Volunteer for a Local Project

Volunteers like you are at the heart of the KaBOOM! model. You help build playgrounds, spruce up existing playspaces, and map local playgrounds. While you're at it, you not only earn the satisfaction of taking action to improve your communities, but can also earn community service credits and Girl Scout patches.

Help build a playground

We get many inquiries from folks who are interested in volunteering on a KaBOOM! playground build. It is heartening to see so much energy and interest, but unfortunately the number of volunteers we can accommodate at a build is limited.

KaBOOM!-led builds are paid for by our supporting partners and planned by local child-serving organizations. Therefore, volunteer opportunities are restricted to members of the immediate community and supporting partner employees.

But that doesn't mean you're out of luck -- we have Our Dream Playground, an online project planner that allows you to search for community-led projects in progress in your area that may need more help. A "community-led" project means that KaBOOM! staff are not directly involved in the project but help facilitate it via our online tools and resources. Check out the planner at ourdreamplayground.org.

Spruce up an existing playspace in your area

Looking for one-day service projects for an eager group of volunteers? A few simple additions to the area around your playspace — like benches, shade structures, and murals — will transform it into an inviting community space. Check out our DIY playground improvement guides.

Share your local playgrounds in the KaBOOM! Map of Play

The KaBOOM! Map of Play is a free, searchable directory that helps anyone share, review, and locate playgrounds and other playspaces in their community. Get in on the fun and join a national effort to share and rate every playground in America! Explore the playgrounds in your community, take photos, and add reviews. If you have an iPhone, you can download our free Playgrounds! app and map playgrounds on site. (We also offer community service credit and Girl Scout patches for this activity — see below.)

Earn community service hours

To qualify for one hour of certified community service credit, follow these easy steps:

1. Find a local playspace, such as a playground, park, skatepark, etc.
2. Gather this required information about the playspace:
   • The address. Be sure to include the street number or the intersecting streets (ex. "Main St. and 2nd Ave.").
   • A brief description of the area.
   • A comment about the space. Is it nice and clean? Is it old and run down? If you were telling your friend about it, what would you say?
   • Give it a rating from 1-5 (with 5 being the best).
   • Take 3 photos of the area. Please note that photos pulled from another website will not be accepted. Also, if any of your photos prominently include children in them, you must have their parents' or guardians' permission before submitting them.
3. Join the kaboom.org website. Once you’re registered, you can add playspaces under your username!
4. Go to the KaBOOM! Map of Play and select the 'add a playspace' tab to add the listing. Include all the required information. Make sure that the playspace isn't already listed before you create a new entry! If it is, add to the existing entry instead. Please note that sports fields, playgrounds, ball courts and other amenities within a larger park with a single address should be integrated as a single entry.
5. When you are finished, copy and paste the URL of each playspace into an e-mail and send it to communityservice@kaboom.org with your information. We'll send you a certified voucher good for one hour of community service per playspace.

   (Note: Please be sure to send the e-mail from the same e-mail address registered with kaboom.org. This lets us verify your work!)

Your contribution will help families in your area locate the best playspaces to play, and help KaBOOM! to identify areas of need. Upload as many new playspaces as you can and you’ll receive one hour of community service credit for each additional playspace.

You should also double-check with your school or organization to be sure this will fulfill your commitment.

Please allow one work week for processing. If you have any problems or questions, you can contact communityservice@kaboom.org.

Get Girl Scout Participant Patches

Welcome Troop leaders, Senior Girl Scouts, and parents! We're excited that you are choosing to earn KaBOOM! participant patches for your troop.

Be sure to download and carefully review these documents:

PDF Program Details and Requirements
PDF Checklist

If you do not have the free Adobe PDF reader, you can download it here.

Returning Visitors:
Upload your playspaces to the KaBOOM! Map of Play! Have your username and password ready, and show the world the good or bad playspaces your Troop finds.