Volunteer
Volunteering for chess club is easy! And thank you in advance!
First, once per season, please click the button to "Tell Us About You". That makes sure we can stay in touch with volunteers and know who they are.
Second, click the "Volunteer for Sessions" button to open a Google Sheet. Each session has a tab where you can tell us you'll be there, see who else is volunteering, and optionally chose a specific role.
TIP: Google Sheets works best when you have the Sheets app on your mobile device or are on a desktop browser.
Chess? Sounds Serious.
It's a game! Being played by 5-11 year olds. Come take part in the fun and, yes, chaos. Maybe even find a moment to play a game with the kids!
Do I need to know chess? About half our work requires no knowledge at all!
How often do I need to come? As often as you like!
A group this large needs someone like... you.
What Does This Look Like?
We need approximately 13 volunteers each session. Occasional and regular volunteers are very important as their prior experience makes the sessions run smoothly. That said, we always have roles for volunteers that come just once or twice a year. Regardless, you get a chance to see what your chess club member is up to. Here are typical ways volunteers help:
Distribute name tags; collect name tags during release; walk kids to Minneapolis Kids or Rec+ after-school programs
Walk the floor - make sure kids stay on task.
Set up / Take Down - Sort chess sets, room reconfiguration before and after.
Recorders - Use a tablet to record match results.
Treat station - Distribute treats, enforce 1-per-session rule.
Puzzle coach - Requires basic chess knowledge - Manage a puzzle station (See FAQ), assist kids if they're struggling, distribute tokens for solving it.
Coaching - Our coaching efforts started as a series of experiments in 2023-24. Our tentative goal this year is to have 4-6 coaches that are each attending 50% or more of the sessions. Early in the season, we will run sessions for those brand new to the game. We will also use adjacent spaces to pull out groups of club members that are interested in developing their game. The details for how the sessions are run and how groups of players are established is a work in progress.
Not sure where you'd start? Good news! We have coaches back from last year that will lead the direction of our coaching effort and support new coaches with lesson plans & pairing for sessions. So... go ahead and check the Coaching Interest box on the Tell Us About You form or reach out directly.
Club Administration - A lot goes into running this club, more as it's grown in size and complexity the last few years. For as long as I know, it's been led by 1 person except in transition years. I, Bryce, am intending to step down after the 2024-25 season and believe it's an ideal time to transition to a team running the club. Here's an overview of the administrative duties:
Communication - Parent communication, this web site, Burroughs news letters postings, Burroughs parents Facebook group, facilities reservations, volunteer coordination.
Technology - We use Google Drive, Sheets, Sites, and Forms to run nearly all aspects of our club and record matches.
Name Tags & Attendance - Print name tags each week reflecting skill groups, distribute lists of students attending to school administration each Friday morning.
Supplies and Budget - Purchase supplies (treats, labels primarily) and coordinate budgeting with the PTA.
Leading Sessions - Session planning, choosing chess puzzles for the week, general announcements, bad chess jokes, assist with directing volunteers, troubleshoot session challenges.
Please reach out if you're able to help with club administration. Now's an ideal time to step in.
Joining Us The First Time?
Volunteers typically receive an email with a session overview, changes, or other special instructions (e.g. timing, parking) each Thursday before a session.
When: In our first few sessions, volunteers assemble in the lab from 3:00pm-3:40pm to sort chess sets, review assignments and materials, assist with set up. By week 3 or 4, we gradually shift to 3:15pm as a start. Come when you can! Things get very busy from 3:35pm-4pm so if it's your first time, arrive a bit earlier or just let us know you're here and give us a few moments. We wind things down between 4:55pm and 5:10pm.
Check In at the School Office: If arriving during school hours (e.g. volunteering before busses have departed), you need to check in at the school office. For your first visit, bring your ID and allow a few minutes. On subsequent visits, you can just search for your name at the kiosk and print out a new tag.
Where: Please enter the school via the main doors, located along 50th street. Turn left and proceed to either the large staircase or the elevator near the stairs. Proceed to the 2nd floor. You should immediately see the media center and may even see some activity on the bridge adjacent to it. Please proceed down the hallway, pass the media center's double doors (used only for exiting students), and enter the smaller door to the lab.