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Leadership & Educational Opportunities
Level Up • Pursue Your Passion
Louisiana Youth Seminar: Apply ASAP
A long-standing summer leadership seminar held annually at Louisiana State University. Founded in 1971, LYS is a one-week immersive experience where high-school students develop leadership skills through hands-on activities focused on communication, goal setting, teamwork, self-confidence, and problem-solving. The program brings together a diverse group of students from across Louisiana and is organized and led by young professionals and college students.
Registration Deadline: ApplyDuration: One week during July (summer residential program at LSU).
Cost: $650 tuition (covers housing, meals, supplies, and LYS t-shirt); $15 refundable key deposit collected at check-in; $250 of the registration fee is non-refundable after May 15.
Eligibility: Open to Louisiana high-school students; welcomes incoming juniors and seniors, and sophomores who are up to the challenge.
Requirements:
Online registration
$250 deposit required to secure a spot
Tuition balance due by June 1
Application Deadline: Apply ASAP, first-come, first-served until capacity is reached. Application closes when full.
LA to LA (Los Angeles to Louisiana) Dance Experience: Apply ASAP
A free, two-day immersive dance experience designed to address gaps in accessibility, equity, and education for Black aspiring dancers in Baton Rouge, LA to LA brings professional dancers and educators from Los Angeles—many affiliated with USC’s Glorya Kaufman School of Dance—to provide high-level training, mentorship, and exposure to college and professional dance pathways.
Duration: 2 days — March 14–15, 2026
Location: Evolve 26 Dance Studio, 10163 Patriot Drive Suite 5, Baton Rouge, LA 70816
Eligibility: Black dancers ages 13–18; approximately 20–30 students selected through an application process.
Requirements:
Application submission
Commitment to attend both days
Interest in deepening dance training and exploring dance careers
Application Deadline: Applications accepted online; selection is competitive to ensure a focused, hands-on learning experience.
Camp Code for Girls: Apply ASAP
A free, one-week summer coding camp designed to take girls “behind the screens” and spark curiosity about technology. Campers build mobile apps, explore how STEM brings ideas to life, and gain confidence in coding through hands-on, collaborative learning in a supportive environment.
Duration: 6/8-6/12; 9:00a-3:00p each day
Location: Girl Scout DreamLab, 3005 W. Cabela’s Pkwy., Suite J, Gonzales, LA 70737
Cost: Free (a $25 registration fee is required to secure a spot; fee may be waived in cases of financial hardship).
Eligibility: Girls entering 7th, 8th, or 9th grade for the 2026–27 school year; participants do not need to be Girl Scouts.
Requirements: Registration required; full participation in daily camp activities.
Registration: Spots are limited; registration is first come, first served.
Syracuse University Summer College: 3/1/26
A long-standing pre-college program offering rising high school students the chance to explore potential majors and careers through college-level coursework. With over 100 courses available on campus, online, and on location in New York City or Los Angeles, students gain academic experience, build confidence, and strengthen their college applications while connecting with peers from around the world.
Duration: Summer program; session length varies by course and format.
Cost: Varies by course and format; scholarships available.
Eligibility: Rising high school sophomores, juniors, and seniors.
Requirements: Online application; enrollment dependent on course availability.
Registration Information:
3/1/26: Scholarship application deadline
5/1/26: Final application deadline
Applications are accepted on a rolling basis; courses fill quickly.
WashU Arts & Sciences Summer Programs: 3/1/26
A set of academically rigorous summer programs for high-school students interested in exploring humanities, social sciences, and STEM fields at Washington University in St. Louis. Students experience college-level coursework, campus life, and academic exploration while building skills for future college applications.
Duration:
High School Summer Scholars Program: June 7 – July 11, 2026
High School Summer Launch: July 13 – July 17, 2026
High School Summer Institutes: Dates vary by institute
Cost: Varies by program; financial aid may be available.
Eligibility: High-school students; specific grade-level elig2ibility varies by program.
Requirements: Online application; program-specific materials may include transcripts or short responses.
Registration / Application Info: Application deadline for all Arts & Sciences programs is April 1, 2026 at 4:00 PM CT.
National Student Leadership Conference: Rolling Deadlines
An immersive pre-college program for high school (and some middle school) students designed to build leadership skills, explore career concentrations, and experience university campus living.
Duration: Typically 6–18 days depending on the program.
Cost: Tuition varies by program type and length; financial aid available!
Eligibility: High-school students ages 14–18 who have completed at least one year of high school; some middle-school programs available for grades 6–8.
