Community Service

When can incoming freshmen start doing community service hours for high school?

• Once a student has completed 8th grade, the first day after the 8th grade school year ends, the student may start volunteering to earn their community service hours.  

I transferred to RCHS, but have community service hours from my previous school.  How can I get credit for those?

• Reach out to your previous school to request documentation of the total approved community service hours. Bring that letter to the Counseling office to be entered on your behalf
• Other questions, stop by the Counseling office and request to talk to someone about community service hours.

I volunteered at an overnight camp.  How many hours can I count per day?

• 12-15 hours per day are allowed for camp counselors. Sleeping hours do not count. 

Does volunteering with a class or sport count (Senior Studies)?
Yes, with some stipulations:

• 50% of your volunteer hours related to a class (ie - Senior Studies, AP Seminar) EX:  Senior Studies: 50 hours are required for the class, so 50% of 50 hours = 25 hours plus 100% of hours over 50 hours. These hours should be validated by your Senior Studies teacher.
• 100% of volunteering hours performed with your sports team
• If a team manager for a RCHS sport, you can receive a max of 50 hours provided you will not be receiving a sports letter for the sport in which you are team manager.

How do I track my community service hours?

• Rock Canyon High School uses the app Helper Helper to track student community service hours.  
• Helper Helper also has a list of many volunteer opportunities available to students
• For directions and additional information, please see the Helper Helper section of this webpage
   

1. Download the Helper Helper app (see App Downloads below).
2. Log into Helper Helper with your school Gmail address and password (Google SSO).
3. View the tutorial to learn how to use the app. 

If you do not have a smartphone, you can access Helper Helper at app.helperhelper.com. 

How do I access the Helper Helper app?

• Go to your phone’s app store and search for “Helper Helper” to download the app OR go to Helper Helper online at https://app.helperhelper.com/
• Login with your student email address. If that doesn’t log you in, make sure you are using a device that is logged into your student google account. 

I forgot my username. What do I do?

• Your username is your school email address - there is not a password as this will prompt you to login with your SSO using your school email address
• If you still need help, go to the Counseling Office 

How do I enter service hours for an organization I found on my own and didn’t sign up for through the app?

• Click on the Menu button in the upper left
• Select Add Past Commitment
• Enter Name of Organization if it is not listed in the drop-down menu
• Begin answering the questions/filling in boxes
• Click Submit Commitment
• Answer the reflection questions
• Click Submit
• This will send an email to the coordinator you listed to validate your hours.

How do I enter community service hours that is/was a repeat activity across multiple days and/or hours?

• Click on the Menu button in the upper left
• Select Add Past Commitment
• Begin answering the questions
• When you get to the section that asks “When did you attend?” 
• Enter your Start Time and the first date you served in the series
• Enter the duration as the total number of hours and minutes served.
• Before submitting, answer the reflection questions including the “If your submission exceeds 12 hours…” and provide details on the dates and times you volunteered to substantiate the bulk hours submission.
• Click Submit Commitment

How does my community service get validated?

• If you volunteered for an App Event:
  • First, log into your Helper Helper app
  • Go to My Commitments
  • Click Check-in on the event that you wish to track your time for (this button will only appear during the event)
  • Enter your start time
  • Participate in the event
  • Enter your end time
  • It will then prompt you for your validation key. You will want to collect this from whomever is coordinating that event.
  • Once you enter the validation key your time will be verified 
• If you are using Add Past Commitment:
  • In this scenario, you will Add Past Commitment and provide the information requested.
  • The Coordinator of the volunteer activity will receive an email after you submit the event and within that email they will verify your service.

Common Non-Profits in our community offering service opportunities

• Local Churches: Pax Christi Church, Cherry Hills Community Church, Journey Church, and more
• Local Schools: Wildcat Mountain Elementary, Redstone Elementary, Timber Trail Elementary, Buffalo Ridge Elementary, and more
• Backcountry Wilderness Area
• Highlands Ranch Community Association
• Douglas County Volunteer Opportunities
• Douglas County Outdoor Education Center
• Habitat for Humanity Denver
• Skyridge Medical Center
• Douglas County Libraries
• Special Olympics
• Secor Cares
• Project C.U.R.E.
• Humane Colorado
• Food Bank of the Rockies
• Denver Botanic Gardens
• Children’s Museum
• Children’s Hospital Association of Volunteers
• Denver Rescue Mission
• Make a Wish Foundation
• Operation Christmas Child

Opportunities listed in the Helper Helper App
Many non-profit organizations will reach out to us when help is needed.  Check the Helper Helper App for opportunities including 

• Back to school nights
• Carnivals
• Harvest Festivals
• Haunted Houses
• Cultural Celebrations
• Multiple opportunities at Rock Canyon High School

Check back often as we are always adding volunteer opportunities
 

Community Service Lettering is available at 100 hours, 250 hours, and 500 hours

• There is no application process.
• To be considered for Community Service Lettering, hours must be entered and validated in Helper Helper by April 1st each year.
• Students will receive a letter, certificate, pin and/or a bar, depending on whether or not they have previously received a letter in any other activity or sport or academic achievement.  
   

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