Internships & Volunteer Programs

Whether it’s an overnight precollege program, a local day camp, or a sleepaway adventure experience, summer programs for teens are a great to pursue new interests, improve existing skills, and make new friends outside of the classroom.

Here are some of the best summer volunteer programs and internships for students in middle and high school. These one-of-a-kind programs come in all shapes and sizes — some are academically focused, others are skills-based, and still others are similar to a traditional summer camp experience. However, all of these programs offer vital enrichment opportunities for teens to expand their horizons.

• Charles County Arts Alliance: Opportunities for volunteers in efforts to promote the arts in Charles County by assisting in periodic events and activities. They welcome your help at any time throughout the year. For more information, visit: www.charlescountyarts.org/volunteer/help-wanted-now.
• Charles County Children’s Aid Society: This is a volunteer opportunity for students to give back to the community.
• Charles County Emergency Services: From fire, rescue (including dive), to EMT, Charles County has numerous volunteer opportunities. For more information on the different stations, please visit: www.ccvfireems.org/content/companies
• Charles County NAACP Youth Council: Volunteers are needed to promote the NAACP mission. The primary focus issues for the Division are Voting Rights and Political Representation, Economic Sustainability, Education, Health, and Juvenile Justice. For more information, visit: https://charlescountynaacp.org/youth-council.
• Charles County Sheriff’s Office TEEN COURT: TEEN COURT is seeking youth volunteers to serve as jurors and prosecution and defense attorneys. Volunteers earn community service hours, gain experience in the legal system, try real court cases, and help their community. To find out more about this program including a schedule of Teen Court dates, please visit: www.ccso.us/community/youth-outreach and click on TEEN COURT or contact Ms. Sarah Vaughan, Teen Court Coordinator, at 301-609-3916.
• Charles County Rotary Interact Club: The Rotary Club is a service organization whose stated purpose is to bring together business and professional leaders in order to provide humanitarian service and to advance goodwill and peace around the world. It is a non-political and non-religious organization open to all. For more information, visit: www.neighborhoodcreativeartscenter.org/rotary-interact or email msgeorgia@neighborhoodcreativeartscenter.org
• Humane Society of Charles County, Inc.: The Junior Volunteer Program is set up for those who are under 18. Volunteers are needed for many kinds of work and activities. For more information, visit: www.humanesocietycc.org. For questions, please call 301-645-8181.
• LifeStyles of Maryland Foundation, Inc.: Volunteers are needed to help provide services to those who are economically disadvantaged. For more information, call 301-609-9900 or visit: https://lifestylesofmd.org/volunteer.
• Melwood: Volunteers are needed to assist in many areas that help individuals of differing abilities. If you are interested in volunteering with Melwood, visit: https://melwood.org/volunteer-opportunities or call 301-599-2724.
• Our Place Soup Kitchen: Volunteers are needed to sponsor dinners, set up, clean up, and serve the meals. To find out more information about volunteering go to: www.OurPlaceWaldorf.com , call 240-210-9813, or email support@ourplacewaldorf.com.
• Promise Landing Farm: Nanjemoy farm has openings for volunteers to help with the horses and lessons including side walkers and horse leaders. For more information, visit: www.PromiseLandingFarm.org.
• Sagepoint Senior Living Services: Volunteers are needed to assist in several areas to help senior citizens. For more information and to download an application go to: https://www.sagepointcare.org/about-us/volunteering/ or you may contact a Volunteer Services Representative at 301-934-1900.
• Southern Maryland Food Bank: Volunteer opportunities for ages 16+ or 12-15 with an adult. Volunteers work in the Food Pantry stocking, bagging, and distributing food. For more information, visit: https://southernmarylandfoodbank.com/volunteering or contact them at 301-274-0695.
• Spring Dell Center, Inc.: Volunteers are needed to assist in many areas that help people with disabilities. For more information, visit: https://springdellcenter.org/index.php/online-forms/volunteer-application, call 301-934-4561 or 301-870-3758
• Steam Onward: Volunteers help the community with opportunities in agriculture, natural resources, and the environment. For more information, visit: https://steamonward.org/volunteer-activities.
• Tri-County Youth Services Bureau, Inc.: The TCYSB is looking for volunteers to help a young person realize his or her fullest potential. For more information call 301-645-1837, email info@tcysb.org or visit http://tcysb.org.
• United Way of Southern Maryland: Volunteers are needed for different events where the mission is to impact lives in Calvert, Charles, and St. Mary’s Counties by mobilizing the caring power of our community to advance the common good. For more information and an application, visit: www.unitedwaysouthernmaryland.org/volunteer.
• University of Maryland Charles Regional Medical Center - Nursing and Healthcare Career Exploration Opportunity: Volunteer Program Teens between the ages of 14 and 17 are exposed to the healthcare environment while deciding if healthcare is the career for them. The program also offers teens an opportunity to serve their community and its residents. Volunteens learn about the hospital setting while assisting staff members and patients. Volunteens spend between 4 and 30 hours each week at the University of Maryland Charles Regional Medical Center over the summer. For more information, visit: https://www.umms.org/charles/about/volunteer-opportunities. Volunteen Applications are usually accepted beginning April 1st of each year. Please pay attention to the deadline for submitting your application.

