Spring Arbor’s private sitter network
Vetted student sitters for Spring Arbor families.
Village Sitters connects local families with personally screened Spring Arbor University students. Post the time you need, a verified sitter claims it, and you connect directly — no strangers, no agencies, no markups.
- Every sitter verified through her active @arbor.edu email
- Personally screened and approved before her first sit
- You pay your sitter directly — we never take a cut
University-verified sitters only
Screened by a real person, not an algorithm
Zero commission — sitters keep 100%
Why Village Sitters
Everything a big platform does. Nothing a small town doesn’t want.
National babysitting sites hand you a stack of profiles from strangers and charge everyone along the way. We built the opposite: a closed, moderated network for one community.
University verification
Sitters can only register with an active Spring Arbor University email address. If she is not part of the SAU community, she cannot create an account — full stop.
Personal screening
Every application is reviewed and approved by our founder before a sitter sees a single request. No auto-approvals, no bulk imports, no exceptions.
Instant claim system
Post once and every approved sitter is notified immediately. The first to claim your sit gets it, and you see exactly who she is in real time.
Privacy by design
Phone numbers are exchanged only after a sitter claims your sit — nothing personal is ever posted publicly or shared with browsing users.
Direct, transparent pay
You set the rate on every post — most Spring Arbor families offer $15–20/hr — and pay your sitter directly. Every dollar goes to her.
Community standards
Clear 24-hour release rules, cancellation notifications, and an actively moderated membership keep the network dependable for both sides.
How it works
From “we need a sitter” to “she’s confirmed” in three steps.
- 1
Post your sit
Date, time window, number of kids, and the rate you are offering. Takes under a minute.
- 2
A verified sitter claims it
Every approved sitter is notified instantly. First come, first served — and you immediately see her name, year, and phone number.
- 3
Connect and pay directly
Text her the details, enjoy your evening, and pay her in person or by Venmo. Village Sitters never touches the money.
For SAU students
Earn on your schedule, with families who are already members.
- Typical rates of $15–20/hr, set up front on every post — no negotiating
- Claim only the sits that fit between classes — no minimums, no penalties
- Families are paying members of a moderated network — screened for you, too
- Free forever for sitters. You keep every dollar you earn.
From the community
What members are saying
“I posted at lunch and had a confirmed sitter — a junior studying elementary ed — before school pickup. This is how it always should have worked.”
“The families already trust the network, the times are posted up front, and I get paid the same night. It fits perfectly between my Tuesday classes.”
Preview quotes shown while the founding cohort completes onboarding — member reviews are collected and published with permission.
Simple pricing
$20 a year per family. Sitters are free. That’s the entire pricing page.
No booking fees, no per-sit charges, no commission on what you pay your sitter. Your membership funds the verification and moderation that keep this network worth being in.
$20/year
See what’s includedCommon questions
How are sitters vetted?+
Two layers: every sitter must register with an active @arbor.edu email address, and every application is then personally reviewed and approved by our founder before the sitter can see or claim any request.
How do sitters get paid?+
Directly by you — cash or Venmo after the sit. You set the offered rate on every post, and 100% of it goes to your sitter. Village Sitters never processes or takes a cut of sitter pay.
What if a sitter cancels?+
A sitter can release a claim only 24+ hours before the start — your sit instantly reopens and every other approved sitter is re-notified. Inside 24 hours, community rules require her to call you directly.
Is my information public?+
No. Sits are visible only to approved sitters, and your phone number is shared only with the one sitter who claims your sit. Nothing is ever posted on the open internet.
Date night is back on the calendar.
The school year is when sitters’ schedules fill fastest. Join the founding cohort of Spring Arbor families today.