Service Opportunities for High School Students
The opportunities listed below are intended for high school students in the DC area that are interested in participating in environmental-related community service. All organizations listed are classified as 501(c)(3) nonprofits and thus can be used to fulfill high school graduation requirements for service/volunteer hours.
Alice Ferguson Foundation - Potomac River Watershed Cleanup
The Potomac Cleanup has grown from a small shoreline cleanup at Piscataway National Park to a watershed wide network. What started as a few cleanup events along the Potomac River is now a regional event spanning Maryland, Virginia, the District of Columbia, West Virginia, and Pennsylvania. Students can participate in clean ups in their area to get community service hours.
Link: http://www.fergusonfoundation.org/get-involved/
Find a cleanup event: https://www.fergusonfoundation.org/get-involved/upcoming-community-events/
Contact:
webmail@fergusonfoundation.org
(301) 292-5665
Anacostia Watershed Society
​Volunteers are integral to restoring the Anacostia River. It is thanks to the work of the hundreds of thousands of Anacostia Watershed Society volunteers through the years that the river has improved. Our volunteers restore wetlands, plant native plants, collect seeds, and help with many other projects - oftentimes pieces of larger plans that make a big impact on the river. All of our volunteer activities have an educational component and are an opportunity to learn about the watershed.
Link: https://www.anacostiaws.org/how-to-help/volunteer.html
Contact:
(301) 699-6204
Casey Trees
Community Tree Plantings - volunteers, including students, work in teams to plant trees on DC public and private lands.
Link: https://caseytrees.org/plant/
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Park Inventories - volunteers, including students, count and measure trees in DC park spaces to account for the ecosystem benefits of the urban forest.
Link: https://caseytrees.org/take-action/care/
Contact:
(202) 833-4010
City Blossoms
Each growing season, City Blossoms works with a group of dynamic volunteers to help take care of the garden spaces. We invite small groups, neighbors, and youth participants to lend a hand through scheduled Garden Workdays and during drop-in programming, known as Open Times, at our Community Green Spaces. Individuals and groups of five or fewer are welcome to help out during Open Times, no RSVP required.
Please note: all visitors are required to continue wearing masks within the gardens. Our staff will primarily be working with children and families during programming hours and tasks may vary, based on the needs of each space.
Visit our calendar to find our Open Times schedule and any upcoming seasonal Workdays. Workdays typically take place on Saturday mornings during the spring and fall gardening seasons. For groups of five or more or to learn more about our upcoming volunteer opportunities, email nicole@cityblossoms.org.
Link: https://cityblossoms.org/volunteer
Contact: nicole@cityblossoms.org
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DC teens looking to volunteer or earn service hours, are also invited to participate in our Youth Entrepreneurship Cooperative program. We partner with high schools to manage a year-round, garden-based Youth Entrepreneurship Cooperative program. At the core of the program is a youth-led business called Mighty Greens. Using the cooperative business model, participants combine elements of environmental and food justice with job readiness skills. Participants maintain garden spaces, make value-added products, and sell those products and produce back to their communities through seasonal CSAs and farmers markets.
Link: https://cityblossoms.org/youth-entrepreneurship-cooperative
Contact: newman@cityblossoms.org
Common Good City Farm
Come be a part of your community and get out in nature, right in the city! We offer opportunities for groups as well as individuals working on our farm.
Participants engage in farm tasks (planting, harvesting, weeding, composting etc.) and learn about sustainable agriculture and our food system through discussions. This is a great team-building and bonding experience for groups and a meaningful way to contribute towards urban agriculture and healthy food access in our neighborhood.
Link: https://www.commongoodcityfarm.org/volunteer
Contact:
info@commongoodcityfarm.org
DC Department of General Services
The DCPS Recycles! program is designed to fulfill legal requirements; improve building operations; reduce waste of money and natural resources; achieve the SustainableDC target of zero waste by 2032; and teach DCPS students values and skills for a sustainable 21st century. The goal is to sort all waste properly so as much as possible can be composted or recycled instead of sent to a landfill or incinerator!
