TurnUp Activism is a non-profit organization dedicated to strengthening our democracy through increasing youth civic engagement. They have registered 400,000 young voters since 2019. Interns work in remote teams of mission-driven young people from around the country to help amplify youth civic engagement and participate in activism on many issues that they care about. Learn more here.
Enrichment Opportunities
BCPL is looking for passionate and driven teens to help shape programs, services and new initiatives for you and your peers! This unique opportunity teaches teens to explore, learn, create and connect while doing community service. Learn more here.
A vibrant summer gathering on the campus of Washington College that helps students build their skills and identity as writers, featuring nationally renowned writers as workshop leaders. There are also craft talks, literature discussions led by Washington College faculty, and an abundance of literary camaraderie. Includes a “How to Write a Successful College Admissions Essay” workshop, a copy of their literary journal, and a hand-printed broadside. Learn more here.
MLW's mission is to empower young people to recognize and realize their potential as leaders. They offer week-long residential leadership development programs for middle and high school students that take place at Washington College. Students who participate in these programs report increased sense of self-awareness, ability to advocate for themselves, ability to work well with others, ability to be successful academically and in college, and confidence in their own role as a leader in their school and community. Learn more and apply here.
Launched in 2015, the SELF program is an inspiring and unique summer program that accepts applications from innovative and motivated high school students. The course empowers students to become the CEO of ME (My Enterprise), Inc. while exploring the power of individual creativity and free markets to deliver solutions to problems in the world that they are passionate about solving. Learn more and apply here.
Inspiring Girls* Expeditions believes young women deserve opportunities to be curious about the world around them. By encouraging girls’ natural curiosities, inspiring them to connect their interests in science and art, and cultivating trust in their own physical capabilities, they motivate more women to pursue their passions in science and outdoor activities. Expeditions include locations in the U.S., Canada, Switzerland, Austria, Central Asia and New Zealand. Expeditions are tuition-FREE! Open to high school girls ages 16-18. Learn more and apply here!
A one-week creative writing summer day camp for high schoolers who love to write. Spend five days exploring fiction, poetry and creative nonfiction with award-winning writers and editors. Learn more here.
Find your passion! For youth/young adults between 15 to 30 years old, apply for a job or paid internship to help you figure out your career path. Gain work experience, while helping to preserve and protect our nation's natural and cultural resources. The National Park Service collaborates with many organizations to offer onsite and remote internship and fellowship opportunities. Focus areas include: archaeology, museum collection, public health, communications, digital experience, history, STEAM, and historic preservation. Learn more here.
Since 2004, Student Leaders® has been part of an ongoing commitment to youth employment and economic mobility. Bank of America is helping prepare a pipeline of community-minded young students to be successful in the workforce through leadership training and work experience. Learn more here.
The Johns Hopkins Internship in Brain Sciences (JHIBS) is a summer research program for junior and senior high school students that helps them get exposed to and discover a passion for a career in the neurological sciences. Applications for the summer programs are accepted from December 1 through March 1 annually. Learn more here.
CBF's Student Leadership program connects, educates, and inspires the next generation of environmental stewards to become critical thinkers and environmental problem solvers by advancing advocacy, raising awareness, and taking action to Save the Bay. The program operates year-round and is open to high school students living within the Chesapeake Bay watershed. Learn more here.
For 45 years, UNCW MarineQuest has provided enriching academic opportunities for the preK-12 community to explore, discover and value our marine habitats and encourage them to develop into environmentally responsible adults. Learn more here.
Preview the college experience through rigorous academics and dynamic instruction. Learn about the University of Maryland and get a jump on college by earning three university credits. In-person (commuter) and online options available. Open to high school students (rising grade 10 to graduating grade 12). Learn more here.
Through Sinai Hospital's Student Volunteer Summer or Fall Program, student volunteers are valued contributors in a mission to provide patients with the compassionate, high-quality care they need and deserve. Volunteers spend their time welcoming and assisting patients and visitors and doing other meaningful tasks across many key departments. Students must be 15 by July 1 and have completed the 10th grade. Learn more here.
