Are you a recent high school grad looking to take some time to explore different options before college? Are you interested in helping to improve the environment while pushing yourself to grow? You’ve come to the right place. SCA offers a variety of activities to help you gain life experience and perspective during your gap year…all while serving the planet.

You’ll find opportunities in a variety of fields and locations, ranging from team-based programs to individual internships. Our programs will connect you with the most relevant government agencies, nonprofit organizations and corporate sector partners leading the way in conservation and environmental change. Nearly 80,000 young people have gone through SCA gaining conservation, leadership and life skills in the process. Learn more.

Traditional members strengthen communities and develop leadership skills through direct, team-based service. Live with a team of young adults from around the country, embark on an adventure, and build your resume along the way. Whether clearing trails for a national park or building homes for families in need, you’ll engage in a variety of projects and have a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

FEMA Corps members complete projects under the direction of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to support disaster preparedness and response. As a FEMA Corps member, you will conduct administrative tasks in an office setting, go door-to-door to help disaster survivors apply for assistance, or help organizations that respond to disasters.  

AmeriCorps members Get Things Done for America. They build safer, stronger, healthier, and united communities across the country. AmeriCorps improves lives and fosters civic engagement when it matters the most. 

AmeriCorps VISTA (Volunteers in Service to America) members bring passion and perseverance where the need is greatest: to organizations that help eradicate poverty. AmeriCorps VISTA members serve as a catalyst for change, living and working alongside community members to meet our nation’s most pressing challenges and advance local solutions. 

Jointly funded and managed by the U.S. and German governments, the CBYX scholarship is for motivated high school students who want to fully immerse themselves in German culture by living with a host family and attending a local high school. No previous language experience is required. 

The Kennedy-Lugar Youth Exchange and Study (YES) Abroad program, sponsored by the U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, is offering American high school students and recent graduates full scholarships to study for one academic year in countries of strategic importance. 

This is a US-based job search site. Many employers listed on CoolWorks are hospitality and guest service industry oriented. Locations include: national parks, lodges and resorts, ranches, restaurants, summer camps, campgrounds, ski resorts, retreat and conference centers, outfitters, and outdoor adventure companies. Non-service industry employers also use the site. These include: Conservation Corps, Organic Farms and Gardens, Alaska Fisheries, Wilderness Therapy Programs, Outdoor Educational Programs and Non-Profit Organizations. In some cases, housing is included. 

Global Citizen Year offers two experiences (Academy and Fellowship) designed to launch the leaders our world needs now. Both programs select talented students who represent society’s diversity and equip them with the empathy, agency and global network to drive impact today.

The U.S. Department of State’s NSLI-Y is part of a U.S. government initiative to foster international cooperation by ensuring that Americans have the necessary linguistic skills and cultural knowledge to effectively communicate globally. NSLI-Y provides overseas critical language study opportunities to American youth through merit-based scholarships to spark a lifetime interest in critical foreign languages and cultures.