As most of you know, School One requires ten hours of community service per year or partial year of one's School One career. We're pretty flexible, but it should be pre-approved if there might be any question about its validity, and it must be verified in writing by and adult who's not a friend or significant other of the student. Doing nice things for relatives doesn't count as we should all be doing that anyway. This would be something students do with their own time to better the outside world. School one offers many opportunities for community service like serving on the Graduation Board of Review, helping out with school events and tutoring other students, but colleges like to see students go beyond their school to get some outside community service as well.
Outside (of school) Community Service Form:
It's smart to bring this form with you to community service activities (at least the final date of a long-term one) so that someone can sign it for you then and there. Each page of this form contains two forms: top and bottom. Be sure to get it to your advisor as soon as possible. We don't count community service until the advisor has this form.
Outside Community Service Feorm
Article with good advice about getting teens interested in community service:
Tips to help teens build resilience and want to do community service
Great website that can actually match you to volunteer opportunities in your area: Volunteer Match has experiences specifically for students, and you can narrow your search by location.
College Transitions lists national organizations that are open to high school volunteers. You will see many national, well-known non-profit organizations listed here. If you want to volunteer with a big name and potentially do work on a national level (which would look great on your resume, by the way), this is a great place to start your volunteer work search.
One great site to find local community service, even during COVID, is at https://www.justserve.org/?msclkid=8b4fb1cb6dd51f9c1efdee8e6f04aa5a, You just put in your zip code, and it gives you options.
There are many lists online for virtual community service. Here's one of the longer ones:
https://www.retailmenot.com/blog/virtual-volunteer-opportunities.html
Opportunities
1. Sat. April 25th, 2026 - Annual Neighborhood Clean-up, 8:30-1 (come and go as you have time.) Meet at the WBNA headquarters at 1560 Westminster Street to collect tools, bags, gloves, snacks and help tidy-up the neighborhood. A thank-you BBQ follows at 1pm at our building.
2. Sat. June 20th, 2026 - Annual Garden Stroll, 10-1. Volunteers needed to help at HQ giving out maps, availability for artistic students to draw chalk murals with kids, and various other small tasks to help the event run smoothly. Outgoing students are especially appreciated.
For both volunteer days, interested students can reach out to me directly at siobhan@wbna.org.
Norman Bird Sanctuary:
Calling all high school students! Our Camp Team is looking for volunteer Assistant Naturalists in Training (A.N.T.s) to apply to our 2024 Volunteer Program this season! We would like to invite you to apply online AND/OR pass the opportunity on to friends and family members who may be interested.
We are looking for teens who:
Are enthusiastic, love kids and being outdoors
Are interested in gaining valuable job experience and service hours
Can assist camp counselors by reinforcing rules, themes, and concepts
Can facilitate morning game time and song time
Can help with daily camp clean up and duties
The Details:
To apply, you MUST be entering 9-12th grade.
The online ANT application is available at: https://nbs.campintouch.com/ui/forms/application/staff/App
Upon receiving your application, we will contact you to set up an interview.
Once accepted into the program, ANTs commit to 2-weeks minimum and are welcome to volunteer for the full 8 weeks (June 24-August 16)
*All ANTs MUST attend scheduled trainings and connect with Julie Safford before start of camp (June 24)*
If you have any question, please feel free to email NBS' Lead Teacher Naturalist, Julie Safford (Jsafford@normanbirdsanctuary.org) or call (401)-846-2577 ex 415.
#TURNUPRI: Opportunity during April break (2024) for 8th through 12 graders:
Wednesday, April 17 from 9:30 until 3:30: RI's #1 Youth Summit and conference since 2015. It will take place at Times2 Academy at 50 Fillmore St. in Providence. There will be free workshiops, gift cards, prizes and more. Topics include STEAM (math/science and art), technology, educaiton, entrepreneurship, business, design, health, community and professional and personal development. To register, go to https://www.turnupri.com/
Neponset River Watershed Association opportunities in Mass.:
Marsh Study Underway Thanks to Legislators & Donors
The first phase of our project to save the Neponset's salt marshes is underway as our “State of the Estuary Project” begins in earnest with Woods Hole Group on board to document the existing health of our marshes and opportunities for marsh restoration.
Special thanks to Senators John Keenan, Nick Collins and Walter Timilty for securing state funds for this work! Thanks also to all the NepRWA members who responded so generously to our year-end Estuary challenge grant!
Read more about this project and the larger effort to save our salt marshes at neponset.org.
Fowl Meadow Cleanup with KHPB this Sunday
Sunday, March 24,10 am (rain/snow date April 7)
Meadow Road in Readville
Get your River cleanup muscles warmed up for the season with our friends at Keep Hyde Park Beautiful, Rep. Rob Consalvo and DCR at their 4th Annual Fowl Meadow Cleanup this Sunday. It's one of Greater Boston's most valuable wildlife habitats! Use their online form to register and get weather updates.
Neponset River Spring Cleanup Volunteers Needed!
Saturday, April 20 from 9 am - noon
Numerous sites all across the Neponset Watershed.
Why is it that everyone ends up so dirty at a river "cleanup"?