UMMC offers year-round volunteer programs for students, those exploring their career options, and for anyone seeking the satisfaction that comes from helping others. Areas where UMMC volunteers are currently working include: Emergency Department, Shock Trauma Center, Medical Records Department, Dental Clinic, Psychiatry Department, Guest Information Desk, Patient Transport Services, and more. Volunteers must be at least 16 years of age. Learn more here.
GBMC has offered high school students the opportunity to participate in its student volunteer program for many years. The program is only available during the summer months (June, July and August). Students volunteer in a positive healthcare setting. For many it is an introduction to ‘the world of work’! This program is for students who are 16 years old by July 1 and who have completed 10th grade. More information available here.
This summer, live like a RISD (Rhode Island School of Design) student and work alongside hundreds of other creative, highly motivated students who will inspire you to push your limits and produce your best work. Learn more here.
The Columbia Climate School in the Green Mountains, a 2-week campus-based program in Vermont for high school students to mobilize action, drive impact, and effect change in response to our warming planet. Engage with experts from Columbia Climate School and learn about cutting-edge innovations in action. Meet, collaborate, and build partnerships with like-minded students and tap into collective strengths for action. Learn more here.
The Albrecht Fellowship for High School Students offers a unique opportunity for driven high school students to take their learning to the next level. While high school typically focuses on core subjects like American history, biology, and classic literature, some students yearn for a deeper dive into global issues and career paths.
This fellowship is open to any sophomore, junior, or senior considering a career that spans the globe, such as being a diplomat working for a multinational company or joining a nonprofit organization with a global mission. Program participants are called Albrecht Fellows and become part of a robust network of like-minded peers at the high school and college levels. Sessions are led by business leaders and other experts from the WTCI network, all of whom are affiliated with Mid-Atlantic entities that work globally. Learn more here.
Every summer for nearly three decades, talented high school juniors and seniors to-be have been welcomed to Denison University in Granville, Ohio, for the acclaimed Reynolds Young Writers Workshop. The workshop is an eight-day residential program that incorporates small creative writing workshops, group sessions with Denison creative writing faculty and notable visiting writers, and much more. Only 48 students get the chance to come to The Hill to participate each June. That means students experience small, intimate writing workshops and one-on-one interactions with people who have made writing their career. It's a great way to connect with a close-knit community of writing teachers, mentors, and peers from around the world. More information available here.
West Point develops Leaders of Character, and they are looking for high-achieving young people who are in great standing with their school and community, and who want to challenge themselves.
SLE is a one-week program for current High School Juniors to visit West Point in June. Students spend the week with West Point cadets, live in the barracks, and eat in the mess hall. They participate in academic workshops, learn about military training, conduct physical training, and participate in sports. More information available here.
Open to rising high school seniors.
Living Classrooms Foundation is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to strengthen communities and inspire young people to achieve their potential through hands-on education and job training, using urban, natural, and maritime resources as “living classrooms”.
Living Classrooms Foundation hosts an annual cohort of “Inspired to Serve” Summer Interns. There are over 10 internship positions available, with placement options at several programs in Baltimore and Washington, DC. Once chosen, each intern will have a specific and meaningful project to complete over the course of the summer. Interns will also have the experience of meeting with their cohort over the course of the summer to reflect on and learn from one another’s experiences.
More information available here.
Since 1965, AMIGOS has provided authentic service and cultural immersion experiences across Latin America. Join AMIGOS this summer and volunteer with local organizations, practice your Spanish, live with a host family, and experience life, adventures, and connection in a new country! Financial assistance may be available. Learn more here.
The National Science Foundation (NSF) has funded an undergraduate research program at Waynesburg University in Pennsylvania. The program includes opportunities for high school students. The 2-month research experience includes full time research and training to become an independent scientist, a stipend, and free campus housing. Learn more and apply here.
