North State Parent magazine

A MAGAZINE SERVING FAMILIES IN BUTTE, GLENN, SHASTA, SISKIYOU & TEHAMA COUNTIES SINCE 1993

Volunteer Opportunities For Youth & Teens

NATIONAL/MULTIPLE COUNTIES

4-H Million Trees Project. Teen Laura Webber founded 4HMT to inspire up to 6 million youth to plant trees to slow global climate change. She has enlisted 200,000 members to date, with more than 7,500,000 trees planted. Search “4-H Million Trees Project” on Facebook.

American Red Cross. Both high school & college students can get involved doing service and educational projects to benefit school and community. Opportunities can involve communication teams, feeding teams, behind the scenes, & communications & outreach.

  •      Chico. 1601 Esplanade. (530) 891-0885.
  •  Redding. 3609 Bechelli Ln, Unit 1. (530)244-8000.

Binky Patrol. This all-volunteer national organization makes & distributes homemade blankets called “binkies” to infants, children & youth ages 0-18 who have suffered severe medical issues, abuse or trauma. School groups, Scout troops, services groups, families & individuals can all volunteer. Anyone who loves to sew, knit or crochet can create binkies or help gather materials needed to make them. binkypatrol.org.

Catalyst Mentoring; Empowering community members to invest in the youth of our community through the power of mentoring on school campuses during lunchtime in Shasta & South Siskiyous County and in the Catalyst office on weekday afternoons/evenings. The perfect mentors are 18+ years old and willing to commit to one hour a week of mentoring. catalystmentoring.org/mentor. (530)319-7164.

Guide Dogs for The Blind. Community volunteer program offers individuals the opportunity to represent the Guide Dogs organization locally. Raise a puppy or travel to volunteer at the main campus in San Rafael. Take a campus tour to learn more about the organization. guidedogs.com. (800)295-4050 or (415)499-4000.

Habitat for Humanity. Opportunities include home building, supporting awareness-raising events. Provides a variety of opportunities for anyone ages 5-40. Contact your local Habitat for Humanity for more details. habitat.org/volunteer/near-you/youth-programs.

Interact Clubs. A service-based club partnered with Rotary to help local and global charities. Students develop leadership skills while discovering the power of service above self. Check with your local high school or rotary club for more information.

Libraries. Teens are welcome to join advisory committees at the Redding & Red Bluff libraries. Teens meet regularly to discuss and make decisions about teen programs and book selections at their libraries. Many volunteer programs for youth & teens available. See the Education section for library contact information.

Museums. Volunteering at a museum allows the opportunity to learn & share information with museum visitors. From history to science, many museums offer volunteer opportunities for youth & teens. See Museums & Historical Sites to find local museums that can likely use your help.

Pay It Forward. Students can work with teachers at their local schools to develop Pay It Forward assignments. Established by Catherine Ryan Hyde, author of the novel Pay It Forward, the foundation provides supportive education materials and seed money to those who qualify. Pay it Forward Day happens annually each April. globalpayitforwardday.com.

Project Linus. The gifts of new, handmade blankets & afghans created by volunteer “blanketeers” provide love, security, warmth and comfort to children ages birth-18 who are seriously ill, traumatized or otherwise in need. A rewarding and fun service opportunity for individuals & community groups. projectlinus.org. (309)585-0686.

Roots & Shoots. Initiative of Jane Goodall Institute. For those who want to do something about the problems facing their community and our world – social justice, pollution, climate change, and more.  We provide the support, resources, tools and training to empower you to take action and lead change in your community. rootsandshoots.org/take-action/. 1120 20th St NW. Washington DC. (703)682-9220.

We Day. Empowers young global citizens through an inspirational annual We Day event where more than 200,000 young people come together in stadium gatherings across the US, Canada & the UK to take part in an unprecedented educational initiative. Participants earn tickets to We Day by engaging in service activities through a year-long educational initiative called We Act, through their group or school as part of the We Schools program. we.org.

BUTTE & GLENN COUNTIES

Bidwell Wildlife Rehabilitation; Chico. Volunteers are needed for in-home wildlife nurturing work, transporting animals and supplies, fundraising and helping with the hotline. Has a great need for rehabbing birds. info@bidwellwildliferehab.org. (530)343-9004.

