As a high schooler, if you’re looking to gain practical experience, volunteer programs offer a powerful way to do both. As a high school student, volunteering lets you support causes you care about, whether that is education, healthcare, environmental work, or community service, while also developing skills that matter beyond the classroom. You are not just helping out. You are learning how to communicate, take initiative, and work with others toward a shared goal.
How can volunteering programs help you in high school?
Volunteering exposes you to real-world environments and challenges, helping you better understand the communities and systems around you. These experiences can shape how you see the world while building qualities like leadership, empathy, and responsibility. They also add depth to your college applications by showing long-term commitment and a willingness to contribute meaningfully.
Below, we have curated 12 volunteer programs for high school students that stand out for their structure, mentorship, and hands-on opportunities for personal and academic growth. You can also check out our blog on medical volunteer programs for high school students here.
13 Volunteer Programs for High School Students
1. DOROT Academic Year Teen Internship
Location: DOROT, Manhattan, NY
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; group interview required
Dates: Varies by session
Application Deadline: Multiple deadlines throughout the year
Eligibility: High school students
The DOROT Academic Year Teen Internship is a semester-long community service opportunity that connects high school students with older adults through intergenerational programs. In this internship, your volunteer activities will include providing tech assistance, leading chess sessions, and organizing social gatherings. Each activity is specifically structured to promote intergenerational learning, build friendships, and cultivate mutual understanding. You’ll receive training, earn service hours, and help older adults with everyday technology, all while developing empathy and communication skills. Each activity has its own schedule and time commitment, allowing you to choose what best fits your interests and availability.
2. AmeriCorps NCCC Summer of Service
Location: Multiple locations across the U.S.
Cost/Stipend: All participants will receive meals and housing, transportation, a modest living stipend, and a post-service benefit
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: June 9 – August 6
Application Deadline: March 31
Eligibility: Students between the ages of 18 and 26
The AmeriCorps NCCC Summer of Service is a full-time, two-month program that allows young adults to gain hands-on experience in environmental and community service work. The program starts with training at a regional campus (either Aurora, Colorado, or Vinton, Iowa). Following training, participants join a team of 6–12 peers for a project deployment across the U.S. These projects cover areas like renewable energy, conservation, disaster response, and environmental education. The program offers comprehensive support, including meals, housing, transportation, a living stipend, and a post-service award.
3. Boston Medical Center’s Junior Summer Volunteer Program
Location: Boston Medical Center, Boston, MA
Cost/Stipend: None
Cohort size: 70
Dates: June 30 – August 22
Application deadline: Not specified, but the application window opens on March 17
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors. Preference is given to Boston residents
The Boston Medical Center Junior Summer Volunteer Program is an eight-week experience for high school students interested in healthcare and hospital operations. You’ll volunteer at least once a week for a three-hour shift in departments such as the outpatient pediatric clinic, supporting staff, and interacting with patients. Alongside your volunteer work, you’ll attend weekly lectures led by medical professionals, including doctors, nurses, surgeons, and administrators, who share insights into their fields. The program offers a close look at how hospitals function and how different healthcare roles contribute to patient care. Participants receive volunteer credits and a certificate of completion at the end of the program.
4. UCLA Health Volunteen Summer Program
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective (limited number of spots each summer)
Dates: Orientation dates usually take place in the second week of June, and the participants must complete 50 volunteer hours by August 31
Application Deadline: The applications usually open in January and close in early spring
Eligibility: High school students who are at least 16 years old
The UCLA Health Volunteen Summer Program gives high school students a chance to experience the hospital environment while supporting patients, visitors, and staff. As a Volunteen, you can assist with patient transport, help visitors find their way, or deliver mail and newspapers across departments. The program requires a minimum commitment of 50 volunteer hours, with flexible scheduling options. Volunteers gain exposure to hospital operations, develop communication and service skills, and contribute meaningfully to patient care. Because of its popularity, the program is highly competitive, and early applications are encouraged.
5. Cedars-Sinai High School Student Volunteers
Location: Cedars-Sinai, Los Angeles, CA
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: No information available
Dates: Winter/Spring Session: January 26 – April 5 | Accelerated Summer Session: June 15 – July 19 | Fall Session: October 5 – December 13
Application Deadline: Winter/Spring Session: December 4 | Accelerated Summer Session: April 2 | Fall Session: August 6
Eligibility: Current high school students who are at least 14 years of age
The Cedars-Sinai High School Student Volunteer Program gives you firsthand exposure to the daily operations of a leading medical center. In this volunteer role, you will support the hospital by performing various duties, including data entry, patient orientation, phone reception, and distributing flowers or other amenities. This opportunity is valuable for understanding hospital operations and patient care, as it involves direct interaction with patients and healthcare staff. The program runs across three sessions each year, and volunteers are required to commit to an entire session, making it a strong opportunity to explore healthcare careers in a structured, professional setting.
6. ED Student Volunteer Trainee Program
Location: Primarily Washington, D.C.
