Returning to education, he taught in Arizona and Oregon, including special education, alternative secondary classrooms, and tutoring students with special needs from ages five to eighteen; gaining experience in Head Start programs.
“We should never forget what the world looks like through the eyes of a child. There is nothing more joyful or innocent. Volunteering at MountainStar provides a welcome boost.”
For Jeannie, MountainStar has become a true happy place. After more than five decades living and working with large companies in big cities, moving to Prineville in 2019 gave her the opportunity to connect with her community in new ways. In addition to volunteering at MountainStar, Jeannie has supported Rimrock Trails, the Green Bag program, and the Point-in-Time Count for individuals experiencing houselessness.
At MountainStar, Jeannie finds joy in learning alongside the children. “I’m happy to learn from the amazing teachers how to interact with the kids,” she says. “I’m happy to learn how the kids experience the world and build new skills to be successful. And I’m even happier with David joining me—I get to enjoy his amazing storytelling with the kids.”
MountainStar holds a special place in Jeannie’s heart because of the lasting impact it has on children, families, and the community. She reflects, “I can only imagine the world of difference this education will make for their future success.”
Together, Jeannie and David bring joy, connection, and inspiration into every classroom, showing children that learning can be fun, supportive, and full of wonder. Their partnership demonstrates the power of community, care, and a shared purpose.
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Thank you, Jeannie and David, for being such an important part of the MountainStar family and for making every moment count for the children we serve.