Duration: 1st Saturday of Every Month, 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Hours Earned: 2 hours per session; additional hours may be earned for projects
Eligibility: all teen volunteers ages 14+
First Look Book Club members discuss the books they're reading, and earn volunteer service credit by completing special book-related projects in the TeenSpace, under the guidance of the Teen Librarian. As an added perk, members also get first dibs on the newly-added Young Adult fiction, nonfiction, & graphic novels in the Teen section, and can suggest new titles to be added to the Teen collection. If you're an avid reader, or want to see more of your favorite types of books on our library's shelves, this is the volunteer opportunity for you!
Questions? Please email Christany, the Teen Services Librarian
How to Apply: Fill out the online application, and you will be emailed a link to register for a seat at an upcoming First Look Book Club session. Applications for First Look Book Club open on April 1st!
Duration: Tuesdays, 3:00 pm - 4:30 pm
Hours Earned: 1.5 hours per session
Eligibility: all teen volunteers ages 13+
The library welcomes teen volunteers who have a passion for LEGOs and engineering to assist Miss Maribel with our weekly LEGO Kids Club! Your job will involve suggesting or creating LEGO engineering challenges for kids ages 6 and up to try during each weekly session, supervising kids during the event, cleaning up afterward, and sorting our LEGOs into bins by their color or type. No advance training is required for this volunteer opportunity.
Questions about volunteering? Please email Christany, Teen Services Librarian
Questions about LEGO Kids Club? Please email Miss Maribel, Youth Services Clerk
How to Apply: Fill out the online application. You will be emailed a link to register for a seat at any available LEGO Kids Club volunteering session. All seats are first-come, first-served.
Duration: 3rd Saturday of Every Month, 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Hours Earned: 3 hours per session
Eligibility: all teen volunteers ages 13+
The library welcomes teen volunteers to contribute to our Seed Library by sorting and packaging the seeds donated to the library. This is an important job, as the library cannot replenish their supply of seed packets without having new seeds labeled and packed for circulation in the community. Your job will involve labeling seed cards and packaging seeds according to the samples given. Your handwriting must be clear and legible.
Questions about volunteering? Please email Christany, Teen Services Librarian
Questions about using the Seed Library? Please email Cynthia Flores, Public Services Clerk
How to Apply: Fill out the online application. You will be emailed a link to register for a seat at any available Seed Library volunteering session. All seats are first-come, first-served.
Duration & Hours Earned: Variable; dependent on the program / activity you pitch to us
Eligibility: all teen volunteers ages 13+
The "Teens Teach" volunteer program provides opportunities for teens to take charge and lead an activity or event at the Huntington Beach Public Library! Pitch your program idea to our Teen Services staff, who will work with applicants on the logistics of making their suggestion a reality. We encourage applicants to consider sharing a special skill with other teens, or host an event that brings teens together or provides an educational experience. Previous teen volunteers have taught a needlefelting basics workshop, hosted an Open Mic Night, and even run a Super Smash Bros library tournament. The possibilities are as unique as your interests and experiences!
Questions? Please email Christany, the Teen Services Librarian
How to Apply: Fill out the online program pitch form, and wait to be contacted by our Teen Services Librarian
Online applications for Summer 2023 Teen Techs are open until February 31st
Duration: Fall Techs will volunteer between June 1st to August 31st
Hours Earned: variable, as scheduled with the Computer Coach Coordinator
Eligibility: open to teens ages 15+ with strong technology and people skills
Teen Techs provide one-on-one assistance to adult and teen library visitors in the Central Library computer lab on a variety of computer questions, including logging in, basic computer and Internet use, e-mail, word processing, and using the printer or scanners. Applicants will be trained in basic customer service skills and troubleshooting by our adult Computer Coaches.
Questions about the program? Please email McKenzie Gray, the Computer Coach Coordinator
How to Apply: Please fill out the online application, and wait to be contacted with your next steps
Duration: Summertime (June - August) as needed to photograph library events & activities
Hours Earned: Variable; as needed for library events
Eligibility: all teen volunteers ages 13+ with some photography experience
Take photos of library events and activities for use in library social media campaigns, advertisements, marketing materials, or grants. This is a chance to practice your photography skills at fun library events for kids, teens, and adults while earning valuable volunteer service credit! Teens with a passion or interest in photography and some experience with taking/editing photos are encouraged to apply.
