Top Summer Volunteer Programs for High School Students
by
Indigo Research Team
&
Published:
May 17, 2024
Last Updated:
September 11, 2024
Summers are great for pursuing your passion while engaging in meaningful activities and broadening your horizons. This time, contribute positively to society while giving some back with summer volunteer programs.
Volunteering for an organization helps expand your knowledge, introduce you to like-minded people and explore new possibilities. The best thing about volunteering is that most opportunities have a limited application process. Some do, but most don't.
To give you some great options, this post details 10 summer volunteer programs for high school students, ranging from research and awareness in STEM to public health and animal care.
Here are 10 programs that you can look into:
The nationally competitive STEM program is directed towards high school students, where they get the opportunity to work beside NASA experts. Students get to learn STEM concepts while meeting next-generation science standards.
This program centers around Earth and Space research. Interns and volunteers assist in analyzing and visualizing data, the key elements of moving the project faster. All the teams present their learnings and research conducted during the Virtual SEES Science Symposium.
The program offers a virtual program to facilitate students needing help onsite. The onsite program experience can be attained on campus at the University of Texas, Austin.
Fee/stipend: 100 lab sites are free but the standard cost of Space Teams is $495/year. Since this program is 100% supported by a NASA award, there is a $1,000 educator facilitator stipend.
Application Process: All facilities serving middle and high-school-aged youth are encouraged to apply. The NASA award that supports Space Teams Labs is focused on increasing STEM diversity.
Program Dates: March-August 2024, with the onsite component in July 2024 (based on the previous year's schedule)
Eligibility: Middle and high-school-aged youth.
The Summer Community Crews program focuses on cleaning and tending natural areas in your community spaces, such as waterfronts, urban landscapes and parks that require maintenance.
You learn collaboration and leadership skills while working with 6-12 high school students. Also, you get to complete trail maintenance and site restoration projects in national, regional, state or local parks.
Moreover, the crew leader takes you on field trips where you can learn about your local environment. These field trips are great opportunities to learn about camping, canoeing and biking.
Fee/stipend: Earn a stipend or wage for your work or receive credit for community service hours
Application Process: Ongoing
Program Dates: Summer Crews run five days a week from June through August.
Eligibility: High school students ages 15-19 are eligible
VolunteerMatch is one of the most effective ways to recruit highly qualified volunteers. They match you with like-minded people who share your passion and are willing to commit to your cause.
Usually, these volunteers are also donors who can contribute time and money. Since there are more volunteers and volunteer opportunities, VolunteerMatch is an excellent platform to connect good people with good causes and help bring about positive change.
Their automated system simplifies workflow and streamlines repeated tasks such as posting and reposting volunteer opportunities. It's fast-paced, effective and super easy to use. It’s a good opportunity for high school students to give back to the community.
Fee/stipend: None
Eligibility: Anyone can join
Meals on Wheels offers volunteer opportunities for high schoolers to engage with seniors and older people who require extensive help from volunteers to keep their services running.
Students get the opportunity to go the extra mile and deliver more than nourishment; they deliver companionship to seniors deprived of it. High school students volunteer to assist in the kitchens and make meal deliveries.
They strive to develop a human connection by eating meals with them, listening and sharing stories, and generally brightening the lives of older adults. Moreover, the volunteers develop empathy and understand the value of social responsibility.
Fee/stipend: None
Application Process: Register yourself here.
The United States Youth Conservation Corps (YCC) offers high school volunteer opportunities to engage young people in meaningful work for 8 to 10 weeks. If you love physical activity in nature, this program is for you.
The program includes experiences at national parks, fish hatcheries, wild refugees and forests where students develop ethics for environmental stewardship and civic responsibility. YCC offers paid daytime work activities with volunteers who commute to the Federal unit daily.
Offering summer camp volunteer opportunities for high school students, the projects include clearing invasive species, seed collection and propagation, youth hikes and trail maintenance.
