SVN Spark Team Leaders, Evergreen Leaders, Van Drivers, Project Designers & GOH mentors will be required to complete a brief training prior to their first leadership commitment.

Semesterly Training

GOH Mentors will be required to participate in a leadership training session at the beginning of each semester. This will be an opportunity to learn about (or get a refresher about) the fundamentals of GOH Mentorship, hear updates about SVN, connect with their Project Coordinator, meet and collaborate with other leaders, and plan for the semester.

As Needed Training

SVN Spark Team Leaders and SVN Evergreen Leaders will participate in leadership training sessions as needed and as volunteer roles change. If a leader takes on a new Evergreen project or would like extra help with team management skills, additional training will be available.

SVN Project Designers & the SVN Van Driver Corps will participate in leadership training sessions as needed.

The Compass Program incentives system allows all unpaid SVN volunteer leaders (Spark Team Leaders, Evergreen Leaders, Project Designers, GOH Mentors, & Van Drivers) to access a variety of benefits based on the number of hours they have participated as Volunteer Leaders and the number of hours they have participated in Compass leadership development events and experiences. 

At the end of each academic year, the Office of Service Initiatives invites SVN volunteers to nominate peers to be recognized for their outstanding volunteer engagement. Recognition categories will include Team Leader of the year, and other leadership-driven categories may be added as well. 

• Unpaid volunteers only

  • Spark Team Leaders (for short-term SVN projects)

  • Evergreen Leaders (for ongoing SVN projects)

    • Evergreen Team Leaders

    • Evergreen Independent Leaders

  • SVN Van Drivers (YCP certified van drivers only) 

  • SVN Project Designers

  • Generations of Hope Student Mentors (OGs, or "Older Generation")

• Unpaid volunteer hours only

• Leading a Spark project

• Leading an Evergreen project

• Getting certified as a YCP van driver

• Driving a van for an SVN project

• Serving as a student mentor (OG) for the Generations of Hope program

• Developing one or more SVN projects

• Participating in SVN leadership training sessions

• Participating in SVN onboarding/training

Yes! Volunteering in a position of leadership can be counted as volunteer hours and contribute to your Compass leadership points total.

1. If you have not already done so, join one or more of the Compass Leadership Pathways user groups on the SVN portal. Click on the link below to join.

   • Spartan Volunteer Network (ycp.edu) 

2. When submitting volunteer hours on the SVN portal, select the appropriate user group. This will allow us (and you!) to track your leadership hours for the Compass Incentives Program.