Naturalists in Training (Pacific Grove Museum of Natural History)
A teen volunteer program at the Pacific Grove Museum of Natural History, near Monterey Bay, for students entering grades 9-12. Trainees attend workshops on natural history and coastal ecology, then serve volunteer shifts helping the public and leading nature activities, earning community service hours or a stipend.
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Climate Corps Leadership Institute (Watsonville Wetlands Watch)
A year-long paid internship for Watsonville high school students that builds climate action leadership through hands-on watershed and wetland work. Interns gain experience in urban forestry, habitat restoration, community science monitoring, and climate justice advocacy in the Pajaro Valley, presented in partnership with local schools.
SEA Team Volunteer Program (Aquarium of the Bay)
A teen volunteer program at Aquarium of the Bay in San Francisco for students ages 14-15 who commit to at least six months of service. Volunteers assist with exhibit interpretation, animal husbandry support, and visitor education about San Francisco Bay marine life.
Civil Air Patrol Cadet Program (California Wing)
Civil Air Patrol is the official auxiliary of the U.S. Air Force; its Cadet Program lets youth ages 12-18 train in aerospace education, leadership, and emergency services, including orientation flights in CAP aircraft. California Wing operates dozens of local squadrons across Northern California offering weekly meetings, encampments, and flight training opportunities.
Foodwise Teens
A free youth development program from the San Francisco nonprofit Foodwise (formerly CUESA) that trains SFUSD high school students in sustainable food systems through three tracks: Seed (foundational after-school learning), Grow (teen-led projects), and Cultivate (paid summer job placements with mentorship in gardens, kitchens, and farmers markets).
High School Marine Biology Course (Marine Science Institute, Redwood City)
A hands-on, a-g approved semester-long marine biology course for grades 9-12 held weekly at the Marine Science Institute in Redwood City. Students study ocean environments, waves and tides, and marine organisms through labs and a field trip to a local creek and rocky shore.
NWS Sacramento SKYWARN Weather Spotter Program
A free National Weather Service volunteer training program that teaches participants to identify and safely report severe weather (hail, wind damage, flash flooding, tornadoes) to help forecasters issue better warnings. Training is delivered via a series of online video modules plus an exam, covering the Sacramento Valley and surrounding Northern California region.