Requirements: Online application and tuition deposit; additional requirements vary by program type (residential vs. commuter).
Application Info: Applications accepted on a rolling basis; students may apply as long as space remains.
Common App Student Advisory Committee: 3/2/26
A national leadership opportunity where high school students advise the Common Application organization on student experience, equity, access, and platform improvements. Committee members collaborate with peers from across the country, provide feedback on Common App initiatives, and amplify student voice in the college application process.
Duration: One-year term (typically aligned to the academic year).
Eligibility: Rising junior or senior; students from diverse backgrounds and school contexts are strongly encouraged to apply.
Requirements: Online application; short written responses; commitment to attend virtual meetings and actively participate in discussions and feedback activities.
Registration Deadline: 3/2/26 at 11:59p
LCCA Summer Residential Program: 3/6/26
A two-week residential college-access program designed to help Louisiana students demystify the college search and application process. Rising juniors and seniors live on a college campus, take classes, visit a range of colleges and universities (community colleges, public and private universities, and HBCUs), and receive targeted support around college fit, financial aid, and applications.
The program prioritizes students who are first in their families to attend college or who have limited access to college readiness resources. Each student is paired with a Higher Education professional as a mentor throughout the process.
Duration: 2 weeks; June 14 – June 27, 2026.
Cost: Heavily subsidized; most or all costs covered by scholarship.
Eligibility: Louisiana students who are rising juniors or rising seniors; designed for first-generation college students or those with limited access to college readiness supports.
Requirements: Application submission; participation in residential program; $50 commitment fee due after acceptance.
Application Deadline: March 6, 2026
Ochsner STAR Summer Scholars Program: 3/20/26
A free, five-week summer program designed to inspire Louisiana high-school students to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering, and medicine through hands-on experiences, seminars, and mentorship with Ochsner Health professionals.
Duration: 5 weeks (typically early June – mid-July 2026)
Cost: Free (no program fee; transportation not provided)
Eligibility: Applicants must be at least 16 years old by the start of the program, currently in 11th grade, no minimum GPA or ACT/SAT required, Louisiana residents given priority, must have reliable transportation.
Requirements: Online application, 300–350 word essay, resume, short answer responses (150 words max), high-school transcript (9th grade to current), two letters of recommendation (non-relatives), participation in Acceptance Day & Meet & Greet with guardian, updated immunization record and tuberculosis questionnaire, maximum of two absences allowed.
Registration Deadline: TBA (Applications typically open in January and close in March)
Louisiana Youth Advisory Council (LYAC): 3/27/26
A statewide youth council that advises the Louisiana Legislature on issues impacting young people. Members gain leadership, public-policy, and community engagement experience.
Duration: One-year term with monthly meetings and statewide civic events.
Cost: Free.
Eligibility: Louisiana residents ages 14–19; enrolled in grades 9–12 (public, private, charter, homeschool, or approved GED program).
Requirements: Online application; parent/guardian consent; two recommendation letters.
Deadline Info: Applications typically open each spring (March–May).
Derek E. Gordon Arts Fund: Apply ASAP
Funding to support need and merit-based projects in the arts through travel scholarships to young individuals and/or groups in the Baton Rouge community. This fund aims to help young artists advance their careers through various artistic opportunities.
Eligibility: High school or college-aged artists who are permanent, legal residents of Louisiana
Grant Awards: Range from $500 to $2,500
Application Review: Based on the artistic excellence of the applicant's work, the degree to which the proposed project will help the applicant advance their career, and the potential of the individual artist
Application Requirements: Application form, Resume, Three work samples, Letter of support
YES Abroad (Kennedy-Luger Youth Exchange & Study Abroad Scholarship)
A fully-funded academic-year study abroad scholarship for U.S. high-school students, enabling students to live with host families and attend high school in a selected host country, while promoting cross-cultural understanding.
Duration: One academic year abroad.
Cost: Fully funded scholarship (covers tuition where applicable, room & board with host family, round-trip airfare, in-country support, visa fees, modest stipend).
Eligibility: U.S. citizen, enrolled in grades 9-12 (including home-school) at time of application, age approximately 15-18.5 at program start.
Requirements: Submit online application, transcripts, letters of recommendation, essays, participate in selection interviews; preference given to applicants who have not previously done an extended in-person exchange abroad.
Application Info: Recruitment for Academic Year 2026-2027 has been paused; prospective applicants should monitor website and register for updates.
Tulane University Pre-College & Summer Programs
An immersive summer experience for high-school students, offering both enrichment and credit-bearing courses, residential or commuter options, on the Tulane campus in New Orleans.