This Earth Day, show your love for the Neponset at one of our biggest cleanups of the year! Register to volunteer and bring your friends, family, scout group, green team, or co-workers.
We need all sorts of people! From site captains who know where the trash is, to those who check people in and catalog the finds, photographers, and of course folks to pick things up both light and heavy. Get more info and register for the Spring Cleanup!
The Neponset In Hyde Park: Past and Future
Saturday, April 6 and Saturday, April 20,
both events are 11:30 am to 2 pm and include free lunch
Boston Prep Charter School, 885 River Street Hyde Park
Join us, the Hyde Park Neponset River Access Committee and the Southwest Boston CDC for a pair of public workshops.
The first will discuss the fascinating history of the Neponset River in Hyde Park and the people who have lived along its banks.
The second will help develop a vision for the future with a more accessible public waterfront for the Hyde Park Community.
Full details and optional registration at Neponset.org.
Work for the Watershed!
NepRWA is looking for a full-time Engagement Specialist, a full-time Environmental Science and Engineering Fellow, two seasonal Greenway Interns, and two part-time summer Water Quality and Ecology Interns (volunteer). Learn more about these exciting opportunities to have a positive impact on the Neponset River and our Watershed communities, and submit your application on our employment page!
April 21, 1-3 p.m. Clean Up At Allin's Cove, Barrington: Barrington Land Trust
Older Opportunities that might still be available in some form:
WAMA, the merchant association on Wickenden St., hosts the Wickenden St. Maker's Market every spring and fall. We close Wickenden St. from Brook to Traverse streets (the block with Coffee Exchange and Blick art supplies) and we invite local artists to set up tents and tables to sell their work. There are a few food trucks and a dj, so it's kind of like a street party. We could use volunteers to help set up the show, assist vendors with finding their spots, empty trash cans, move tables, etc. Budding artists might also get an insight into how some artists earn a living by doing shows like this. We could use volunteers from 9:30am until 7pm. Probably a bit of a long stretch! It could be broken up into two shifts, one to help set up from 9:30a.m.-2p.m. or so, and then 2p.m.-7p.m. if that works. Ask Michaela if you are interested.
CLCF Soccer is looking for high school aged student volunteers in need of community service hours: Saturday (8:00 a.m. -1:00 p.m.) community service opportunities for students starting Saturday, September 9th. As a volunteer organization, we need help running our concession stand, staffing check-in tables and providing general help at the fields. We are also looking for older (juniors/seniors) players that would like to coach with a friend or with one of our parent volunteers. All Club Staff, Coaches, and parent volunteers are registered in the state soccer database that manages BCI checks.
Interested students should email me at developmentalsoccer@clcfsports.org. If a parent contacts me, make sure you include your student's email address. I will gladly include you, but volunteers need to communicate with me.
Tony DeSimone
Director of CLCF U-Littles & Developmental Soccer
401-447-6937
Here is all the information about the RICLC Youth Committee opportunity: The Rhode Island Civic Learning Coalition (RICLC)'s mission is to ensure that all Rhode Islanders have equitable access to high-quality civic learning opportunities. We are launching the Youth Voice Committee where students will be helping to lead the movement for equitable civic education in Rhode Island. They will gain valuable knowledge and skills related to civics education, advocacy, and leadership. Here is a one-pager with more details. Youth can sign up via this Google Form to receive updates. Students can also bookmark this Linktree which includes more details.
The Museum of Work and Culture and the RI Historical Society are looking for volunteers to edit Wiki pages about RI women. They have a periodic how-to sessions. Your work would count for community service.
The Refugee Dream Center is welcoming RI students to support refugee kids and teenagers that are living or about to arrive in Rhode Island. More info here: http://www.refugeedreamcenter.org/
Spotlight: Mubembo’s Donation. Mubembo Malamba is a refugee from Congo who resettled in America 4 years ago. A few months after his arrival in RI, he was connected to the Refugee Dream Center where he received case management support.
East Providence Halloween Parade Volunteers: October 30 from 9 - 12 (set up), 3-6 (during parade) and 4-7 (break down/clean up). This is service you can do in costume! If you're interested, reach out to Erin at egilliatt@epbgc.org. This is about as much fun as service is likely to get.
Fall Clean Up at Governor Sprague Mansion:
The Cranston Historical Society, and caretakers at the Gov. Sprague Mansion are in need of some help cleaning up the grounds. Please stop by to help us out with the fall clean up. We will meet at Gov. Sprague Mansion - 1351 Cranston Street - at 12pm on Saturday, November 13th.This is a great opportunity for anybody in need of community service hours!
South County RI Volunteer Opportunities:
https://www.southernrivol.org/communitypartners/
http://savebay.galaxydigital.com/need/index?agency_id=68996&dir=ASC&orderby=need_date
Groundwork RI has a Volunteering day the second saturday of every month. You can do gardening, maintenance, sifting and cleanups.
https://groundworkri.org/faq-items/do-you-take-volunteers/
Museum help on weekends
West Warwick- Fall clean up
Don't forget political campaigns if it's the right year. Working on a campaign one believes in can be fun and a good source of service hours.