Questions? Please email Christany, the Teen Services Librarian
How to Apply: Fill out an online volunteer interest form, and wait to be contacted for an upcoming opportunity. This is an excellent volunteer option during the summertime, because there are so many fun events happening all summer long!
Duration: First Friday of the month, 3:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Hours Earned: 1 hour per session
Eligibility: open to ages 13+
Help out at the Main Street Branch Library with our monthly Lego Club for kids ages 4-9! Lego Club is held the first Friday of every month. Each club session will feature a different Lego building challenge, as well as free building time. Your job will be to help set out / clean up Legos for the program, supervise kids as they build and play, and help them out with their builds. You can also suggest fun building challenges for future clubs!
How to Apply: Fill out a Main Street Teen Volunteer Application and email it to the Main Street Branch Manager, or drop by the branch to pick up a paper application.
Questions? Please email Erin Spivey, the Main Street Branch Manager
Hours Earned: variable, on an as-needed basis
Eligibility: open to ages 13+
Assist library staff with cleaning books, preparing crafts, organizing supplies, assisting with library programs and more. This is an invaluable volunteer position as there are many small tasks to complete in our library! Occasionally, the library also has a particular special project or event it needs assistance with, such as organizing a craft closet or working at an all day event. During special events, volunteers help with setup, cleanup, assisting visitors, replenishing supplies, etc.
How to Apply: Fill out a Main Street Teen Volunteer Application and email it to the Main Street Branch Manager, or drop by the branch to pick up a paper application.
Questions? Please email Erin Spivey, the Main Street Branch Manager
Hours Earned: variable, on an as-needed basis
Eligibility: open to ages 14+
Library pages straighten shelves, return books to their rightful places, and help library visitors locate items. You will need to pass a test of your alphabetizing and Dewey Decimal knowledge to be considered for this opportunity.
How to Apply: Fill out a Main Street Teen Volunteer Application and email it to the Main Street Branch Manager, or drop by the branch to pick up a paper application.
Questions? Please email Erin Spivey, the Main Street Branch Manager
Duration: Saturdays from 2:30 PM - 4:30 PM
Hours Earned: 2 hours per session
Eligibility: open to ages 14+
Help teach children & other teens how to play chess, or how to play various board games from our collection! If you have any previous chess experience, you may be asked to assist teaching basic skills to new players.
How to Apply: Fill out an Oak View Teen Volunteer Application and email it to the Oak View Branch Manager, or drop by the branch to pick up a paper application.
Questions? Please email Claudia Locke, the Oak View Branch Manager
Duration: Last Friday of every month, 3:00 PM - 4:30 PM
Hours Earned: 1.5 hours per session
Eligibility: open to ages 14+
Help out with our monthly "Fun with Lego" program for kids ages 4-10. Each club session will feature a different Lego building challenge, as well as free building time. Your job will be to set out, sort, and clean up Legos for the program, supervise kids as they build and play, and help them out with their builds. You can also suggest fun building challenges for future sessions!
How to Apply: Fill out an Oak View Teen Volunteer Application and email it to the Oak View Branch Manager, or drop by the branch to pick up a paper application.
Questions? Please email Claudia Locke, the Oak View Branch Manager
Hours Earned: variable, on an as-needed basis
Eligibility: open to ages 13+
Assist library staff with cleaning books, preparing crafts, organizing supplies, assisting with library programs and more. This is an invaluable volunteer position as there are many small tasks to complete in our library! Occasionally, the library also has a particular special project or event it needs assistance with, such as organizing a craft closet or working at an all day event. During special events, volunteers help with setup, cleanup, assisting visitors, replenishing supplies, etc.
How to Apply: Fill out an Oak View Teen Volunteer Application and email it to the Oak View Branch Manager, or drop by the branch to pick up a paper application.
Questions? Please email Claudia Locke, the Oak View Branch Manager
Hours Earned: variable, on an as-needed basis
Eligibility: open to ages 14+
Library pages straighten shelves, return books to their rightful places, and help library visitors locate items. You will need to pass a test of your alphabetizing and Dewey Decimal knowledge to be considered for this opportunity.
How to Apply: Fill out an Oak View Teen Volunteer Application and email it to the Oak View Branch Manager, or drop by the branch to pick up a paper application.