The Charles County Government Summer Internship Program gives Charles County students a unique opportunity to gain real life work experience and learn about the services the County provides to residents. This enriching experience is divided into two sessions over the course of the summer to try and best meet the needs of our students. The first session is a 10-week program that starts in June and the second session is a 6-week program that starts in July.

All positions have been posted to our website (https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/charlescountymd/transferjobs) and the deadline to apply is 4/22/2024.

From Thursday, July 18, 2024 to Friday, July 19, 2024 the Baltimore Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is hosting a Teen Academy. Our Teen Academy program allows high school students an opportunity to get a comprehensive look into today’s FBI. Students are provided with several presentations on topics including terrorism, cybercrime, public corruption, polygraph exams, evidence response, SWAT, and the day-to-day operations of a typical FBI office. Students also learn from special agents, intelligence analysts, language specialists, and professional staff about investigative tactics that include gathering evidence, interviewing witnesses, and assisting with cases.

Ages 16-18 can apply.

CLICK HERE TO APPLY

Digital Illustration, Session 1: June 17 - 28 (PM)

Grades 9-12: In this class, students will explore how to use Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator for a variety of drawings and designs! Students will learn about character development, portraiture, settings and environments, design, and metaphorical approaches to making. Access to the Adobe Creative Suite is included for the duration of this course.

Class meets: 1:00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. No class June 19.

Cost: $428

Click HERE to Register

Illustration Wet and Dry Media, Session 1: June 17 - 28 (PM)

Grades 9-12: Illustration is everywhere! Come learn the fundamentals of illustrating with wet and dry media, and how to take your hand drawn images through a digital process for print purposes. Young artists begin by responding to single image prompts related to newly acquired media techniques with emphasis on composition of content, then finish with designing their own narrative to illustrate!

Class meets: 1:00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. No class June 19.

Cost: $428

Click HERE to Register

Painting Our Own Histories, Session 1: June 17 - 28 (AM)

Grades 9-12: How does understanding historical context, traditions, and histories of art contribute to the creation of our personal art? What motivates artists to either adhere to or diverge from established traditions? This course invites students to discover the impact of historical narratives, cultural traditions, and the ever-evolving art world on the creation of meaningful paintings. As students paint from both memory and imagination, students will utilize the expressive mediums of watercolor and acrylic paint to craft artworks imbued with personal significance. Uncover the transformative power of blending tradition and innovation in the pursuit of creating impactful and meaningful paintings.

Class meets: 9:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. No class June 19.

