13 Summer Volunteer Programs for High School Students
If you are a high school student, summer volunteer programs offer an excellent way to gain practical experience, build meaningful skills, and explore different industries. Summer volunteer programs allow you to work with hospitals, museums, and community organizations, giving you exposure to work environments. By volunteering, you can develop skills in communication, teamwork, project coordination, youth engagement, and patient support, skills that will benefit both your college applications and future career.
For students interested in giving back to their communities, summer volunteer programs are a great way to understand social impact work and explore causes you care about. Many programs include site visits, supervised training, and collaborative projects that help you learn while making a meaningful contribution. To help you get started, we’ve put together a list of 13 summer volunteer programs for high school students.
1. UCLA Health – Volunteen Summer Program
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Cost/Stipend: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: Orientation in late June; service completed by August 31
Application Deadline: Opens in January
Eligibility: High school students aged 16+ years
The Volunteen Program places students in a structured hospital environment where they support operational tasks that enhance the patient experience. Throughout the summer, you assist with wayfinding, patient transport coordination, and essential service workflows across different departments. You’ll gain familiarity with the systems hospitals use to manage visitors, patient movement, and communication between units. Some assignments may also be completed remotely, giving you exposure to administrative projects. If you're exploring healthcare-focused summer volunteer programs for high school students, this program offers a strong introduction to clinical operations.
2. Ladder Internship Program—Nonprofit track
Cost: Varies depending on program type. Full financial aid available.
Location: Remote! You can work from anywhere in the world.
Application Deadline: Deadlines vary depending on the cohort. Spring (January), Summer (May), Fall (September), and Winter (November).
Program Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year, including Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter.
Eligibility: Students who can work for 10-20 hours/week for 8-12 weeks. Open to high school students, undergraduates, and gap year students!
Ladder Internships is a selective start-up internship program for ambitious high school students! In the program, you work with a high-growth start-up on an internship. Start-ups that offer internships range across a variety of industries, from tech/deep tech and AI/ML to health tech, marketing, journalism, consulting, and more. Ladder’s start-ups are high-growth companies on average, raising over a million dollars. Interns work closely with their manager at the startup on real-world projects and present their work to the company. The virtual internship is usually 8 weeks long.
3. Children’s Hospital Los Angeles – High School Summer Volunteer Program
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Cost/Stipend: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: ~20 students
Dates: June 17 - August 2
Application Deadline: Opens early February
Eligibility: High school students aged 15 - 17 years
CHLA’s program places students in high-traffic, patient-facing areas where they help families navigate the hospital and assist staff with basic administrative tasks. You’ll work consistent shifts that immerse you in the daily routines of a pediatric medical center. Responsibilities such as escorting visitors, answering questions, and supporting unit staff help you build confidence and communication skills. The small cohort structure ensures you receive close supervision and direct exposure to hospital operations. This competitive program is well-suited for students seeking hands-on, healthcare-oriented summer volunteer opportunities.
4. University Hospital – Junior Volunteer Program
Location: San Antonio, TX
Cost/Stipend: Unpaid
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: June 23 - July 3
Application Deadline: February 21
Eligibility: High school students aged 15 - 17 years
This short, intensive program introduces students to hospital operations through supervised service rotations. You’ll support tasks such as patient support, administrative tasks, and unit-based projects that require clear communication and attention to detail. Orientation sessions prepare you for hospital protocols and expectations. Staff mentors guide you through assignments that demonstrate how non-clinical teams keep large medical facilities functioning smoothly. The structured schedule makes it a good match for students who prefer shorter summer volunteer commitments.
5. Cooper University Health Care – Student Volunteer Program
Location: Camden, NJ
Cost/Stipend: Unpaid
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive for summer
Dates: June - September
Application Deadline: Varies depending on the session
Eligibility: High school students aged 14 - 17 years
Volunteers at Cooper Health support departments such as transport services, radiology administration, patient assistance, and concierge teams. You’ll complete tasks that strengthen your organizational, communication, and customer-service skills. Department supervisors provide structured guidance as you learn how different hospital units coordinate daily operations. Summer roles are particularly popular due to expanded opportunities for student volunteers. This program is a strong choice if you're seeking a healthcare-focused volunteer program with structured department placement.
6. Kaiser Permanente Los Angeles Medical Center – Teen Volunteer Program
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Cost/Stipend: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: Rolling start dates
Application Deadline: Year-round interviews (except July & December)
Eligibility: High school students who can give a 100-hour commitment
Kaiser Permanente’s long-term program places you in non-clinical support roles across departments such as reception, patient services, and administrative operations. Before beginning, you must complete onboarding steps that include a health screening, orientation, and background check. Once placed, you assist staff with tasks that support efficient patient flow and communication. The yearlong commitment allows you to build consistency and build strong service habits. This extended volunteer option is useful if you want a broader experience beyond typical summer volunteer programs.