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: Various cohorts throughout the year, including Fall (September – December), Winter/Spring (January – May), and Summer (May/June – July/August)
Application Deadline: Fall: July 31 | Winter/Spring: November 30 | Summer: March 31
Eligibility: Students who are at least 16 years of age. Check more details here
The ED Student Volunteer Trainee Program is an 8-10 week opportunity for high school and college students interested in government, education, and public policy. As a volunteer with the U.S. Department of Education, you’ll contribute to projects that support the agency’s mission while learning about how federal education policies are developed and implemented. This program offers a blend of practical experience and professional development. Participants benefit from workshops, networking events, and mentorship to gain valuable insight into organizational operations, policy work, and public service.
7. University of Miami Health System (UHealth) Summer High School Student Volunteer Program
Location: Multiple locations
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: June 16 – August 1
Application Deadline: April 1
Eligibility: High school students who are at least 16 years of age
Students in the University of Miami Health System (UHealth) Summer High School Student Volunteer Program receive direct exposure to the healthcare setting by supporting both patients and staff. The program offers practical experience in a dynamic medical environment, highlighting how various hospital teams collaborate for quality patient care. Key volunteer duties include assisting with administrative tasks, restocking supplies, providing directions, and helping patients with transportation and comfort needs. This role also involves interacting with visitors and healthcare professionals across different departments, providing insight into hospital operations and patient care.
8. Los Angeles Public Library Teen Volunteer
Location: 73 locations of the Los Angeles Public Library
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Open enrollment (over 2,600 teens)
Dates: Varies depending on the opportunity
Application Deadline: Open enrollment
Eligibility: Volunteers between the ages of 11 and 19
The Los Angeles Public Library (LAPL) provides three distinct volunteer programs for high school students across its 73 locations: the Teen Volunteer track (ages 14-19), which focuses on assisting librarians with tasks like organizing and supporting programs to earn community service hours; the Teen Council (ages 11-19), a leadership group that plans library programs and contributes to the teen blog; and Teens Leading Change (TLC) (ages 14-19), a civic action project that offers valuable leadership and project-management skills through identifying, planning, and implementing solutions to community issues. Interested students must complete an intake form and waiver, typically obtained from the local branch’s Young Adult or Senior Librarian.
9. Volunteer with Arlington County Summer Camps
Location: Multiple Arlington County Department of Parks and Recreation locations
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Open enrollment
Dates: Multiple sessions from June through August
Application Deadline: Rolling until full (first-come, first-served)
Eligibility: Volunteers must be at least 13 years old and at least two years older than the oldest camper in the program at which they are placed. Check more details here
The Volunteer with Arlington County Summer Camps program offers teens a fun and rewarding way to engage with their community and develop leadership skills. As an integral part of the camp staff, volunteers assist with a wide range of recreational activities, including supervising sports, games, arts and crafts, field trips, and special events. This opportunity provides practical experience working with children in a professionally supervised environment, helping teens build valuable teamwork and communication skills.
10. Field Museum Teen Volunteers
Location: Field Museum, Chicago, IL
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: At least 10 days in summer
Application Deadline: TBA
Eligibility: Current high school students
The Field Museum Teen Volunteers program gives high school students a unique platform to share their passion for science and history with the public. Teens split their summer commitment between the Crown Family PlayLab, where they facilitate hands-on activities for young learners, and Stanley Field Hall, where they use interpretive carts to present real museum specimens to visitors. This role offers experience in science communication and education, requiring a minimum commitment of 10 volunteer days throughout the summer.
11. Children’s National Summer High School Volunteer
Location: Children’s National Hospital, Michigan Avenue NW, Washington, D.C.
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Moderately selective
Dates: June 23 – August 1 (tentative, based on the previous year’s program)
Application Deadline: Applications open in early February
Eligibility: Current 9th – 11th graders who are at least 15 years old
The Children’s National Summer High School Volunteer Program is a two-week opportunity for high school students to gain firsthand experience in a pediatric hospital environment. You’ll assist with hospital operations by greeting patients and visitors, helping with wayfinding, and supporting departments across the hospital. Alongside volunteering, you’ll take part in guest lectures, workshops, and team-building activities led by healthcare professionals. A highlight of the program is a collaborative group project focused on improving the patient experience. Designed and supervised by the Volunteer Services team, this program helps you build communication, leadership, and teamwork skills while exploring future pathways in healthcare.
12. VolunTEEN Program at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta
Location: Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta centers (Arthur M. Blank Hospital, Hughes Spalding, Scottish Rite) in Atlanta, GA
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Moderately selective
Dates: June 9 – August 1
Application Deadline: February 7
Eligibility: High school students aged 15 to 18. Check more details here
The VolunTEEN Program at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta is an eight-week summer opportunity for high school students aged 15-18 to gain hands-on exposure to pediatric healthcare. Volunteers commit to one three-hour shift per week, contributing to the hospital environment by assisting in patient units, play areas, and front desks. Key responsibilities involve engaging young patients through crafts and games, offering support to hospital staff, and fostering a welcoming atmosphere for families. This program provides experience in teamwork, communication, and hospital operations, while directly benefiting children undergoing care.
One more option – Horizon Academic Research Program
If you’re looking for a competitive mentored research program in subjects like data science, machine learning, political theory, biology, and chemistry, consider applying to Horizon’s Research Seminars and Labs! This is a selective virtual research program that lets you engage in advanced research and develop a research paper on a subject of your choosing. Horizon has worked with 1000+ high school students so far and offers 600+ research specializations for you to choose from. You can find the application link here!
Image source – DOROT