TeenSpace: Volunteering

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