7 High School Volunteer Programs to Inspire Students to Volunteer

Volunteering is a valuable tool to help teenagers prepare for the world. It promotes community connection, develops life skills like time management and responsibility, and helps young people learn how to devote themselves to a selfless cause. For this reason, many schools, community groups, and clubs have community service requirements for teenagers and students to fulfill.

With so many high school volunteer programs to choose from, it can be overwhelming to find a volunteer opportunity that works for your interests and schedule. Here are a few on Idealist that are consistently looking for high school-age volunteers!

1. Step Up Tutoring

Step Up Tutoring drives student success by providing virtual and high-impact tutoring and mentorship to elementary school students in under-resourced communities. Their high school volunteer program encourages older students to help out with these tutoring opportunities, which can develop empathy, self-awareness, and motivation (keys to strong emotional intelligence!). Check out Step Up Tutoring’s current volunteer opportunities on Idealist!

2. TeensAttackingMentalHealth

This organization is a teenage intervention initiative aimed at helping peers navigate issues of mental health pertaining to their school or personal lives. As a youth-led initiative, TeensAttackingMentalHealth encourages high school students to be changemakers in their communities and support their fellow students. Check out TeensAttackingMentalHealth’s current volunteer opportunities on Idealist!

3. Readers 2 Leaders

Readers 2 Leaders is a Dallas-based nonprofit that provides literacy tutoring in classrooms. As part of this high school volunteer program, teenagers can participate in the “Reading Buddies” volunteer opportunity to provide one-on-one reading assistance to younger students once a week. Check out Readers 2 Leaders’ current volunteer opportunities on Idealist!

4. UPchieve

UPchieve is an edtech nonprofit that connects low-income middle and high school students with live tutors 24/7 via their free, online platform. With a mission to close the college enrollment gap, this program wants to increase equal opportunities for students from lower-income communities to achieve upward mobility. While not solely focused on recruiting high school-aged volunteers, UPchieve’s 13+ age requirement encourages teenagers to get involved in their organization. Check out UPchieve’s current volunteer opportunities on Idealist!

5. We Can Ride, Inc.

This nonprofit is a volunteer-run organization on a mission to improve the lives of people with disabilities or special needs through equine-assisted activities, such as horseback riding. Based in Maple Plain, MN, We Can Ride, Inc. needs student-volunteers to help host lessons in hippotherapy and therapeutic riding. All training is provided, and this volunteer opportunity is especially good for groups of teens who want to spend more time with animals! Check out We Can Ride, Inc.’s volunteer opportunities on Idealist!

6. U+ Toastmasters

U+ Toastmasters is a nonprofit focused on offering public speaking programs for both youth and seniors, as well as educational camps throughout the year. Their high school volunteer program allows individuals 13+ to assist with a variety of programming, such as marketing events, leading sports practices, designing social media graphics, and more. The best part? Opportunities range from in-person to remote-from-anywhere! Check out U+ Toastmasters’ volunteer opportunities on Idealist!

7. The Teenage Girlhood

This organization is a community built for teenage girls, by teenage girls. With a mission to inspire peer-to-peer support of girls everywhere, The Teenage Girlhood is focused on creating a safe and collaborative community. To do this, their high school volunteer program relies on teenagers to participate in their initiatives and spread the word to help the girls of the future flourish. Check out The Teenage Girlhood’s current volunteer opportunities on Idealist!

These high school volunteer programs allow students to participate in a community service project that works for them!

If you’re a student yourself, I hope you are excited about one of the above programs. Whether you’re looking to mentor younger students, join a youth-focused organization, or travel for an international volunteer role, these organizations are a great start.