Summer High School Community Service & Volunteering Programs

Your parents and friends are equally dumbfounded and in awe of your desire to do something productive with your life this summer. But where are you going to go? Do you have a passport? If not, you better get busy with your application because where you’re going, your pool pass isn’t going to get you there! Here’s some popular places for summer community service programs for high school students. 

Latin America. This region has some of the best destinations for teenage volunteer summer programs. Mexico is home to one of the new seven wonders of the world (Chichén Itza), dozens of biosphere reserves, monarch butterflies, coral reefs, volcanoes, spectacular beaches, and a world-renowned cuisine. Costa Rica is known for its beautiful beaches and tropical rainforests. You could also explore the Galapagos Islands of Ecuador, volcanic lakes, the Andes' mountainous terrain, or the Amazon jungle. 

Asia. If you want experience an Asian flair during your summer abroad, consider a volunteer program in Thailand or China. Temples, shrines, and spiritual retreats may come to mind when you think of Thailand, but it’s also known for its islands, mountains, and everything in between for you to explore. China is quite similar but on a larger scale! Immerse yourself in China’s extensive history in the country known as “The Land of Abundance.”

Africa. How about an African safari on your days off? When you’re looking at summer community service programs for high school students, that is definitely a possibility! Venture to Kruger Park and the Table Mountain in Cape Town in South Africa. Explore the Serengeti National park or climb Mount Kilimanjaro when you volunteer in Tanzania. Traverse the Sahara desert by camel or 4 x4 when you volunteer in Morocco.