Teens have a plethora of volunteer opportunities. Many nonprofit and government organizations may require volunteers, and some high schools now require students to complete a certain number of volunteer hours before graduating. Volunteering can be a great way to enrich your community, gain work experience, and even explore different career paths, even if it isn’t required your high school.
Start looking for volunteer opportunities for teenagers at your local middle or high school. Schools may request your assistance at the school, or at other schools in your district that need support, or that offer opportunities for teens to tutor or mentor younger students. School counselors may have lists of organizations that will give you ideas of groups seeking volunteers, and schools may even request your help at the school, or at other schools in your district that offer opportunities for teens to tutor or mentor younger students. More volunteer opportunities can be found at your local parks and recreation center, local hospitals, or any nonprofit organization you support (such as animal shelters, the Red Cross, churches, or political organizations).
There are many different types of volunteer opportunities for teenagers, and this article can’t possibly list them all. However, here are some suggestions to help you get started on the road to becoming a successful volunteer.
Hospitals can provide you with a variety of volunteer opportunities. Some hospitals still have candy striper programs, while others have less formal programs where you can visit patients, work in a child life center with hospitalized children, or run errands for them. Volunteering at local convalescent hospitals and long-term care facilities is extremely valuable. Despite the fact that this work is more difficult, many people in convalescent homes are separated from their families and would benefit greatly from a friendly visitor, someone to chat with, or even someone to read to them. If you have a special talent, such as playing the piano, another instrument, or singing, you can use it to provide entertainment to people in nursing homes, helping to enrich their lives.
Teens can volunteer with organizations like Habitat for Humanity to help build houses. Check the age requirements for each program. You can play an active role in actually building homes for deserving families while also learning a lot about building and construction.
Teen volunteers are needed the Red Cross and many blood banks. In fact, the Red Cross has a Junior Red Cross that is solely dedicated to providing volunteer opportunities for teenagers. You might be able to directly assist others, do office work, assist with education, or fill a variety of other roles.
Camps run Parks and Recreation Centers are frequently staffed teenagers. Look for day camps that offer these volunteer opportunities for teens if you enjoy working with children and are considering a career in education. Teens who volunteer for a year or two may be eligible for paid instructor positions. Alternatively, such centers could provide programs such as park or creek cleanups.
Extra hands are always needed in libraries, especially during the summer when more children visit. Learn how to shelf books, read stories to children, supervise sections of a library, or check out books to individuals. If you have good computer skills, you can assist people who are using library computers to navigate the Internet.
Animal shelters and wildlife rescues provide opportunities for teens to work directly with animals. You’ll have to clean up after yourself, but you’ll also get a chance to see if working with animals is right for you.
Teens may want to volunteer, but they may not have enough time to do so. If you are unable to participate in a regular program, look for one-time activities that are equally effective. For example, you can volunteer to help at a festival or yard sale hosted your school or church, which may take a few hours but does not require a long-term commitment.
Don’t overlook the importance of volunteering in your own community on occasion. Why not volunteer when you have the opportunity to help a neighbor who needs a favor, such as babysitting or running errands? Even though these volunteer opportunities will not appear on resumes, they are an opportunity to better your community.