Browse opportunities
6 opportunities
Essex County Turtle Back Zoo — VolunTEEN Program
VolunTEENs assist camp counselors with the Zoo's summer camp — preparing for daily sessions, helping campers with activities, and keeping groups together and safe on Zoo grounds. It is a good way to learn about the animals while earning hours. You must be at least 14, or entering grade 9 in the fall. Freshmen, sophomores, and juniors are welcome. You must commit to at least one full week over the summer, Monday to Friday, 8:30am to 4:30pm each day. The separate Docent program runs its own application cycle and the current class is closed.
Ocean County Historical Society
Volunteer roles at the museum and research center in Toms River: docent and tour guide, research center assistant, museum collections, imaging, public relations, gardens and grounds, administrative support, publications, and development. Request an application by phone or email, download it from the website, or apply online. The Society does not publish a minimum volunteer age — ask when you request the application.
Hamilton Area YMCA — Youth Volunteer Connection
A Mercer County clearinghouse that gathers volunteer opportunities for youth aged 13 to 17 into one place, so you can search rather than cold-calling organizations one at a time. Listed partners include the YMCA itself, West Windsor Arts Council, Farmers Against Hunger, Habitat for Humanity, the NJ State Museum, and Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital. Each opportunity links through to the host organization's own application.
Winter4Kids
A nonprofit at the National Winter Activity Center in Vernon that gives kids who would never otherwise get the chance access to alpine skiing, snowboarding, Nordic skiing, and biathlon. Volunteers work across facility operations, programming, and coaching. First Tracks Instructors deliver the on-snow curriculum, setting up outdoor "classrooms" and leading children through games and activities while teaching technique. Anyone in an on-snow role must be a fully experienced skier or rider and bring their own equipment; there are also off-snow roles. Winter4Kids does not publish a minimum volunteer age — call or email before applying to confirm you are eligible.
Habitat for Humanity of Greater Newark
Help build and repair homes alongside a construction foreman and site supervisor — painting, framing, insulating, hanging sheetrock, installing flooring, and landscaping. The minimum commitment is a single day, and you pick your dates from the volunteer calendar. Volunteers aged 16 and 17 may not use power tools and must be accompanied by an adult. A parental consent form is required for anyone under 18.
Jersey Cares — Teen Service Events
Teen service events for ages 14 to 18 at the Jersey Cares office in Livingston. Volunteers complete a creative component, pack a kit that is donated to a local nonprofit partner, and take part in a round-table discussion about the project's impact. Jersey Cares also runs volunteer projects across New Jersey year-round through their opportunity calendar, many of which are open to ages 12 and up with adult supervision.