Questions? Please email Claudia Locke, the Oak View Branch Manager
Teen Volunteering at the Shipley Nature Center
Duration: Second Saturday of every month, 9:00 AM - 11:00 AM
Hours Earned: 2 hours per session
Eligibility: all teen volunteers ages 14+ (teens under the age of 14 must volunteer with a responsible adult)
Come and make some new friends while helping to beautify the Shipley Nature Center in HB's Central Park! You will be trained how to safely perform various tasks such as trail maintenance, sign renovation, and weed removal. These tasks ensure the health of the habitat and the safety of the visitors. Friendly volunteers with good people skills may also be needed to assist with visitor greeting services, leading kids activiites, or becoming junior docents on tours of the nature center. We appreciate your time and interest in our mission of providing outdoor education and native habitat conservation!
What to Bring: Make sure to wear closed-toed shoes, bring your own work gloves, and consider wearing a hat, sunglasses, sunscreen, and long sleeves/pants for protection. Bring a water bottle so that you stay hydrated for the 2 hours of volunteering. We have a water refill station onsite for your convenience. All tools will be provided.
Location: 17851 Goldenwest St., Huntington Beach CA 92647 (Directions)
Questions about Shipley Nature Center? Visit shipleynature.org/volunteer or email info@shipleynature.org
How to Apply: Fill out an online application (and waiver for volunteers under 18) and email it to info@shipleynature.org
Teen Volunteering at the Bolsa Chica Conservancy
Duration: Second Sunday & Last Saturday of each month, 9:00 AM -12:00 PM
Hours Earned: 3 hours per session
Eligibility: all teen volunteers ages 14+ (teens under the age of 14 must volunteer with a responsible adult)
Want to help the community and your local environment, and have fun doing it? At this event, participants have the opportunity to help restore and maintain the Bolsa Chica Wetlands! Participants will help this local treasure with invasive plant removal, debris disposal, and/or native plant installation.
What to Bring: Please come in closed-toe shoes, as you will be working in off-road terrain and closed-toed shoes are extremely important for safety! Bringing layered clothing is also recommended, as weather here at the wetlands can change rapidly from cool and overcast to clear and sunny in as short as an hour. Come prepared with sun protection, including sun glasses, sun screen, and/or a hat. Bringing water is also strongly recommended; hydration is key when working outdoors! Bring work gloves, if you have them. Donations of heavy duty trash bags, work gloves, and bottled water assist us greatly. Please note that you cannot bring dogs, bikes, or drones to this event. These items/companions are prohibited while on the reserve; bringing these can lead to getting ticketed by the reserve warden.
Location: 3842 Warner Ave. Huntington Beach, CA 92649
Parking Notes: We recommend arriving 10 - 15 minutes early to secure parking. To that end, we also encourage carpooling whenever possible!
Questions about the Bolsa Chica Conservancy? Visit call Kenny at (714) 846-1114 or email kenny@bolsachica.org
How to Apply: Sign up for your spot on the Conservancy's Volunteer Registration Calendar, and fill out the online volunteer service agreement. Bring your signed agreement with you to the event, or email it to kenny@bolsachica.org.
Teen Volunteering with the Bolsa Chica Land Trust
Duration: First Sunday and Third Saturday of every month, 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM.
Hours Earned: 3 hours per session
Eligibility: all teen volunteers ages 14+ (teens under the age of 14 must volunteer with a responsible adult)
The Bolsa Chica Stewards – the Restoration Team of the Bolsa Chica Land Trust – have been holding community-based habitat restoration volunteer events at the Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve for 25 years! In cooperation with the California Department of Fish & Wildlife, the Bolsa Chica Stewards have planted over 38,000 drought tolerant, CA native plants with the help of more than 17,000 volunteers from 80 different schools and community organizations. Restoring the mesa to a native habitat is important for the native wildlife that call Bolsa Chica home. Our planting season is October through April; during the rest of the year we care for the new plants, remove non-native plants, pick up trash, and other maintenance tasks. We will provide instruction, hand sanitizer, tools, extra supplies including water and individually packaged snacks.
What to Bring: Closed-toed shoes are required. Please also bring garden gloves, and a filled reusable water bottle. We suggest you wear long pants, clothes that can get dirty, sunscreen, and a hat. Masks are optional, but if you are feeling sick, please stay home and do not participate!
