Volunteer

Year-Round Opportunities
Did you know TherAplay needs 6-8 volunteers daily?

We have many opportunities for you and/or your group to make a difference!

What TherAplay Volunteers Do:
- Sidewalking: Walk alongside the horse during a therapy session to stabilize and ensure client safety.
- Office Support: Get involved with our admin team scanning documents, doing data entry, filing and more!
- Events: Help with planning, set-up, or tear-down at our special events throughout the year!
Come One, Come All!
- Individuals: Attend a volunteer orientation to get trained. A minimum of one (1) hour per visit is required.
- Groups: We are able to accommodate groups throughout the year and around our special events.
- Companies: "Own a slot" with your co-workers! Set a date/time and frequency for you and your team to rotate coming in to serve.
Want to learn more?

Download Our Volunteer Flyer
Special Event Opportunities
Do you love events?

We have many special events that need volunteer support throughout the year. If you see something that interests you, contact Katie!
- #Horsepower500 (May 6, 2019 at Children’s TherAplay): Set-up and tear-down, welcome guests, man activity booths, sell t-shirts
- Golf Event (June 20, 2019 at Wood Wind Golf Club in Carmel): Come out and help with set-up, registration, taking pictures, or tear-down.
- Sibling Camp (June 7, 2019 at Children’s TherAplay): We are looking for enthusiastic volunteers to help organize the event, serve as group leaders / camp counselors, and oversee activity stations.
- Hoe-Down (September 21, 2019 at Children’s TherAplay) : Set-up volunteers help hang banners, clean, set-up, and decorate. “Night of” volunteers assist with bartending (for those who have a bartender’s permit), registration and volunteer check-in, general clean-up, parking, live auction spotters, and directing traffic.
Program Parameters
Wondering if volunteering at Children’s TherAplay is a good fit for you?
- Age: Volunteers must be at least 16 years of age and able to work independently without close supervision.
- Location: With the exception of a few special events and weekend projects, volunteering takes place on-site at Children’s TherAplay and during regular office hours: 8 a.m. – 6 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. on Fridays.
- Equine experience: No previous experience needed, however if you are interested in sidewalking you must be comfortable walking alongside our horses in the arena.
- Groups: We have space for a limited number of large groups but smaller groups of 5–10 adults are a better fit. Most group volunteering opportunities at Children’s TherAplay take place in the lead-up to our special events.
I'm ready to get started!
Get Started
We're so glad you’d like to join the volunteer family!

Ready to get started as an ongoing volunteer?
- Contact Katie, our volunteer coordinator, to schedule your hour-long orientation.
- Read through the volunteer packet
- Once your orientation is complete, Katie will send you the link to our easy online volunteer sign-up system, which is how you’ll sign up for your volunteer shifts.
- If you are interested in sidewalking with the kiddos during on-the-horse treatment time, you may schedule a time for sidewalker training.
All set?

Contact Katie at (317) 872-4166 x4600 or kstratman@childrenstheraplay.org

I wish Bridget did not have heart defects, feeding issues, or physical deficits. ... [But] I am thankful that her path led us to Children’s TherAplay, where we’ve learned to find love in this unexpected journey.
– Bridget’s mother, Beth

Meet some of Bridget's kiddo colleagues

Success Story: Meet Kiddo Bridget

A few months ago my husband and I watched Maxwell walk into his school on his first day of preschool without his walker. Today he is walking independently almost 100% of the time.
– Maxwell's mother, Jenna

Meet the Kiddos

Success Story: Meet Maxwell

I was just asked by another mother last night at a gathering, "Does Leo go to Children's TherAplay?"
I said, "Absolutely! Are you considering it? Because you should.”
– Leo’s mother, Laura

Learn more about Leo in this video