Best Buddies High School Friendship Program (California)
A national program with active California high school chapters that pairs students with and without intellectual/developmental disabilities (IDD) in one-to-one friendships. Buddy pairs commit to weekly contact and at least two in-person hangouts per month, alongside chapter-wide inclusive social events.
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Special Olympics Northern California Unified Champion Schools (Schools Partnership Program)
A school-based inclusion initiative of Special Olympics Northern California that embeds students with and without intellectual disabilities together through Unified Sports teams, Inclusive Youth Leadership councils, and whole-school engagement activities. Distinct from general athlete volunteering, it trains student leaders to reduce bullying and build inclusive school climates.
California Student Mock Election
The California Student Mock Election, run by the Secretary of State's office, lets middle and high school students cast ballots in a statewide mock vote timed alongside real general elections, giving students hands-on experience with the voting process before they are eligible to vote.
Fresno County Health Youth Corps
A two-semester public health leadership program launched by UCSF Fresno, Fresno County Public Health, and the Fresno County Superintendent of Schools that trains historically marginalized high schoolers to become community health champions, culminating in a community health initiative and annual showcase.
ProStart
A two-year, industry-backed culinary arts and restaurant management career pathway for high schoolers, offered through participating high schools nationwide (including California) via the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation. Combines classroom instruction and industry mentorship with the annual National ProStart Invitational competition.
Robbin Mackbee Firefighter/EMS Youth Academy
A nine-month youth academy in Vallejo run in partnership with the Vallejo Fire Department, Vallejo Unified School District, and Medic Ambulance, offering mentorship, CPR/First Aid/disaster-medicine training, and structured career exploration for youth interested in firefighting or EMS careers.
SLEWS Program (Center for Land-Based Learning)
The Student and Landowner Education and Watershed Stewardship (SLEWS) program engages cohorts of about 30 high school students in hands-on habitat restoration on working farms, ranches, and open spaces across Yolo, Solano, Sacramento, San Joaquin, and Butte counties. Over three to five field days per cohort, students plant native vegetation, build irrigation systems, conduct ecological studies, and hear from natural-resource professionals about careers in agriculture and conservation.