Volunteering Ventures for Teens
Volunteering can be an incredible experience, especially when you’re helping to further a cause you believe in. But if you’ve ever been forced or guilted into a volunteer opportunity that’s outside your area of interest or places constraints on your time or commitments, you’re probably familiar with the stress and dread associated with the entire process.
While volunteering in the true sense of the word means doing something not expected of someone, many schools have made volunteering a prerequisite for graduation. Right or wrong, the requirement is well-meaning. Volunteering provides many benefits for teenagers, including the following:
- Exploring interests
- Helping others
- Gaining experience for resumes and applications
- Meeting new people
- Improving self-esteem and self-confidence
- Developing empathy for others
- The opportunity to make a difference
So what are some good volunteer opportunities for teens? That really depends on the teen’s interests, abilities, maturity level, experience, and level of commitment. With that in mind, here are some common volunteer opportunities suitable for most teens:
- Help care for animals at a local shelter
- Assist at a sports or recreation program
- Visit a nursing home
- Help with children’s classes at a local library
- Work with children at your place of worship.
- Lead tours at a museum
- Organize fundraiser for a local group or charity
- Help at a local community event
- Plant trees
- Design or hang posters for upcoming events.
- Assist with registration at events
Regardless of the volunteer activity, encourage your teen to choose something personally meaningful so that they’ll be interested in continuing the involvement in the future. The real goal of volunteering is, after all, to gain personal satisfaction from making a difference.
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I definitely think it’s important to start volunteering at a very young age. It’s important that we try to instill good values like volunteering– it goes such a long way!
I always think it’s a great idea to teach teens how to volunteer. It definitely brings them different exposures to a variety of different things in life. It helps bring them a new aspect.
Great tips! Very important for children to do also.
These are great ideas for encouraging your teens to volunteer in their community!
Great ideas to help your kids really grow as individuals. I believe volunteering is essential for kids of all ages to understand and learn compassion for others.
I love this! I think teens can learn a lot, and be better prepared for later, by volunteering! I believe it also helps them learn to give back to others.
What a great list! My daughter is just turning 10 but has recently expressed an interest in doing some volunteer work. I am looking forward to getting her feedback on these ideas!
Great ideas! My son has been looking into volunteering, this will give him some good direction! Thank you.
Volunteering is an awesome way to give back. In this world, it’s one thing that I’ve learned and that is giving back to those who have invested in you. Thanks for the great post!
I think volunteering is a great, meaningful activity not just for teens but for all ages, adults and children alike.