Fee/stipend: Members are paid either the state or federal minimum wage (whichever is higher)
Application Process: Apply using the YCC application form for the 2024 YCC season
Program Dates: Varies with location, check the date against the location here.
Eligibility: Youth 15-18 years of age and are permanent US residents
The American Red Cross offers summer medical volunteer opportunities for high school students. The volunteers learn how to work effectively with people belonging to different backgrounds.
Also, they learn to mobilize communities and bring positive change in society. The high school students learn to polish their leadership skills, socialize with like-minded people and explore new interests in a friendly and encouraging environment.
The American Red Cross involves volunteers in healthcare-related activities such as disease management, disaster response and blood donation. The volunteers get first-hand experience in saving lives and look into several healthcare-related issues in the country.
Fee/stipend: None Eligibility: High school or college students can join or start a Red Cross Club
The Asian Art Museum's Art Speak Internship is one of the best volunteer programs for teens. It provides distinctive career training opportunities for high school students. The interns learn from the local artists and arts organizations to discover Asian art and culture.
Volunteers get to engage in social justice and youth activism. Moreover, they conduct informational interviews with the museum staff to develop leadership skills, explore career opportunities in arts and gain experience by conducting hands-on art activities.
Fee/perks: Discounts in the museum boutique (20%), museum cafe (10%) and museum membership (20%)
Application Process: The museum always recruits volunteers.
Program Dates: Volunteers who are applying for the summer months (May to September) must apply by May to be considered and must volunteer more frequently than twice a month for the summer months
Eligibility: You are at least 16 years old, interested in volunteering for an art museum, and commit to 96 hours annually.
The Special Olympics is about transforming lives, including your life. This global movement program focuses on the inclusion of people suffering from intellectual disabilities via programming in education, sports, health and community building.
Depending on their strengths, the volunteers can opt for multiple roles as event organizers, managers, trainers, coaches, officials, and fundraisers. If you are 16 and above, you are eligible to coach or be an assistant coach and can work directly with athletes.
Special Olympics competitions are held yearly at different levels, including local, regional, national and international.
Fee/stipend: None
Application Process: Become a Special Olympics volunteer by clicking here.
Eligibility: Anyone can volunteer
Keystone Club is one of the summer volunteer programs for 14-year-olds with a prominent presence in the United States. This extensive network of local clubs offers numerous volunteer opportunities.
The program mentors young children, provides volunteering services at the local library and manages events at the youth center. At the Keystone Club, you can join an existing club or start your own with at least six members.
As a team, you assess the group's passion for planning and implementing a project that benefits your community. Your project can be about education, recreation or any other service activity. You get to work with an adult advisor.
Fee/stipend: Not mentioned
Application Process: Enter your zip code and locate opportunities near you!
Eligibility: Boys and girls ages 14-18
This post outlines the Top 10 summer volunteer programs for high schoolers that allow the students to give back to the community. Most of these programs have a two-fold impact: educating passionate students in advanced academics and using their skills to assist in research. The listed programs strive to groom the next generation to volunteer and explore opportunities by participating in different projects.
You can do something meaningful by doing research such as deepening your intellectual curiosity and building expertise that would make your college application stand out.
Volunteering offers opportunities to explore your local community, demonstrate leadership skills, and contribute to meaningful causes. However, it's essential only to volunteer to fulfill admissions requirements. Instead, focus on cultivating a distinctive area of interest to enhance your candidacy. Volunteering can be a rewarding option for your summer activities if you're genuinely passionate about a particular cause and eager to make a difference.
A common query among students is whether to volunteer with local or national organizations. Although our curated list predominantly features national options, exploring local non-profits is also beneficial. You can easily discover these organizations by conducting a Google search in your area and identifying those hosting events or spearheading initiatives aligned with your interests.
If you are looking to do something meaningful aside from volunteering for the summer, join our IRIS Program! Indigo's Research Intensive Seasonal Program, is an online format targeted at 14-19 year old high school students. The IRIS Program offers courses in Politics & History, Comp Science, Psychology, AI, Genetics, Entrepreneurship and Engineering.