7. Cedars-Sinai – High School Student Volunteer Program
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Cost/Stipend: Free; $30 for uniform jacket
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive
Dates: June 16 - July 20
Application Deadline: Summer: April 4
Eligibility: High school students aged 14 - 18 years; GPA of 3.2+
Cedars-Sinai introduces volunteers to the operational aspect of hospital administration through responsibilities such as organizing records, supporting front-desk operations, assisting with deliveries, and helping with communication tasks. Each session includes onboarding steps to prepare you for professional expectations. By interacting with staff and contributing to routine workflows, you gain insight into how one of the nation’s major medical centers manages daily operations. The program emphasizes punctuality, professionalism, and reliable communication. It’s a strong choice for high school students exploring structured healthcare-focused volunteer opportunities.
8. Hospital of Central Connecticut – Teen Volunteer Program
Location: New Britain, CT
Cost/Stipend: Unpaid
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: Year-round and summer options
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: High school students aged 14+ years; an interview is required
This program places students in hospital support roles such as reception assistance, patient escorting, and unit coordination. You’ll observe how clinical teams manage communication, visitor flow, and general operations. Volunteers complete an interview, a recommendation requirement, and a health clearance before beginning service. Consistent shifts help you build professionalism, reliability, and interpersonal skills. This program offers a steady pathway for students looking for accessible healthcare-oriented summer volunteer programs.
9. Stamford Health – Junior Volunteer Program
Location: Stamford, CT
Cost/Stipend: Unpaid
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: June - August
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: High school students aged 16 - 17 years; requirement of 100 hours
Stamford Health volunteers support departments such as the emergency department, cancer center, and patient-experience teams. Depending on your placement, you may assist with comfort services, reception tasks, and administrative duties. Weekly after-school or summer shifts help you build consistent work habits and communication experience. Volunteers complete onboarding steps, including standard health documentation. This is a valuable training environment if you’re considering healthcare-adjacent summer volunteer programs for high school students.
10. Moran Ecoteen Volunteer Program – Houston Museum of Natural Science
Location: Houston, TX
Cost/Stipend: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: Summer sessions (2-week minimum)
Application Deadline: Spring
Eligibility: Rising 9th - 11th graders
The Ecoteen program places students within museum education teams to support summer camps, exhibit engagement, and science activities. You’ll help visitors interact with exhibits, prepare materials, and assist educators with group coordination. These responsibilities strengthen communication and leadership skills, especially in a STEM-based public education environment. Returning volunteers may assist with short presentations or outreach events. This program stands out among summer volunteer programs for high school students seeking STEM-oriented volunteer experiences.
11. League of Women Voters of Houston – Youth Engagement Internship
Location: Houston, TX
Cost/Stipend: Unpaid
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Flexible
Dates: Year-round with summer availability
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: High school students from the Houston area
This internship places students in non-partisan civic engagement activities, such as voter registration support, community information booths, and library-based educational sessions. You’ll help run events, prepare outreach materials, and interact with community members seeking information. Volunteers may also contribute to data entry or operational tasks within the League’s offices. These responsibilities build skills in public speaking, organization, and event coordination. It's a strong match if you're interested in civic-focused volunteer opportunities.
12. Asian Art Museum – Volunteer Program
Location: San Francisco, CA
Cost/Stipend: Unpaid
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: Year-round; summer eligible
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: High school students aged 16+ years
Volunteers assist with cultural programming, public workshops, and community engagement events. You may support event setup, interact with visitors, and help prepare materials used for educational programs. These tasks provide exposure to museum operations and public-facing cultural work. The year-long structure allows you to stay involved beyond the summer if you are willing. It’s a meaningful opportunity for high school students interested in arts-oriented summer volunteer programs.
13. San Francisco Center for the Book – Youth Volunteer Opportunities
Location: San Francisco, CA
Cost/Stipend: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: Year-round
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: High school students aged 14+ years
This program introduces students to book arts through volunteer work in printmaking, letterpress, and binding workshops. You’ll help instructors prepare materials, maintain equipment, and support community classes. The studio environment fosters precision, creativity, and hands-on skill-development. Volunteers interact with artists and community members, gaining insight into how arts organizations design and deliver programming. It’s a unique option for creative high school students seeking non-traditional summer volunteer programs.
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