If you're 50 or older, live in one of the 19 communities we currently serve and can volunteer time to tutor and mentor a child, we need you. AARP Experience Corps is a volunteer program that helps children become great readers before finishing third grade. Our goals are to improve children's literacy, strengthen our communities, help develop cultures of inspiration in our schools and support our hardworking teachers. Our volunteers have already changed the lives of thousands of children in schools across America. With your help, we can do even more. Working collaboratively with teachers and other volunteers, you can change the course of a child's life by sharing your wisdom and experience.

What it takes to volunteer

Our volunteers should have a desire to help children improve their reading literacy. We are looking for people who:

• Are at least 50 years of age
• Possess a high school diploma or GED
• Will agree to and pass a criminal background check
• Will pass a basic literacy screening
• Can complete at least 25 hours of annual training
• Can serve 5 to 15 hours a week for the entire school year

Our volunteer recruitment cycle typically runs from June through August. By the end of August, volunteers have been trained and are ready to be placed for the school year. Independent studies have found that AARP Experience Corps tutors feel better about themselves, expand their circle of friends and become more active once they join the program. For more details, visit the Experience Corps website.

If you're looking for immediate volunteer placement working with youth or AARP Experience Corps is not in your area, our website lists other available volunteer opportunities, or you can visit AARP's Create the Good website and search for volunteer opportunities by area of interest and ZIP code.

Also of interest: Great books for any age.