Cost: $428

Click HERE to Register

The St. John’s College Summer Academy is a pre-college, residential summer program that offers high school students ages 15 to 18 an exceptional learning experience. Organized in one-week sessions, students read and discuss texts from the Western canon in small classes guided by St. John’s renowned faculty. Students live in dormitories and share campus amenities as well as enjoy off-campus excursions to celebrated sites. Sessions are hosted on both St. John’s campus locations, in Annapolis, MD and Santa Fe, NM.

This summer, learn to navigate the college experience with the University of Maryland’s Terp Young Scholars. During three remarkable

weeks, academically talented students pursue an academic interest, engage with passionate faculty, and get a jump on college by earning three university credits.

Terp Young Scholars offers two learning options—in-person or online. Both options provide innovative and engaging learning. Participants choose whether to commute from home or participate 100% online. Students who select the commuter in-person learning option discover UMD’s outstanding facilities and amenities while living at home and commuting daily to the UMD campus. Students who select the 100% online learning option engage in interactive virtual activities that provide insights into the UMD experience.

Terp Young Scholars is designed specifically for high school students (rising grade 10 to graduating grade 12). The program delivers an academic experience that is at the forefront of theory, thought, and technology. Participants choose one three-credit course (offered in-person or online), attend class, study, work on projects, prepare for exams, and interact with their peers and regular UMD undergraduate students in a rigorous academic setting. Classes are held every day, Monday-Friday, with meeting times varying according to the specific course. Classes generally meet for three hours a day between 9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. and may include an afternoon session.

WHAT ARE GWC SUMMER PROGRAMS?

Girls Who Code offers two Summer Programs:

• A two-week Summer Immersion Program to learn game design in live virtual classrooms

  
  

• A six-week Self-Paced Program to explore some of the biggest topics in tech independently

What do cutting edge research, state-of-the-art laboratory facilities and unparalleled access to professional scientists and engineers have in common? The AEOP High School Internship. Spend your summer in a university research lab or in one of the U.S. Army Research Laboratories and Centers through this unique internship opportunity. You will experience firsthand the innovation and research that is driving the future of our country. Do something meaningful this summer to prepare you for competitive college admissions and the next step in your STEM journey. Submit your application today for a chance to participate in the AEOP Internship Program. The impacts of this transformative experience will last a lifetime.

Girls Talk Math is a two-week summer day camp hosted by the Department of Mathematics at the University of Maryland. Rising-9th to rising-12th grade students who attend high school within driving distance of the University can apply. Note this is NOT a residential camp, so participants need to be transported everyday. No GPA or minimum course requirements: just interest, curiosity and excitement!

Applications will be accepted until June 1st, though students will be considered on a first come first serve basis, as space allows.

The program cost to participants is $25 due at the time of acceptance. (If you need a fee waiver, there will be a box you can check after acceptance that will grant you one automatically.)

Program Times: Weekdays July 22 - August 2, 2024 from 9:00 am - 4:00 pm.

Please submit any questions to girlstalkmath@math.umd.edu.

If you are currently in your junior year of high school and considering the Naval Academy as your college of choice, we strongly recommend you consider applying to Summer Seminar. Summer Seminar will introduce you to life at the Academy, where you will experience first-class academic, athletic, and professional training at the #1 public college in the Country (released 2022 U.S. News & World Report College Ranking Report). Your Summer Seminar application will also serve as a preliminary application to the Academy that you will complete before or during your senior year.

During the six-day session, you will become a part of the Academy. You will live in Bancroft Hall (the dormitory all midshipmen live in), participate in academic and leadership workshops, and experience a variety of other activities on the campus. You will have an opportunity to see firsthand what the Academy has to offer through its exceptional academic, athletic, extracurricular activities and leadership training programs.

Summer 2024 Sessions:

• SESSION 1 (SAT - THURS), JUNE 1 - JUNE 6

• SESSION 2 (SAT - THURS), JUNE 8 - JUNE 13
• SESSION 3 (SAT - THURS), JUNE 15 - JUNE 20*

These programs are a courtesy and for information purposes only. Charles County Public Schools does not endorse or sponsor these programs.