About Lion's Heart

Eligibility Requirements for National and Orange County Volunteer Work with Lion’s Heart

Any successful organization has a set of rules to ensure the best possible results from their efforts. Lion’s Heart is no exception. We believe this short list of eligibility requirements and guidelines are an integral part of each teen’s volunteer experience.

Important Information

It is important to remember that the Lion’s Heart “year” is from May 1st through April 30th. Eligibility requirements are governed on this schedule.

Lion’s Heart is not to be used as a fundraising organization.

Member Requirements

Members must be in grades 6-12 to participate in the Lion’s Heart teen volunteer program. They also must be willing to follow the rules included here.

Each member must perform at least 30 hours of community service per year; including 5 hours in the education category.

It is mandatory for each group to hold a May meeting in which all officers are elected. Existing groups will also vote on a Torchbearer Award recipient. All officer positions are to be held for a one-year term, starting in May and ending on April 30th of each year.

Each group is required to meet eight times per year.  Members must not miss more than three meetings per year. After missing their fourth meeting, the member will be considered "resigned."

All volunteer hours must be logged onto the website before noon on April 30^th of each year. Members that have not logged at least 30 hours, including five in education, will be ineligible for membership the following year.

The dues for new and returning members are due upon registration. There are no refunds on dues unless a new Member does not get into a group because it has reached capacity (20 members).

All parent volunteers serving as Class Coordinators are required to submit to a criminal background check as part of Lion’s Heart insurance requirements, and for the safety of all our Orange County teen volunteers.

Code of Conduct

Members are expected to act respectfully of others during Lion’s Heart meetings and volunteer activities. If the Class Coordinator feels a member is not acting respectfully, that member will be required to have a parent attend their next six meetings and all volunteering activities until the sixth meeting has taken place. During this time, if a parent is not in attendance at a meeting or during volunteer activities, the member will not receive credit for the meeting or volunteer time. If the member continues to act inappropriately after the sixth meeting, the member will be resigned from Lion’s Heart.

These guidelines are in place to create a positive experience for our teen volunteers and the members of the community they are helping.

Lion’s Heart is for all teens across the nation. We invite you to join an existing Orange County volunteer chapter, or start your own chapter anywhere in the USA!