Enrichment Opportunities (including internships and pre-apprenticships)

TurnUp Internship

All Grade Levels - No deadline, Rolling Admission

TurnUp Activism is a progressive non-profit organization dedicated to making the world more just, fair, and equitable for all by increasing youth activism and civic engagement to strengthen our democracy.

Interns work in remote teams of mission-driven young people from all around the country to help amplify youth civic engagement and participate in activism on many progressive/social justice issues including climate change, racial justice, reproductive rights, ending gun violence, and combating voter suppression.

Impact NW Manufacturing Pre-Apprenticeship Program

18 and older - Fill out the interest form!

Impact NW's Manufacturing Pre-Apprenticeship is a 7-week in-person course geared toward individuals aged 18-24 with a vested interest in pursuing a manufacturing career. Manufacturing Pre-Apprenticeship participants will gain relevant industry-specific technical knowledge and employability skills.

Lents Youth Initiative Internship

Sign up for an info session on April 5th!

In the summer, up to 30 interns are hired to lead projects and collectively contribute thousands of hours to projects that benefit the neighborhood. Past participants have completed internships at Zenger Farms, Friends of Trees, Portland State University Learning Gardens Lab, Portland Parks & Recreation, Leach Botanical Garden, Johnson Creek Watershed Council, Forth Mobility, Lents Farmer’s Market, Green Lents, and ROSE Community Development.

Girls Who Code Summer Program

All Grade Levels - Deadline March 22, 2024

In the 2-week Summer Immersion Program (SIP), high school students attend live, virtual classes sponsored by industry-leading companies like MetLife, Bank of America, Logitech and Synchrony. SIP students will dive into the tech world and game design, covering beginner to intermediate CS concepts, the step-by-step design process, and the basics of UX design.

UPTURN Program

All Grade Levels - April 4, 2024

The UPTURN Leadership Academy is a paid, 4-week leadership series that develops and builds the knowledge and skills of young people interested in learning the origins of social justice, social movements, and building power within themselves to show up for and within their community. At it's core, this is an introductory course into community organizng 101. You'll be in a cohort of about 50 to 60 other young people across Oregon! 

Youth interested in policy, activism, or community organizing are encouraged to apply. No special skills or experience is required, just a passion to lead our communities forward!

Oregon State University Summer Veterinary Experience

Sophomores and Juniors - Due April 15th

Mentors and instructors work with students to discover and explore their talents and understanding of the basic sciences, animal and human health, and social sciences. Throughout the experience, staff provide a supportive atmosphere, with emphasis on teamwork and open discussion. Participants also receive guidance on preparing for college and the financial aid process. While the schedule for the program varies slightly each year, we generally offer sessions on undergraduate and DVM admissions, how to do a physical exam, utilize microscopes to look at parasites, small animal rehabilitation demonstrations, clinical skills labs, career panel discussion, tours, and much more!

Eagle Caddie Program

Freshmen Only - Due May 3, 2024

A history of interest in the game of golf is not required. EAGLE Caddie Program participants successfully completing the program become eligible to apply and compete for an Evans Scholarships. This scholarship provides college tuition and housing at the University of Oregon and may be renewed for up to four years. The scholarship is valued at more than $100,000.

All Grades Eligible - Deadline TBD

PSU's Summer Business Institute (SBI) is an opportunity for HS students to explore business and experience college/campus life. Students engage in college-level courses with PSU School of Business faculty, meet with local business leaders, compete in a Shark-tank style pitch competition, connect with their peers, and receive mentorship from current SB students and SB alumni.

Sophomores and Juniors - Deadline TBD

Camp College provides rising juniors and seniors with an opportunity to spend time on Willamette’s campus experiencing college life, preparing for, and making progress on, their college search. Organized by the Office of Admission, participants will reside in our residence halls and connect with members of the Willamette community, including professors, staff and current students for experiences that will demonstrate what their time in college will be like. Participants will also attend workshops to prepare for the college application process and visit other nearby colleges to have a wider view of the options that exist in the Willamette Valley.

