All volunteer training seminars are conducted are held in Santa Barbara, California. Many people throughout the U.S. attend these seminars, and then return to volunteer as Raggedy Ann or Raggedy Andy in the nursing homes of their own community. In order to volunteer as Raggedy Ann* or Raggedy Andy*, prospective volunteers must first successfully complete the Adventures in Caring volunteer training seminar.

* Raggedy Ann and Raggedy Andy are not public domain characters, they are trademarks of Simon & Schuster, Inc. and are used by Adventures in Caring with their permission.
Seminar Times
All volunteer training seminars are conducted over a long weekend in Santa Barbara.
The hours are:

  • Friday evening: 6:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.
  • Saturday: 9:00 am - 7:00 p.m.*
  • Sunday: 9:00 am - 7:00 p.m.*

All sessions must be attended to complete the training.
IMPORTANT: Sessions may run longer than the times stated above, so we advise you not to make plans for the time immediately following the training sessions.
2007/2008 Seminar Dates



  • 2008
  • January 18th – 20th
  • April 11th – 13th
  • July 11th – 13th
IMPORTANT: Adventures in Caring Foundation reserves the right to cancel or seminar dates if necessary.

Seminar Details

Each of the Adventures in Caring Foundation’s volunteer programs begins with a hands-on training seminar. The goal of the seminar is to give volunteers the experience, information and skills they need to begin active service as
“Ambassadors of Goodwill” in the guise of Raggedy Ann and Andy.
Interacting with people who are critically or chronically ill, in a way that is warm, supportive and meaningful, is a rare talent. Yet it is a skill that Raggedy Ann & Andy volunteers develop. "Therapeutic Listening Care"* (TLC) is the method of communication which all Raggedy Ann & Andy volunteers learn.
*"Therapeutic Listening Care" was developed and refined by Karen Fox, the founder of Adventures in Caring Foundation.
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Raggedy Ann and Raggedy Andy are trademarks of Simon & Schuster, Inc. and are used by Adventures in Caring with permission. Licensed by United Media.