STEMcx summer high school internships are intense 8-week long pipeline development programs. These internships offer underrepresented minorities hands on experience working in STEM fields in six unique disciplines. At the conclusion of the internships, all interns will participate in a final program with community leaders. Rising sophomores, juniors and seniors are eligible to apply. More information available here. Email stemcx@gmail.com with any questions.
Port Discovery is always looking for enthusiastic, motivated individuals to join their volunteer team! They are now accepting applications to volunteer in a variety of roles. Volunteering at Port Discovery is perfect for people looking for a fun, positive environment where they can help children and families learn through play. Port Discovery is seeking volunteers for roles including: Greeters, Exhibit Facilitators, Storytellers, Art Studio Aides, and more. You must be 15 years of age to volunteer independently. Schedules are flexible, but volunteers must be able to commit to working at least 50 hours. For more information or questions, contact Kathryn Schmitt at kschmitt@portdiscovery.org or 410-864-2722. The volunteer application is live on the Port Discovery website at this link.
Horizon Day Camp, located in Baltimore, is hiring counselors and other summer staff positions. As a proud member of the Sunrise Association, a non-profit agency, their mission is to bring back the joys of childhood to children with cancer and their siblings. They are seeking dedicated, motivated, energetic, and empathetic counselors for their seven-week summer day camps. Visit their website for more information. To apply, click "For Staff," then click "Staff Application." Applicants must be at least 16 years of age as of their start date to apply. they must also be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 to be eligible to join their staff.
What's summer without stimulation for the brain and engaging in amazing activities? Johns Hopkins Engineering Innovation Pre-College Programs are perfect for talented high school math and science students. Students solve problems, test theories, and ultimately learn to think like engineers. Learn more here.
Miami University's Summer Scholars Program is a selective program that provides a rich, early college experience for academically talented rising high school juniors and seniors from across the globe. Students will get a glimpse of life on campus as they dive into a specific academic program with faculty and other students who share their interests. Learn more here.
YouthWorks is a program within the Baltimore City Mayor's Office of Employment Development, Youth Services Division. They provide a 5-week job opportunity to thousands of Baltimore City young people between the ages of 14-21.
YouthWorkers will be introduced to workplace experiences, financial literacy development, career exploration opportunities, and skills training. More information is available here.
The summer programs at WashU offer highly motivated students the chance to explore academics and campus life at Washington University in St. Louis.
Looking for an opportunity to develop or expand your leadership skills? The Art of Leadership program brings together a diverse group of students from all around the Baltimore area to develop leadership skills and engage in dialogue about social justice issues. Through guest speakers and experiential learning opportunities, students explore community challenges and gain perspective on how to address them. The program strives to support a new generation of leaders in Baltimore, and to create an inclusive and safe community. It is an excellent opportunity for students to grow their networks, step out of their comfort zones, and demonstrate their dedication to civic engagement and working for equity. Learn more about Art With a Heart’s Art of Leadership Program.
IGEI is a highly interactive summer entrepreneurship program that combines real-world learning opportunities and intercultural experiences.
Students select from focus areas like Sustainability, Technology, Population Health, or Marketing and Branding.
The Drexel University Digital Development Camp is a summer program led by College of Computing & Informatics (CCI) faculty and student leaders. More information available here.
AI Scholars Live Online is a 10 session (25-hour) program that exposes high school students to fundamental AI concepts and guides them to build a socially impactful project. Taught by a team of graduate students from Stanford, MIT, and more, students receive a personalized learning experience in small groups with a student-teacher ratio of 5:1. Learn more and apply here.
Welcome to a world of discovery…a world of literature, philosophy, great books, and big ideas. Discussion and fun! For twenty-two years, outstanding students have come together at some of the world’s most prestigious universities for the Great Books Summer Program. Led by top professors and distinguished educators and scholars, our students spend their days enjoying the kind of intellectual experience most can only dream of during the school year.
More information and registration is available at greatbookssummer.com
This summer, you can explore the world of economics, conduct meaningful research, analyze 52-million-year-old fossils, and enjoy the excitement of college life at the University of Chicago.