STEP-UP Research Program

Juniors and Seniors - Due February 15, 2024

STEP-UP supports high school juniors and seniors from groups historically excluded from science to spend a summer in a paid, full-time, 8-week internship at research labs near their home.

Architechture, Construction, Engineering Mentorship Program

Juniors and Seniors (Sophomores on space availability) 

Deadline TBD

ACE is an after-school mentorship that connects Portland area high-school students to careers in Architecture, Construction and Engineering. Our local program serves nearly 150 students per year and relies on 100 volunteer mentors, all professionals in their fields, to coach students in a hands-on, team-oriented project. The program has demonstrated success in helping Oregon students graduate from high school, earn scholarships to college or apprenticeship training, continue their education, and make informed career decisions.

OHSU Cancer CURE Program

Sophomores, Juniors, and Seniors - Deadline TBD

The Ted R. Lilley Continuing Umbrella of Research Education (CURE) Program is a research internship program that offers hands-on research experiences to Portland-area high school students who excel academically and come from socially or economically disadvantaged backgrounds. The goal of this program is to address the issue of health equity by increasing participation of underserved and underrepresented minorities in biomedical research and other health-related fields. 

What can CURE Interns expect? 

• Work a maximum of 40 hours a week (includes seminars) for 8 weeks in a lab with a Knight Cancer Institute faculty member 

• A stipend (approximately $11 an hour/40 hours a week) and a bus pass for the duration of the program Attend weekly seminars, as well as adhere to faculty mentor expectations and curriculum 

• Participate in a poster presentation attended by the lab employees, directors and other staff of the Knight Cancer Institute

Summer Internship Program for Developmental Disabilities

16 or older - Deadline TBD

Held every summer, the University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities (UCEDD) Summer Internship Program (SIP) provides opportunities for high school or early college students to gain in experience in the disability field, develop transferable skills and learn about various career paths in health care and disability. Students will have to commit 24 hours per week for 8 weeks and will be paid a $1,800.   

MIT Introduction to Technology, Engineering, and Science Program

Juniors Only - Application Due February 1, 2025

Join MITES Summer (formerly MITES) for our six-week, on-campus program that immerses students from across the country in life at MIT. You’ll take five rigorous, rewarding math, science, and humanities courses—and discover all you can achieve. You’ll also participate in lab tours and social events, and benefit from college admissions counseling. This national program gives you firsthand insights into the value and reward of STEM degrees and careers, while also developing the academic and personal skills you need for success. 

Students from the following backgrounds are strongly encouraged to apply:

• Underrepresented in science and engineering, defined as being African American, Hispanic/Latinx, or Native American

• Underserved, defined as coming from low socioeconomic means, which may be indicated by qualification for free/reduced lunch

• Potentially the first family member to attend college

• Absence of science and engineering degrees in family

• Coming from a high school with low admittance rates to top-tier colleges, especially rural or predominantly minority high schools

Apprenticeships in Science and Engineering Program

Freshmen, Sophomores, and Juniors - Due March 8, 2024

The Apprenticeships in Science & Engineering (ASE) program connects motivated high school students with mentors in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) pre-professional internships. The driving value behind the ASE program is that the interns should contribute to and learn from the mentor's work.

Internships are eight-week, full-time summer positions, designed by mentors themselves. These internships take place throughout Oregon and Southwest Washington, including Portland, Eugene, Corvallis, and Vancouver. Mentor organizations include universities, hospitals, research institutions and private companies.

Student Healthcare Leaders Program

All Grade Levels - Due March 11, 2024

Student Healthcare Leaders (SHL) gives high school students an introduction to the abundant and diverse career opportunities available in health care. This after-school program uses interactive explorations and panel discussions to help young people explore health care, become enlightened about what it includes and engage with health care professionals.