High school students who participate in their school's recycling clubs, sponsored by a school staff member, can receive community service hours through the Department of General Services.
Link: https://dgs.dc.gov/page/about-dcps-recycles
Contact:
dgs.recycles@dc.gov or dgs@dc.gov
(202) 727-2800
DC Water
We often participate in the regional Wonders of Water Journey program for Girl Scouts. The Wonders of Water Journey provides an opportunity for Girl Scouts to explore and experience various aspects of water, as well as promote stewardship. The Journey will enable Girls Scouts to discover and connect with their drinking water, and learn how to advocate for the protection of their local water source. We can always use interested high school students to assist with safety and activities.
Link: https://www.dcwater.com/events/wonders-water-journey-0
Contact:
(202) 787-2000 (M-F 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.)
Department of Energy and Environment
Green Zone Environmental Program (GZEP):
Every summer, GZEP partners with the Marion Barry Summer Youth Employment Program, which provides over 300 youth and young adults, ages 14 to 24, with an opportunity to learn about energy and environmental issues, complete community-based environmental work projects such as rain gardens and storm drain markers, and prepare for careers. Being a GZEP staff member is a great opportunity to work with students involved in the Marion Barry Summer Youth Employment Program and gain valuable leadership experience. For high school seniors only.
Link: https://doee.dc.gov/node/58752
Contact: larissa.etwaroo@dc.gov or eperry@gridalternatives.org
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Other:
Students 16 and older can complete the general DOEE Volunteer application to be considered as new opportunities become available.
District Department of Transportation (DDOT) - Urban Forestry Division
​DDOT's Urban Forestry Division is the primary steward of Washington DC's ~175,000 public trees and has a mission of keeping this resource healthy, safe, & growing. Trees in the city are critical to our well-being. Among many other benefits, these trees improve our air and water quality, cool our neighborhoods, and provide critical habitat for birds, bees, and...people, too!
Arbor Day Festival: We host a large festival celebrating people and trees of the District. High school students can volunteer at this event to help plant trees or pick up trash and recycling prior or after the event.
Info about Arbor Day: https://ddot-urban-forestry-dcgis.hub.arcgis.com/pages/arbor-day
Contact:
Fresh Farm
Volunteers play a number of roles at markets including helping with our market operations, assisting with support for our food access and education efforts, and adding to the markets’ spirit of community.
The majority of market volunteer opportunities require a regular commitment of serving at least every other week for the duration of a market season. Find the market schedule here.
If you are interested in volunteering, please send us your information here and we will reach out to you to match you with our volunteer needs.
A reminder that volunteering at markets involves working outdoors in the elements, some heavy lifting, friendly customer service, and representing Fresh Farm to the community.
Comfortable clothes recommended. We require volunteers to be 16 years of age or older.
Link: https://www.freshfarm.org/get-involved/volunteer
Contact:
Friends of the National Arboretum - Washington Youth Garden
Volunteering with Washington Youth Garden is a rewarding experience. You don't need to have experience, but you must be willing to make friends with the soil and the bugs! Our volunteers strive to work in the garden 3 hours/week on various organic gardening tasks, such as weeding, planting, pruning, mulching, and pest control. All interested individuals are required to complete a Washington Youth Garden orientation before volunteering.
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Volunteer Days and Times:
Every Saturday April-October, 9AM-noon
Every Tuesday March-November, 9AM-noon
Orientations are the first Tuesday and Saturday of the month, April-September
Sign up HERE to be notified for our next volunteer orientation
Link: http://www.washingtonyouthgarden.org/volunteer
Contact:
Living Classrooms Foundation
The Living Classrooms Foundation could not do the work it does without thousands of committed individual volunteers and a range of student, corporate, and other groups who dedicate their time to supporting our programs. Living Classrooms accepts individual volunteers, interns (including for school credit), and volunteer groups of all ages and sizes – everything from high school student groups to corporate days of service. There are countless ways to engage with the mission of the Living Classrooms Foundation.
