Teen Service Opportunities
Whether you’re looking for service hours, building your resume, or would simply like to volunteer with friends, the Art Center’s Teen Volunteer Program has a variety of volunteer opportunities for you!
Current Opportunities Include
Art Center Teen Leadership
Art Center Teen Leadership is a year-long commitment with meetings taking place once or twice a month on weekdays and weekends. Art Center Teen Leadership will have a Teen Event on February 23, 2025, 2:30-5 p.m. Applications for the 2025-2026 year will be availble here in May of 2025.
Teen Summer Camp Counselor-in-Training Program
Summer Camp Counselors in Training (CITs) are volunteers (12-18 years old) who assist professional art instructors in the day-to-day running of the Kids and Teen Studio summer camps. CITs offer support through classroom management, encouraging campers, prepping art supplies, and more. This is a great way to earn service hours, develop and strengthen leadership skills, and have fun in a creative environment. CITs volunteer for one week of camp, choosing a morning or afternoon session (CITs may volunteer for more than one week of camp, space permitting). Lead CITs (LCITs) are experienced CITs who rotate throughout the camps to assist teachers, students, and CITs. LCITs choose a morning or afternoon camp session and their shift includes the lunch hour. Registration for Summer Camps in 2025 will open with non-Resident Summer Camp registration on March 13, 2025.
Learn more about our Counselor-in-Training Program
Ceramics Apprentice Program
Teen Ceramics Apprentices volunteer for a minimum of two hours a week for the current class or camp session at the Art Center. Shifts will overlap with ceramics classes for all ages. Volunteer tasks include maintaining the ceramics studio, organizing supplies and work, working with the kiln, assisting with lesson planning, classroom management, and working closely with Art Center ceramics instructors. Ceramics Apprentices will have access to the ceramics studio during set hours for their own artmaking purposes during their apprenticeship. Candidates for this role must have two years of ceramics experience in Art Center classes or instructor approval and be at least 16 years of age.
This extension of the Art Center’s ceramics program is a great way to earn service hours, develop leadership skills, have fun in a creative environment, and build a portfolio. Apprentices must attend one training session. If you meet the above qualifications and are interested, please contact Mo.Moran@cityofpaloalto.org.
Special and Art Prep Projects Welcome
We are pleased to support teens working on special service projects, such as Girl Scout Gold Awards, Eagle Scout Awards, and other extensive service projects.
Occasionally, we have Art Prep projects for volunteers to complete at the Art Center and/or at home. Please join our monthly Volunteer eNews to learn when these opportunities arise. Contact Rebecca.Passarello@cityofpaloalto.org to subscribe to the Volunteer ENews.