Location: The Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve North Parking Lot (3842 Warner Ave., Huntington Beach, 92649) We meet in the North Parking Lot at the corner of PCH and Warner Avenue.
Parking Notes: Please arrive on time to sign in on-site. Parking across the street is pay-to-park, but there is free parking in our lot (but often fills fast), PCH, and behind the gas station. Keep in mind it can take around 10 minutes to walk if you park off-site.
Questions about the Bolsa Chica Land Trust? Please email Beverley at Beverley@BCLandTrust.org or call the office at (714) 846-1001 with any questions. For questions about the volunteer application, please email Erin at erin@bclandtrust.org.
How to Apply: Register on BCLT’s Online Portal, and sign up for volunteer events. By signing up, you are digitally signing BCLT's waiver form (full waiver is available on the portal). Families can use one account (add family members under your profile/username), but must sign up individual family members for each event.
Dog Beach Volunteer Cleanup
Duration: January 14, February 19, March 19, April 8 & 30, weather permitting. You will have an assigned check in time given to you when you register for the cleanup. Please plan to arrive at your scheduled time 10-15 minutes early for the check in, and allow yourself up to 30 minutes to find parking.
Eligibility: all ages are welcome to volunteer! For minors attending without parents, you will need a signed consent form that will be provided when registering.
Love dogs? Want to help keep the Huntington Beach Dog Beach a clean and welcoming environment for dog owners & dog lovers of all ages? Come help out at a monthly beach cleanup! Our motto is "Preserve! Play! Pickup!" We strive to PRESERVE the “Off Leash Optional” status of Dog Beach for our canine companions so they can run and PLAY on sand and surf to their hearts’ content by providing the resources, education, and programs needed to PICK UP after everyone and their dog. We rely on donations and volunteer support to keep the Dog Beach open.
What to Bring: Wear closed-toed shoes, sunscreen, and sun protection like a hat / sunglasses. Bring along an extra layer, like a sweater or a jacket, in case it is cold. Be prepared to be outside in potentially changing weather for at least 2 hours. Make sure to bring a water bottle & snacks to keep you hydrated! We also recommend bringing along recyclable / reusable containers for trash collection, such as a reusable bucket, washable 5 gallon bucket, or reused plastic shopping bag. Kitty litter scoopers are also a great hands-free way to scoop up the trash and leave the sand behind. As containers are filled, we will dump them into a central collection site, like a trash can or large trash bag. The containers can be recycled after the cleanup. If you are not able to bring reusable cleanup supplies, single-use supplies will be provided for you at Dog Beach.
Location: Dog Beach is located off Pacific Coast Highway between Goldenwest Street and Seapoint Street. Check in with your waiver forms at our Tower 24 shed. Please allow up to 30 minutes for parking.
Questions about the Dog Beach? Visit www.dogbeach.org/beach-cleanup or call (714) 841-8644
How to Apply: Please submit your information through the online form to register as a volunteer. Upon submission, Dog Beach staff will contact and email you a waiver and assign you a check in time. All volunteers must bring a signed waiver to the clean up at your assigned time. Volunteers under 18 must have a parent or guardian's signature. Bring your printed & signed waiver to the cleanup at your assigned time. Please note that you must be pre-registered to participate in the clean up!
Teen Volunteering with the North OC Surfrider Foundation
Duration: Variable; check out the Cleanup Schedule for more details
Hours Earned: 2 - 3 hours per session
Eligibility: all teen volunteers ages 14+ (teens under the age of 14 must volunteer with a responsible adult)
Bring your family, friends and make new acquaintances to raise awareness about litter and plastic pollution and earn service hours too! Getting involved with the Surfrider Foundation shows that you care about the community and its environment. Learn a bit more about our beach cleanup program and be equipped to skim the beach, shoreline, parking lot, etc. for waste (mainly plastic) that doesn't belong. Clean the shores so we can collect data to use for making environmental action decisions, and enjoy the sun, sand, and surf by keeping it clean.
Questions about volunteering with the North Orange County Surfrider Foundation? Email CLEANUPS@NorthOC.Surfrider.org
How to Apply: Fill out the online form at northoc.surfrider.org/volunteer