Inspired to Serve
Inspired to Serve is a service learning and civic engagement program operated by Living Classrooms, in partnership with the Karma for Cara Foundation. Inspired to Serve uses hands-on volunteer and internship opportunities at Living Classrooms’ sites in Baltimore and Washington, DC to teach students about leadership, community solutions, and social change.
By combining meaningful service experiences with additional programming that provokes students to consider the purpose and power of service, Inspired to Serve seeks to foster the next generation of leaders. The program welcomes student volunteers of all levels and backgrounds.
Individuals, schools, universities, and student groups are welcome to inquire about partnering and volunteering with Inspired to Serve.
Links:
https://livingclassrooms.org/volunteer/ and https://livingclassrooms.org/opportunities/ and https://livingclassrooms.org/programs/inspired-to-serve/
Contact:
National Cherry Blossom Festival
We couldn’t do what we do without our amazing volunteers. The National Cherry Blossom Festival is a 501(c)(3) non-profit that relies on the dedication, talent and support of our Volunteers. As a volunteer, you support an event that not only enhances, but defines life in our community.
We seek friendly, reliable and enthusiastic volunteers who want to experience DC and the Cherry Blossoms in a unique way!
Link: https://nationalcherryblossomfestival.org/volunteers/
Contact:
(202) 661-7595
National Energy Education Development (NEED)
Each June we host a Youth Energy Conference and Awards in Washington, D.C. and there is a youth staff application to help assist with the big event. Many of our Youth Staffers end up assisting us with local workshops or moderating online virtual workshops for teachers, and students as well.
Link: https://www.need.org/youth-awards
​We also partner with the Exelon Foundation STEM Innovation Leadership Academy to offer students in DC and Maryland opportunities to assist with energy-themed conferences and outreach events to earn community hours.
NEED helps with the Exelon STEM Academy and that has potential volunteer and mentoring opportunities
The Exelon STEM Leadership Academy is designed to give young women in high school hands-on experience in STEM, energy, and sustainability. We hope this experience: Engages and prepares students to consider STEM academic & career paths; Builds STEM knowledge and skills; Practices leadership, communication, and presentation skills; Provides students access to authentic experiences at STEM institutions and Exelon energy facilities; Expands students network with others who are interested, pursuing, and working in STEM fields.
Link: https://www.need.org/ and https://exelonstemacademy.org/
Contact:
1 (800) 875-5029
National Park Service - Rock Creek Park
The National Park Service in Rock Creek Park works closely with partner groups to manage service projects, including picking up litter, removing invasive plants, planting trees, removing weeds from orchards or gardens in the park, etc.
Interested students can volunteer individually or in a group.
Link: https://www.nps.gov/rocr/getinvolved/volunteer-opportunities.htm
Contact:
https://www.nps.gov/rocr/contacts.htm
(202) 895-6000
Urban Adventure Squad/Urban Learning and Teaching Center
Urban Adventure Squad/Urban Learning and Teaching Center (UAS) supports K-8 schools and school communities with neighborhood-based, hands-on learning programs that focus on the outdoors.
We offer full-day programs during out-of-school time, like on professional development days and federal holidays, as well as during school breaks.
We also partner with schools and school communities to connect students to their neighborhoods with curriculum-aligned activities relating to science, history, math, art, engineering, and writing, and to train teachers in outdoor learning.
In terms of community service, high school students can participate in litter cleanups or assist educators in programs for younger students.
Interested volunteers can review the upcoming schedule of year-round and summer programs on UAS's website as well as on social media (@UrbanAdvSquad on IG, Facebook, and Twitter) to get a sense of where programs take place and what kinds of work the UAS does.
Link: https://www.urbanadventuresquad.org/
https://www.urbanadventuresquad.org/waterwaycleanup.html
Contact:
US Botanic Garden
The USBG accepts high school interns for a semester-long internship. Students support public programming with teaching, discovery stations and larger scale programs such as festivals. Must be at least a rising high school junior to apply.
Link: https://www.usbg.gov/opportunities-us-botanic-garden-jobs-and-internships (under Educational Internship Opportunities > High School)
Contact: