After-school clubs and sports are popular extracurricular activities for kids of all ages, but volunteering can also be a meaningful way for kids and teens to spend their free time.
Community service opportunities allow youth to have a direct impact in their community, often helping people in need, supporting a cause youth are passionate about or aiding important institutions such as a museums or theaters in running smoothly.
From elementary school students to high school seniors, everyone can make a meaningful difference in their community by lending their time to help others. Here’s some options in the Chesapeake area.
Talbot Humane / Easton, MD
Ages: 10-15 (with an adult; no dog-walking), 16-17 (Independent Student Volunteer)
If your child loves animals, consider having them volunteer at a local animal shelter. While there is some shelter work that is not appropriate for children, many shelters provide opportunities for kids to help out and learn about animal care. Best of all, they get to hang out with cute, adoptable animals.
Younger volunteers at Talbot Humane can accompany their parents while they serve as a Cat Cuddler, socializing cats who are available for adoption, or help out at an off-site location like PetSmart or a community event. Older teenagers looking for a more consistent commitment can apply to be an Independent Student Volunteer and work at least two hours every week, focusing not on animal care but the day-to-day operations of the shelter.
talbothumane.org/volunteer/youth-volunteer-opportunities
Anne Arundel County Public Library (AACPL) / Multiple locations
Ages: 14 and older
The library and its benefits need no introduction. The various AACPL branches serve as important community centers, giving people free access to all kinds of books, movies, games and electronic equipment. If your child loves to spend time at the library, volunteer opportunities like unpacking books or helping maintain library gardens may be up their alley. It’s worth noting that many of these tasks involve lifting heavy objects. AACPL also has a summer program for teenagers, Summer @ Your Library, where teen volunteers work together to plan library events and help run the summer reading program.
aacpl.net/about/volunteer
Anne Arundel County Food Bank / Crownsville, MD
Ages: 12 and older (12-17 can volunteer as part of a family group)
Some volunteer opportunities may not be appropriate for children to do on their own but can make for a great family activity if you have a free weekend. The Anne Arundel County Food Bank, which serves as a reliable place for the county’s low-income residents to source healthy ingredients and food products, allows children and teens to join their families in helping sort through food donations.
If the whole family isn’t available, though, there are still ways for younger volunteers to help out. Students can organize and register a food drive in their local community, collecting donations of canned food and nonperishables from friends and neighbors. The food bank even provides online resources to help volunteers organize and advertise their food drives.
aafoodbank.org/volunteer
Calvert Stewards Volunteer Program / Locations at parks throughout Calvert County
Ages: Varies by activity
The Calvert Stewards Volunteer Program, a joint effort between the Calvert County Nature Society and the county’s Natural Resources Division, invites county residents to make a difference in their community by helping maintain natural areas like parks and forests. If your child has a green thumb or an interest in animals, this stewardship program is definitely one to consider. Depending on the activity, children as young as 10 can volunteer with a parent.
Volunteers can sign up for whatever roles interest them most, whether it’s learning to care for the animals that call Calvert County home, planting native plants or even taking part in important scientific work like cataloging butterflies and researching conservation methods.
calvertstewards.galaxydigital.com
Children’s Theatre of Annapolis / Annapolis, MD
Ages: 12 and older
Arts-based organizations like the Children’s Theatre of Annapolis play an important role in making the arts affordable to children by putting on kid-friendly productions with low-cost tickets.
If your child has an interest in theater but prefers to stay behind the scenes, volunteering at a children’s theater allows them to gain experience in set-building, makeup artistry, costuming and more. They can learn the tools of the trade while helping to contribute to real shows. There are also volunteer opportunities that do not involve stagecraft at all, like fundraising and maintaining the theater’s garden.
childrenstheatreofannapolis.org/get-involved
