Youth Volunteer Opportunities

"The world belongs to the energetic." – Ralph Waldo Emerson

Youth are the future of our National Parks, and their choices will shape the fate of our environment. Cape Cod National Seashore is offering a variety of volunteer events and positions available for students and youth ages 14 and up to encourage positive changes led by our next generation. These opportunities are comprised of engaging, educational, and teamwork-oriented tasks that support various divisions at the seashore.

Youth can become a volunteer in two different ways. The first is by becoming a member of the SEASTAR (Student Environmental Advocacy, Support, Training, And Recreation) Volunteer Program. This program is comprised of members-only volunteer event days tackling different projects. The second is through individual placement. Individual placement is a more personalized way to volunteer that is for towards volunteers who would like to work on one specific project.

 

Youth volunteers planting trees by the shore.

Image credit NPS

The SEASTAR Volunteer Program

There are many benefits for joining the seashore's SEASTAR program, such as:

Volunteer at exclusive events.

Joining SEASTAR allows you to attend exclusive volunteering events created specifically for SEASTAR volunteers.

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Meet and work with your peers.

Spend time with a cohort of like-minded youth who are passionate about the environment, conservation, and public service.

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Volunteer at your own pace and/or schedule.

You can choose which volunteer events to attend. Don't like woodworking? Love beachcombing? Customize your volunteer experience for your interests, schedule, and needs.

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Gain diverse experiences.

The SEASTAR Volunteer Program is structured to introduce youth to a wide variety of topics, park divisions, tasks, and skills.

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Receive an official certificate for your volunteer service.

As a SEASTAR Volunteer Program participant, you may request a signed certificate acknowledging the total number of hours you have contributed. To help with career applications, special certificates will be awarded to volunteers who reach certain milestones.

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Develop a deeper appreciation for America's public lands.

Volunteering helps community members feel connected to their local park.Youth who fully experience the outdoors develop an appreciation that lasts a lifetime.

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Get Involved!

The SEASTAR Volunteer Program holds a wide variety of events to appeal to many different areas of interest and expertise. Event days are planned with school schedules in mind in order to lessen the burden on members who are full-time students. Several different park divisions will be included in the event lineup, including Interpretation, Natural Resources, and Maintenance. Once a volunteer is accepted into SEASTAR, they may attend any of the events, even if they have no previous training or knowledge related to it. Volunteers are instructed, trained, and monitored by CACO staff before they begin and throughout the duration of the event day. These event days are limited to SEASTAR members only, as they have been planned for a youth audience.

Click here to apply to become a member of the SEASTAR Volunteer Program!

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Individual Placement (Youth)

For those who do not feel the SEASTAR Volunteer Program would be a good fit for their volunteering goals, or for those who would like to work on additional volunteer projects outside of scheduled SEASTAR events, individual placement is an option. Occasionally, youth volunteer position openings will be posted on www.volunteer.gov. Potential volunteers may also reach out to e-mail us to discuss setting up an individual volunteer position to meet their needs.

Individual placement positions are created and managed on a case-by-case basis. They can include, but are not limited to:

• Ecology field work positions for college students

• Ecology lab work positions for college students

• Eagle Scout projects

• One-off volunteer projects for youth who are visiting

• Youth paddle guide assistants

• Projects that are not included as part of upcoming SEASTAR event days

• Visitor Center Front Desk Assistant positions