Blue Sky Festivals & Events; Chico. We welcome volunteers from charity groups, individuals, athletic teams, and work groups. Volunteer with us for half a day and receive a complimentary ticket into the event you volunteered for. Blueskyfestivalsandevents.com. 1380 East Ave. (949)891-3254.

Boys and Girls Club. Various teenage volunteer positions through our Teen Center programs such as Leaders in Training (LIT), Counselors in Training (CIT), senior projects and community service assignments. Call your local Teen Center for more information. bgcnv.org/get-involved/volunteer-opportunities/.

  • Chico. 601 Wall St. (530)879-5653.
  • Hamilton City. 277 Capay Ave. (530)826-3474 X 5035.
  • Oroville. 1535 Bridge St. (530)538-2320 X 3016.

Bridging the Gap; Chico. A non-profit, publicly supported organization, under the umbrella of North Valley Community Foundation. Focused on providing clean and safe water for developing countries. Volunteer your time to help make a difference. btg4water.org. (530)342-5746.

Butte County Library. The Butte County Libraries encourage volunteerism as one way to involve members of the community in the activities of the library. Opportunities include working on projects, helping with literacy needs & learning new skills. buttecounty.net/528/Library. (530)552-5652.

  • Biggs. 464A B St.
  • Chico. 1108 Sherman Ave.
  • Durham. 2545 Durham-Dayton Hwy.
  • Gridley. 299 Spruce St.
  • Oroville. 1820 Mitchell Ave.
  • Paradise. 5922 Clark Rd.

Butte Environmental Council; Chico. Nonprofit supported by a community of volunteers, interns, partners & those who financially contribute to efforts.  focused on wildfire resilience, organic waste and edible food recovery, and urban greening. becnet.org/volunteerbutte-tehama. 313 Walnut St, Ste 140. (530)891-6424.

Butte Humane Society; Chico. Opportunities to provide the extra love & support our animals need to help prepare them for their forever homes. Tasks include walking dogs, feeding, events, socializing cats. buttehumane.org/volunteer-2/. 13391 Garner Ln. (530)343-7917.

Chico Area Recreation & Park District; Chico. Looking for dedicated people who can volunteer 3-4 hours a week during the season. Opportunities available for those who are interested in spreading the “love of the game” while helping youth in a positive & safe environment. chicorec.com/volunteer-to-coach. 545 Vallombrosa Ave. (530)895-4711.

Chico Cat Coalition; A no-kill, non-profit shelter dedicated to rescuing, healing & rehoming cats. Volunteers needed everyday. Tasks include: cleaning, laundry, socializing kittens, fundraising & public relations. chicocatcoalition.org/volunteer/. 629 Entler Ave. #13.

Chico Creek Nature Center; Chico. Volunteers needed for animal care. Must be 17 years or older & have reliable transportation. Experience is not necessary but is welcome. chicorec.com/animal-care-volunteer. 1968 E. 8th Street. (530)891-4671.

Chico Discovery Shop. With stores throughout California, American Cancer Society Discovery Shop locations help support the fight against cancer through the sale of high quality, gently used, donated merchandise. cancer.org/donate/discovery-shops-national/california-discovery-shops/chico. 982 East Ave. (530)343-6178.

Chico Heritage Society. Seeks people interested in preservation of the sites and buildings of Chico, and to assist with research in the discovery of Chico’s past. Contact for more details. chicoheritage.net/contact. 225 Main Street, Suite D. (530)345-7522.

Chico High School. Provides detailed online list of organizations looking for volunteers in the area. chs.chicousd.org/Counseling/Volunteer/index.html. 901 Esplanade. (530)891-3026.

Chico History Museum. Volunteer-run organization working to acquire, conserve, research & communicate the rich history of Chico for the education & enjoyment of the community. chicohistorymuseum.org/Volunteer. 141 Salem & 2nd St. (530)891-4336.

Museum of Northern California Art; Chico. MONCA is entirely volunteer-run and always welcoming new volunteers, from Board of Directors to cataloging the growing collection and greeting visitors, to marketing, public relations & grant writing. Many more opportunities available. monca.org/volunteer/. 900 Esplanade. (530)487-7272.

North Valley Animal Disaster Group; Chico. During ordinary disaster incidents only NVADG-trained Disaster Service Worker (DSW) volunteers are activated for emergency sheltering & evacuation. nvadg.org/become-a-volunteer/. PO Box 441. (530)895-0000.

