FREE YMCA LIFEGUARD TRAINING & CERTIFICATION (PAID) 

WHO: High school students 16 or older

WHAT: Earn while you learn! You’re one click away from starting your journey to become a lifeguard!

 The YMCA’s nationally-recognized Lifeguard Certification program prepares you for one of the most highly demanded jobs in the country.

• Course is free

• 2025 Participants earn a stipend while taking the lifeguard training course 

• Get a new hire bonus when you become certified through our course and join our team  

• YMCA Lifeguard Course allows the use of corrective lenses.

• Minimum age to participate is 16 years old by the final day of the course.

• This is the YMCA Lifeguard v6 Certification.

WHERE: NYC Locations

WHEN: Dates vary based on location 

HOW: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdt_MPwcOcwhTP0Ob2XHSrqyxcyidftJXFyrAmg3S1TVfLLwA/viewform

DEADLINE TO APPLY: OPEN

THE EMPOWER FELLOWSHIP SOCIAL JUSTICE FELLOWSHIP (PAID)

WHO: High school students between the ages of 15- 19 and living in New York City

WHAT: The EMPOWER Fellowship program at YA-YA is rooted in the foundation of social justice advocacy; that we, ourselves, must take an active role in our own growth. Empower focuses on identity development, self-esteem, confidence building, and leadership training. Throughout the spring, Empower fellows will complete an intensive program that focuses on the following: (I) Self Awareness & Identity Development, (II) Social Justice & Unlearning, (III) Action & Allyship (IV) Action Project. During the Action Project stage, young folks will get the opportunity to engage in an advocacy project of their choice.

WHERE: 135 W 36th St. PH, New York, NY 10018.

WHEN: The Empower Fellowship will take place every Monday and Wednesday from 

4:30-6:30pm from October 4th until March 24th. 

DEADLINE TO APPLY: September 23rd, 2025

HOW: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeL_8_YHxJfz9Xf0c4yG7x8quHxbySXHHyYigRv_eHRHqPr_A/viewform

LIBERATED YOUTH LEADERS PROGRAM (YLP) (UNPAID)

WHO: High school Students 9th to 12th grades

WHAT: The LiberatED Youth Leaders Program (YLP) is a six-part virtual series open to current high schoolers (9th-12th grade) who live in the Northeastern region of the United States. As a part of the YLP, you will collaborate with LiberatED staff and fellow youth to co-create a healing-centered community focused on leadership development, self-advocacy, stress management, emotional intelligence, and mental health supports. The space is designed for you to bring your authentic self to share what you need to be engaged at school and beyond. We hope our time together supports you to learn to be the architect of your own learning.

WHERE: 92 Plymouth St. Brooklyn, NY 11201

WHEN: We will meet on Thursdays from 6:00-7:30 pm ET for the following dates:

1. October 9, 2025

2. October 16, 2025

3. October 23, 2025

4. October 30, 2025

5. November 6, 2025

6. November 13, 2025

DEADLINE TO APPLY: September 26th, 2025

HOW: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScbx4K2WW1hQUJ8XK4p88qnYEUL_KAew7rxwbCuHyJL4k1wSg/viewform

NYCLU TEEN ACTIVIST PROJECT APPLICATION (NYC)(PAID)

WHO: High School students ages 14 & up

WHAT: NYCLU's Teen Activist Project (TAP) is an exciting youth program that engages New York City teens as leaders and organizers on civil rights and civil liberties. TAP members work on a range of advocacy issues including but not limited to students' rights, racial justice, the rights of pregnant and parenting teens, policing, LGBTQ rights, immigrants' rights, freedom of speech and religion - and more! TAP is a great opportunity for young people interested in law, health care, social justice issues and community organizing. TAP programming will be fully in-person. 

WHERE: The locations of the following meetings will be announced as soon as possible.

WHEN: Be available to meet Mondays from 4:00pm - 6:15pm

• Be able to commit to meeting at least one additional day of the week outside of Monday

DEADLINE TO APPLY: October 10th, 2025

HOW: https://action.aclu.org/webform/2025-2026-nyclu-teen-activist-project-application-nyc

ART READY (UNPAID)

WHO: High school aged artists in 10th to 12th grades

WHAT: Smack Mellon’s Art Ready program connects high school aged artists in 10th to 12th grades with New York City’s most innovative and inspiring cultural makers. The program is open to students attending New York City public high schools who are fully vaccinated against COVID-19. 

Art Ready operates during the school year and includes a series of studio visits with emerging and established artists; a series of field trips to museums and galleries; a portfolio prep workshop; and a 15-week arts mentorship which culminates in an exhibition of student work. Art Ready connects up to twenty-one high school students with seven diverse artists, to gain practical experience working with professionals in a variety of artistic disciplines. There is no fee to participate, and all expenses are paid.Art Ready engages young people in a way no other arts education program does. It pairs students directly with working artists; the students learn firsthand over the course of a school year what it is to be an artist. Working as mentors, the artists provide professional and creative guidance as the students make decisions about their futures in the arts. Mentor/teaching artists tutor the students in their creative process, introduce them to new ways of working, and engage them in continuous critical reflection.

WHERE: 92 Plymouth St. Brooklyn, NY 11201

WHEN: Wednesday afternoons from 4:00-6:30pm, October 22, 2025 through May 20, 2026 From October 2025-January 2026

DEADLINE TO APPLY: October 1st, 2025

HOW: https://smackmellon.submittable.com/submit