Useful Links

COMMUNITY SERVICE

Volunteer Solutions
Volunteer Solutions is a Volunteer Matching Application supported by the United Way that helps connect individuals to volunteer opportunities in their community. You can search for opportunities based on your interests, skills, and geographic location or simply by entering a keyword. You can also register on Volunteer Solutions to receive automatic emails that list volunteer opportunities that match your specific profile. The search function allows you to specify opportunities open to adolescents (13-17). A recent search for opportunities for adolescents within 25 miles of zip code 02445 returned 110 results.

Idealist
Idealist is a project of Action Without Borders, a nonprofit organization founded in 1995 with offices in the United States and Argentina. Idealist is an interactive site where people and organizations can exchange resources and ideas, locate opportunities and supporters, and take steps toward building a world where all people can lead free and dignified lives. You can use it to find people, organizations, groups, jobs, volunteer opportunities, events, and more. You can also sign up to receive daily alerts with new opportunities matching your interests, create a personal profile to network with other Idealists. A recent search of volunteer opportunities for teens in Massachusetts returned 109 results, mostly in the Greater Boston area.

Volunteer Match
VolunteerMatch describes itself is a leader in the nonprofit world dedicated to helping everyone find a great place to volunteer. The organization offers a variety of online services to support a community of nonprofit, volunteer and business leaders committed to civic engagement. According to Volunteer Match, the service receives millions of visitors a year and has become the preferred internet recruiting tool for more than 50,000 nonprofit organizations. A recent search of opportunities for teens within 10 miles of zip code 02445 returned 208 results, including overseas opportunities and placements for teens aged 18 and older.

Volunteer Family
The Volunteer Family connects families, especially families with children, with volunteer opportunities in their own neighborhoods. Through volunteering, children to learn compassion for others and families are able to spend quality time together. It is a terrific way to contribute to your community in today’s hectic world.

Service Learn
The Service-Learning – Student’s Guide & Journal for Elementary School Students, the Service-Learning – Student’s Guide & Journal for Middle & High School, and the Service-Learning Guide & Journal - Higher Education Edition, by Robert Schoenfeld,are designed to help students organize their Service-Learning project, improve their thinking and writing skills, and increase their test scores. The Student’s Guide & Journalpublications will aid students in their pursuit of scholastic achievement, while at the same time guiding and inspiring them to take their service to their community and the nation to a higher level of accomplishment.

SUMMER PROGRAMS

Peterson’s
This site from the publisher of popular college and SAT prep guides allows you to search for free from among 1200 unique programs in the US and abroad for students in grades K-12. It lists 32 programs in Massachusetts – the rest are in other locations. You can also purchase the printed guide by clicking here (insert link to Order Guides page).

My Summer Camps
My Summer Camps is a comprehensive, free and easy to use summer camp directory for kids, teens and youth. This is a complete source for finding summer camps, summer camp jobs and camps for sale or rent in the USA, Canada and Worldwide.

Go Abroad
GoAbroad.com is the leading international education and experiential travel resource. Our directories contain over 25,000 opportunities abroad updated daily including study abroad, internships, volunteer opportunities, teach abroad, language schools and much more. From the home page, select the “High School” tab.

Association of Independent Schools in New England
The Association of Independent Schools in New England (AISNE) provides educational leadership and relevant, responsive services to its diverse membership; promotes equity, excellence and collaboration within the New England independent school community; supports schools in their service to a broader public purpose; and advocates for the independence of member schools and the value of independent education. You can search here for a specifc school's programs (i.e., Simpson Academy), for programs within a certain zipcode, and for programs by name/type.

Independent Schools Association of Northern New England
The Independent Schools Association of Northern New England (ISANNE) represents a diverse group of schools: day and boarding, suburban and rural, prestigious college preparatory, and institutions with specialties from learning disabilities and emotional support to skiing and outdoor education. This page on the ISANNE web site lists member schools that have summer programs.

JOBS & INTERNSHIPS

Job Tips for Teens
Job Tips for Boston Teens is an online set of guidelines for youth looking for employment.

Teen Resume Guide
All teens looking for employment should create a resume. The Teen Resume Guide is a step-by-step guide to creating a resume and cover letter that is specifically designed for teens to incorporate volunteer, extracurricular and community experience.

For Boston Residents Only:

Boston Youth Fund / HOPELINE
The HOPELINE is a summer jobs program through the Boston Youth Fund for Boston residents ages 15-17. Applicants must register during February & March and will be selected by lottery for job placement through July.

Private Industry Council (PIC)
Career specialists in every Boston Public High School match students with jobs and internships in the private sector.

ABCD SummerWorks
Summerworks employs youth ages 14-21 at hundreds of non-profit agencies in the city, doing jobs like answering phones or helping in a day care center. Visit your local ABCD office to pick up an application.

OTHER USEFUL RESOURCES

Boston Youth Zone E-Newsletter
Learn about youth events in your neighborhood, employment opportunities, contests and much more. To join the mailing list, send a blank e-mail to join-youth@listserv.cityofboston.gov