VOLUNTEER OPPS and INTERNSHIPS

Unless you have an immediate need for money in your pocket volunteering or finding an internship is one of the most valuable things you can do at this point in your life to build your resume and make connections. At the very least it's more exciting than sitting around the house all summer.

There are lots of organizations to get involved with. The first step is to figure out what you are passionate about.

Here are a few leads to get you started...

Art:

• The Vera Project: affordable art classes, learn sound systems for shows, become a board member (http://www.theveraproject.org/)


• Reel Girls: film editing, paid apprenticship program (http://www.reelgrrls.org/)


• Youngstown: art, dance, crafts (http://www.youngstownarts.org/)
  

Writing:

• Young Urban Authors: get paid to write your story and publish it


• PonderLounge: teen blogging site with many projects for you to contribute to (http://www.ponderlounge.org/login/index.php)
  

STEMS:

• Seattle Aquarium: (internship program) (http://www.seattleaquarium.org/page.aspx?pid=260)


• Pacific Science Center: (internship program) (http://www.pacificsciencecenter.org/Discovery-Corps/discoverycorps)


• Woodland Park Zoo, ZooCorps: (internship program) (http://www.zoo.org/page.aspx?pid=396)


• Youth Health Service Corps: volunteer and training program (http://www.swctahec.org/education/youth-health-service-corps/)
  

Helping Fields:

• Habitat for Humanity: building projects every Saturday (http://www.seattle-habitat.org/)


• Nature Consortium: restoration projects every Saturday (http://www.naturec.org/volunteer.htm)


• Earth Corps: planting projects every Saturday (http://www.earthcorps.org/)


• Burien Botanics: Internship opportunity


• LIfe Long AIDS Alliance (http://www.lifelongaidsalliance.org/volunteer)


• Youth Venture: after school program at HHS, create a social change project and apply for up to $1,000 in grant money (http://www.genv.net/seattle)
  

After School Programs:

• Sylvester Middle School: homeworks support and clubs


• White Center Heights Elementary School: after school program with Technonly Access Foundation


• Highline High School Study Lab: peer support


• YMCA - Matt Griffin: various after school programs for youth (http://www.seattleymca.org/Locations/MattGriffin/pages/Home.aspx)