Summer of Service Institute

This program is not funded for 2025 - we are raising funds to bring it back in 2026

The YouthSERVE Summer Institute is 4-week outdoor volunteer program for teens!

This program is free and open to any young person in Santa Cruz County and Pajaro. You must be entering grades 7 - 12 in the fall of 2024 (current middle school and high school students should apply). If you are graduating from high school this year or are enrolled in college, you can join us as an intern.

(831) 427-5070 ext.119

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Looking back at our 2024 Summer program

Each week we will volunteer Monday - Thursday, meeting in the morning and traveling together to the project location. Each day we have a different project - so you will learn about several programs and issues in our community.

Session 1: June 17 - 20 - Projects in Santa Cruz/Live Oak Area including: Beach Clean Up, Homeless Garden Project, Grey Bears and Natural History Museum.

Session 2: June 24-27 - Projects in Watsonville and surrounding area including: Second Harvest Food Bank, Graffiti Removal, Watsonville Wetlands Watch and Pinto Lake.

Session 3: July 15 - 18- Projects in Santa Cruz/Live Oak Area including: Beach Clean Up, Homeless Garden Project, Grey Bears and Natural History Museum.

Session 4: July 22-25 - Projects in Watsonville and surrounding area including: Second Harvest Food Bank, Graffiti Removal, Watsonville Wetlands Watch and Pinto Lake.

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Thank you for your support!

We'll miss the volunteers, mentors and projects this summer. Please join us at one of our one-day projects or at one of our partner programs!

Check out our VOLUNTEER CALENDAR HERE