Get Involved - Become a Volunteer
 |  |  |  |
|---|---|---|---|
 |  |  |
Navigation Games brings our PE curriculum, classroom lesson plans, and team-building adventure outings to schools in eastern MA and beyond. Navigation Games provides training, lesson plans, and materials. We need program delivery and administrative support. We will train you for your role.
Check out our volunteering options below!
School, After-School & Camp Teaching
We are always looking for people to get involved with our programming - whether a weekend public event, working with a youth organization for an orienteering activity or regularly helping at a school.
Full training provided - no prior knowledge of orienteering needed!
Coach a Team
Help coach an orienteering team. Navigation Games will provide coach training, practice plans, and materials.
Full training provided - no prior knowledge of orienteering needed!
Marketing, Fundraising & Administration
Assist with desk-based administrative support. In-person or virtual work is possible, flexible schedule with no required number of minimum hours.
-
Outreach & Marketing may include communicating with clients (school districts, after-school programs, Parks & Rec departments), designing marketing collateral, writing blog posts, advertising events
-
Fundraising & grant-writing support
-
Admin support includes maintaining, repairing and organizing equipment used for orienteering (maps, checkpoints, computers etc.)
Map-Making & Course Design
Help us make maps and design courses and activities! We use Purple Pen, SportIdent, Easygec, Open Orienteering Mapper and OCAD.
Software Developer
Help develop or design software, iterating on our orienteering electronic timing results software.
The developer will work in a team to:
-
Implement code to develop new features, improve the user interface, add tests
-
Build new features for NG to summarize student progress for teachers and to accommodate new types of games
-
Leave documentation for future developers
Skills of interest: Frontend/backend, UI/UX, Python, QT/QML, Github, packaging and deploying cross-platform app
One-off Events
We run public events during the weekend or in evenings. They are most successful when we have fun-loving people who enjoy being outside, encouraging children and lending a hand.
We use volunteers to help set up, provide activities for children (all training provided), keep participants safe, to encourage participation and to tidy up.
Check out our upcoming events list.
Board Member
We are seeking enthusiastic and committed individuals to join our Board of Directors.
Board members play an active role in guiding the organization’s strategy, supporting fundraising efforts, and ensuring that our programs can continue to inspire adventure, learning, and teamwork.
We welcome candidates with a variety of professional and life experiences, particularly those with skills in finance, fundraising, nonprofit management, communications, and community partnerships.
Board members are expected to dedicate about 1-2 hours per month, with a mix of remote work and occasional in-person events.
Prior board experience is not required—just a passion for our mission and a willingness to actively contribute your time and expertise.
All Navigation Games staff and volunteers who work with children must pass a CORI criminal background check and take the SafeSport online training. Some positions have additional requirements.
Photographers Needed
Volunteer Photographers Needed for Family Friendly Orienteering Events
Navigation Games is looking for volunteer photographers and videographers to help capture the energy and joy of our orienteering events this year.
We run creative, map-based games and family treasure hunts in parks and schoolyards around Cambridge, Brookline, and Boston. These events get kids and families outside, exploring, running, and solving problems together—but we’re often too busy running the activities to document them well.
We’re seeking volunteers who can:
-
Attend occasional events (even just 1–2 hours) and photograph participants in action
-
Capture a mix of close-ups, candid moments, group shots, and wider scenes
-
Share edited or well-selected photos with us shortly after each event
-
Respect our photo/waiver guidelines and any restrictions on which images we can use publicly
This is a great opportunity for:
-
High school or college students building a portfolio
-
Emerging photographers and videographers looking for real-world experience
-
Anyone who loves the outdoors, youth programs, or community events
What you get:
-
Volunteer hours (we’re a nonprofit)
-
Credit when we use your images in our website, social media, and outreach materials
-
The chance to see your work support youth programs and outdoor education
Interested?
Please email admin@navigationgames.org with:
-
Your name and pronouns
-
A few sample photos or a link to your portfolio/social
-
Your general availability (weekdays after school, weekends, etc.)
-
Whether you’re comfortable shooting photo, video, or both
Thank you for helping us show the fun, inclusive side of orienteering and get more families outside and exploring their parks.
