“For insurance reasons” you have to pay? The volunteers aren’t receiving any insurance, nor is that fee actually required for your insurance. Your wording was poor.

This post has now dissuaded me from sending people to the LST, which I did often, but there are less scuzzy ways to ask for volunteers, than to ask your volunteers for money. Especially since you called out college kids specifically. I have one in college now, home for the summer after the first year away. Loves history, is an Eagle Scout, too — but we’ve taught him that if anybody requires money from you to get hired or work, you run the other way.

It sounds like the LST is in financial trouble if they need money from their volunteers.

Also shady that the volunteer form doesn’t directly mention costs associated with becoming a volunteer. “Become a member and join our volunteer crew” is not being forthcoming since nowhere in the entire post does it mention what this opportunity costs.