The KidZone Museum operates a children’s museum focused on early childhood development through creative play and exploration. 

Designed primarily for children under age 7, exhibits and programs support cognitive, physical, social, and creative skill-building. Camps and school partnerships extend learning opportunities for elementary-aged children. 

Teenagers may participate through volunteer roles.

The museum includes:

• Indoor play structure and exploration exhibits
• Infant play area
• Art studio for creative expression
• Nature play space
• Science and discovery lab
• Seasonal camps and school-based programs
• Teen volunteer opportunities

Web pages

• Home - https://kidzonemuseum.org/

Placer County Animal Services provides animal care, sheltering, and field services for much of Placer County.

Shelter services include:

• Lost pet reunification
• Pet adoption
• Pet licensing (including new senior discount for qualifying residents)
• Vaccine clinics
• Resources for pet owners
• Connections to local rescue groups and nonprofits
• Shelter tours and community education
• Volunteer and animal foster programs

Field services include:

• Stray animal pickup
• Aggressive animal response
• Animal cruelty and neglect investigations
• Barking complaints
• Public education and disaster response
• Pickup of injured domestic animals and wildlife

Additional notes:

As of May 2025, Placer County residents aged 62 and older may receive 50% off licensing fees for up to two spayed or neutered dogs. Available online or in person. Not valid in Auburn, Roseville, or Rocklin, which manage their own programs.

Web pages

• Home - https://www.placer.ca.gov/1909/Animal-Services
• Health & Human Services - https://www.pla…

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Give Back Tahoe was developed in collaboration with the Tahoe Truckee Community Foundation to connect volunteers with nonprofit groups from the North Lake Tahoe and Truckee areas.

​Web pages

• Home - www.givebacktahoe.org

Call 9-1-1 in case of emergency

The City of Colfax has one staffed and two unstaffed/volunteer fire stations.

Station 30 is staffed and serves the communities of Colfax and Gold Run. The station targets hazards include the Interstate 80 Corridor, UP Railway, Kinder Morgan Pipeline, and the City of Colfax. Station 30 is the upcountry home to the Placer County Technical Rescue Team and serves the rugged canyons and recreation areas of the North Fork of the American River. Station 30 is located at 24020 Fowler Road, Colfax, CA 95713.

Station 36 is an unstaffed/reserve volunteer station and serves the downtown area of the City of Colfax. Station 36 is located at 33 Church street, Colfax CA, 95713.

Station 37 is an unstaffed reserve/volunteer station on the north end of Colfax. It serves the City of Colfax and the area around Rollins Reservoir. Station 37 is located at 139 Oak Street, Colfax, CA 95713.

Web pages

• Station 30 - https://www.placer.ca.gov/7859/Colfax-Station-30​
• Station 36 - h…

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Anew Day offers free lay counseling and low-cost professional therapy to individuals, couples, and families. Services address emotional, relational, and mental health needs for all ages.

Services include:

• Lay counseling and peer support for adults, teens, and children
• Professional therapy sessions at reduced rates
• Support for depression, anxiety, addiction, eating disorders, trauma, abuse, and social or relationship challenges
• Therapeutic art classes and group sessions for emotional expression and healing
• Communication skills training, boundary setting, and healthy coping strategies
• Volunteer training for lay counseling

Web pages

• Home - https://www.anew-day.com/
• Counseling - https://www.anew-day.com/counseling-services

The Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) program coordinates volunteers to advocate for the best interests of children who are dependents of the Nevada County Juvenile Dependency Court, helping ensure they have a chance to live in a safe and permanent home.

Services include:

• Recruitment, training, and coordination of volunteer advocates
• One-on-one advocacy for children in the juvenile dependency system
• Assistance in ensuring children live in safe, permanent homes
• Support with navigating the court system

Volunteer requirements:

• Completion of an application packet, including a personal interview and background check
• Driver’s license and current insurance
• Training sessions held in the spring and fall, with applications accepted year-round

Web pages

• Home (Application Found Here) - https://caofnc.org/casa/
• FAQs - https://caofnc.org/casa-faq/

Sierra Harvest's Gold Country Gleaning Program organizes volunteers to harvest fresh, seasonal produce that would otherwise go to waste and donates it to local food banks. Volunteers are encouraged to take gleaned goodies home too.

Web pages

• Home - https://sierraharvest.org/
• Gold Country Gleaning Program - https://sierraharvest.org/gleaning/
• Request Gleaning - https://sierraharvest.org/gleaning/site_registration.php
• Volunteer to Glean - https://sierraharvest.org/gleaning/volregistration.php

The Defensible Space Advisory Visit program provides a one-on-one consultation and advice at your home for comprehensive education on compliance with Public Resource Code 4291 – the law that requires defensible space around structures. PRC 4291 was expanded in 2005 from 30 feet to 100 feet of clearance.

With increased promotion of defensible space, many people were confused and had difficulty understanding what needed to be accomplished. The council implemented a volunteer advisory program with formal training by CAL FIRE and local resources to provide an advisory visit that mirrored a compliance inspection without the threat of enforcement.

The County of Nevada Office of Emergency Services offers a Defensible Space Inspection that is more formal than the Fire Safe Council's Defensible Space Advisory Visit. The County program attends more to compliance and complaint issues.

Fire Safe Council asks that people please consider making the suggested tax-deductible donation of $25 (to cover co…

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Partners in English Language Learning (PiELL) offers free, individualized tutoring for adult English language learners in Western Nevada County.

Volunteer tutors meet with students one-on-one in locations and at times that work for both.

Services include:

• One-on-one English language tutoring for adult learners
• English language assessment and tutor matching
• Preparation support for citizenship and driver’s license tests
• Volunteer tutor training twice per year (March and September)
• Ongoing mentorship for volunteer tutors

Additional notes

All tutors are fluent English-speaking volunteers trained by PiELL. Most students begin at a basic or low-intermediate level.

Learners and tutors commit to meet 1–2 times per week for at least one year. Students come from a wide range of countries and backgrounds.

Web pages

• Home - https://piell.org/

The Connecting Point Volunteer Hub is an online database for connecting Nevada County residents to volunteer opportunities in local nonprofits and public agencies.


Web pages

• Home - https://volunteerhub.connectingpoint.org/