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  • Building strong connections & resilience among communities since 1975

Volunteer Groups

Young people benefit enormously from the experience of getting away from home and serving others. SSP has provided safe and challenging youth service projects for individuals and church groups for over four decades. Find out how you can grow your youth group with a service experience this summer.

Sierra Service Project, or SSP, is an ecumenical Christian nonprofit organization that provides service opportunities in the Western United States to middle school, high school, combined youth groups, and intergenerational teams during the summer and school year. Even individual volunteers not connected with a group are invited to serve!

SSP affirms and welcomes anyone who is interested in its programs, inviting youth into a closer relationship with God and one another through the transformative power of community-centered service. At SSP, we strive to make each group’s experience rich in quality. We take care of most of the planning and logistics challenges, allowing each group’s adult leaders to focus on their relationships with their youth.

Explore this page to learn more about what a trip with SSP entails, and let us know if you have any questions at (916) 488-6441 or by emailing Veronica Russell, our Director of Volunteers and Outreach.

SSP is…

  • Fun!

    The SSP experience includes a tradition of games, songs, and lasting friendships.

  • Safe & Dependable

    SSP has over 40 years of youth service, leadership, and home repair knowledge, is dedicated to physical and emotional safety, and provides nutritious meals and spiritual support to all volunteers.

  • Challenging Service

    Youth take on complex projects, learn how to safely use power tools, and cultivate teamwork and problem-solving skills.

  • Intercultural Engagement

    Working with others to strengthen communities different from their own allows youth to experience new cultures in an authentic way.

  • Community-based, transformative service learning

    High-impact hands-on projects, combined with interaction with the host community, give service work contextual relevance for volunteers.

When and Where You Can Serve

View the current availability.

Please note the program schedule may be subject to change by volunteer interest.

Cost and Financial Assistance

The cost for a group to attend a week-long session ranges from $365 to $415 per person, depending upon the type of session and the location.

SSP believes that all youth, regardless of their family’s financial circumstances, can benefit from the transformative experience of serving others. To prioritize making the SSP experience accessible to all, we offer substantial scholarships for youth in financial need.

Awards are dependent on the availability of funds. To support SSP’s annual scholarship program, consider becoming a donor!

What if I’m not part of a group?

Volunteers can also sign up to serve as an individual.

What does a typical day and week look like at SSP?

Summer Registration Timeline

Have Questions?

SSP has a team member dedicated to working with group leaders to ensure that they have a smooth, meaningful service experience. Veronica Russell, our Director of Volunteers and Outreach, is here to answer your questions about our programs and help your group prepare for their SSP experience. Call Veronica with your questions at (916) 488-6441.

Invitation Video

[invicta_button label=”Download the 2020 Summer Information Packet” url=”https://www.sierraserviceproject.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/2020-Summer-Information-Packet.pdf” target=”_blank” size=”medium” icon=”icon-file” alignment=”center”]

Summer Locations

[invicta_heading primary_line_html_elem=”h1″ primary_line=”2020 Brochure”]
[invicta_testimonial author_name=”The Rev. Katherine Baginski Doar, Associate Priest” author_photo=”5003″ source_name=”St. Francis Episcopal Church”]

“The reason we keep coming back year after year is it feels manageable. As youth leaders, we focus on recruiting youth, preparing them for the program, and getting them here. After that happens, SSP has the projects, community relationships, and an amazing staff that teaches us how to help youth on these projects.”

[/invicta_testimonial]

"Renewed Faith"

[invicta_calltoaction primary_line=”New to SSP? Welcome!” secondary_line=”If your group is new to SSP, create a login request to so that you can register your group for SSP’s programs. Priority registration is open October 1-31!” label=”New Group Login Request” url=”http://myssp.sierraserviceproject.net/login_requests/new” target=”_blank” size=”medium” color=”green” icon=”icon-group” style=”style_4″ secondary_line_keywords=”create a login request”][invicta_calltoaction primary_line=”SSP’s Group Registration Portal” secondary_line=”Priority registration for summer 2020 will be open October 1-31. If you are your group’s liaison, click the button to login to your MySSP account.” label=”MySSP Login” url=”http://myssp.sierraserviceproject.net/” target=”_blank” size=”medium” color=”gold” icon=”icon-calendar” style=”style_4″][invicta_calltoaction primary_line=”Update Your Group’s SSP Liaison” secondary_line=”SSP has one primary contact with your group. To update your SSP liaison, email Veronica your liaison’s email, first and last name, phone number, address, position with group, as well as the group attending SSP with.” label=”Update Liaison” url=”mailto:veronica.russell@sierraserviceproject.org” target=”_blank” size=”medium” color=”blue” icon=”icon-envelope” style=”style_4″ secondary_line_keywords=”primary,contact,Veronica”]