Eligibility: Rising 9th-12th grade students
Duration: Weekly sessions (1-2 weeks)
Application Requirements: Online application; in order to earn credit you must submit: transcript, essay, teacher recommendation
Registration Deadline: Applications for Summer 2026 likely open December 2025
LSU Cain Center Summer Academy
A competitive summer program for high-school students interested in entrepreneurship, leadership, and innovation. Hosted by LSU’s E. J. Ourso College of Business, the Cain Center Summer Academy gives students hands-on experience developing business ideas, learning from LSU faculty and entrepreneurs, and building teamwork and presentation skills.
Duration: Typically 1 week during the summer (exact dates vary by year).
Cost: $1250/camp, financial aid available
Eligibility: High-school students entering grades 10–12 (rising sophomores, juniors, and seniors).
Requirements: Online application; short written responses; commitment to full program attendance.
Registration Deadline: Applications for Summer 2026 are expected to open in early 2026; students should monitor the Cain Center website for exact dates.
Vanderbilt Programs for Talented Youth: Rolling Deadlines
Vanderbilt Programs for Talented Youth offers accelerated courses for advanced and high-achieving students in Kindergarten through 12th grade. Courses are designed for academically talented and motivated learners. PTY strives to offer courses led by Vanderbilt faculty, graduate students, and content experts.
Eligibility: 7th-12th grade student
Requirements: Complete application form, financial aid form, $50 application fee
Cost: Based on courses, financial aid available
Registration Deadline: Rolling until courses are full
Service Opportunities
Make Your Mark • Give Back
Greater Baton Rouge Food Bank
Volunteers are invaluable to the Food Bank. Without the thousands of volunteer hours each year, the Food Bank would be unable to provide food to the many children, seniors and families facing hunger in our community.
Eligibility: Must at least 14 years old (or 10 years with a guardian)
Hours: Based on availability
St. James Place Senior Living Community
A flexible, low-commitment volunteer opportunity supporting senior residents through activities, conversation, and events.
Hours: Flexible; volunteers may schedule shifts as available; 7 days a week between 9:30 AM and 4:30 PM; scheduling required in advance.
Eligibility: Open to high-school students interested in community service and engaging with seniors.
Requirements: Contact the volunteer coordinator to schedule hours; willingness to assist with resident activities such as games, parties, and conversation.
Contact directly to learn more & sign up
Phone: 225-215-4568
Email: ebozeman@stjamesplace.org
East Baton Rouge Parish Library (Virtual)
EBR Parish Library has created a virtual volunteering form where teens can recommend books/audiobooks in detail.
Eligibility: Must be in grades 6-12
How it works: For every fully filled-out recommendation form, you will receive 30 minutes of volunteering time
BREC
BREC needs volunteers to fulfill our mission of providing park and recreational opportunities for all residents of East Baton Rouge Parish. With a range of facilities and programs, BREC has a volunteer opportunity for everyone.
Eligibility: Must be at least 14 yeas old
Hours: Based on availability
Questions? Contact BREC at 225-272-9200 (ext 1446) or volunteer@brec.org
Louisiana Organization for Refugees and Immigrants
Louisiana Organization for Refugees and Immigrants (LORI) is a non-profit organization dedicated to helping refugees and immigrants achieve self-sufficiency by providing them access to critical services and support.
Habitat for Humanity
Habitat for Humanity seeks volunteers to work on construction sites and at its two Baton Rouge ReStore locations.
Eligibility: Must be aged 16+; construction volunteers must also sign a volunteer waiver
Construction hours: Wednesday or Saturday from 7:45am-3:00pm
ReStore hours: As assigned
Questions? Contact Kristen Lee at 225-927-6651 (ext. 212) or kristen@habitatbrla.org
Learn more | General volunteer registration form | Construction application & waiver form | ReStore volunteer interest form
Baton Rouge General Hospital
Baton Rouge General Hospital offers volunteer opportunities in multiple departments, including pharmacy, surgery, pediatrics, and arts in medicine.
Eligibility: Must be aged 15+ and maintain 2.5 GPA
Commitment: Min. 25 hours (one four-hour shift/week for six months)
Clean Pelican
We are working to create and maintain a clean, beautiful community where businesses and families want to stay, work and play. There are plenty of opportunities to clean up our city.
Eligibility: Must complete an interest form.
Hours: Based on availability
Jobs & Scholarships
Hands-on Experience • Money for School
Looking for part-time work? Check out these resources. ➡️
Keep in mind, your job should understand that you are a student first!
Scholarships by Grade:
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