Patrick Ranch Museum; Durham. Dedicated to enhancing the understanding & appreciation of the area’s rich agricultural heritage. Volunteers can use all skills at any level to help with restoration, woodworking, machinery repairs, grounds maintenance, and numerous miscellaneous projects. patrickranchmuseum.org/volunteer. 10381 Midway. (530)342-4359.

Paw Prints Thrift Boutique; Chico.​ Run entirely by volunteers & all store profits go towards funding programs which financially assist pet owners in our community in having their pets spayed & neutered. pawprintsthriftboutique.org/volunteer.html. 1360 E. 1st Ave. (530)892-2687.

Torres Community Shelter; Chico. Volunteers help staff meet the everyday needs of our guests, assisting in providing services such as checking in, showering, laundry, mail, medication & more. Volunteer hours can be flexible to meet a schedule; shelter is open 24-hours a day. truenorthbutte.org. 101 Silver Dollar Way. (530)891-9048

KZFR; Chico. People powered radio. Volunteer opportunities in the office, at special KZFR events, community events or during a Pledge Drive. bit.ly/KZFRvolunteer

SHASTA COUNTY

Catalyst Mentoring; Redding. Empowering community members to invest in the youth of the community through the power of mentoring. Provides mentoring on school campuses during lunchtime in Shasta & South Siskiyous County and in the Catalyst office on weekday afternoons/evenings. The perfect mentors are 18+ years old and willing to commit to one hour a week of mentoring. catalystmentoring.org/mentor. 2280 Benton Dr, Building B. (530)319-7164.

Citizen Monitoring Program; Shasta County. The Western Shasta Resource Conservation District offers fun & educational volunteer opportunities for all ages. Duties include scientific opportunities such as aquatic bioassessment sampling, in which volunteers collect benthic macroinvertebrates (creek bugs) and perform other tasks that help gauge watershed health. westernshastarcd.org. (530)365-7332 X 203.

City of Redding Parks & Recreation; Redding. Volunteering to clean parks & public spaces, donating a bench or table to Redding Parks, or participating in the Adopt Program is a great way to give back to the community. cityofredding.org/volunteeradoptprogram. 777 Cypress Ave. (530)225-4095.

Haven Humane Society; Shasta County. Volunteers aged 15 and younger are required to volunteer alongside a parent or guardian (18+) who must also go through the volunteer process. Volunteers aged 16-17 may volunteer without an adult on site but must have a parent/guardian sign liability waiver. This program also satisfies school community service. havenhumane.org/volunteer. 7449 Eastside Rd. (530)241-1653 X 223.

Mercy Medical Center; Redding. Opportunities include positions in clerical services, courtesy coffee cart, emergency department, gift shop, pharmacy & more. Contact for more information. Gary.Cassingham@dignityhealth.org. hdignityhealth.org/north-state/locations/mercy-redding/ways-to-give/volunteer-opportunities. 2175 Rosaline Ave. (530)225-6468.

Northern Valley Catholic Social Service; Redding. Needs volunteer participation in every area from leadership & clerical support to hands-on mentoring & professional instruction. Volunteer assignments reward individuals with opportunities to test & fine tune their unique skills & to share their interests & abilities with others. nvcss.org/get-involved. 2400 Washington Ave. (530)241-0552.

Second Helpings Thrift Store; Redding. Second Helpings and volunteers strive to present a clean & sorted display of wonderful clothes, books, plants, kitchenware, knick-knacks, holiday decor, electrical items, jewelry, fabric, & much more. fccredding.org/thrift-store.html. 2636 Churn Creek Rd., Ste. B. (530)226-8000.

Shasta County Arts Council; Redding. Looking for volunteers to help with gallery opening nights, music & theater events such as the Silent Film Festival or the Nor-Cal Jazz Festival, & ARTsMART, or at times, even to help in the office. shastaartscouncil.org/volunteer. 1313 Market St. (530)241-7320.

Shasta County Office of Education; Redding. Varieties of programs available that rely on the support of volunteers. Please call for more information about how you can obtain clearance to work with students after school hours. shastacoe.org. 1644 Magnolia Avenue. (530)245-7830.

Shasta Public Library. Volunteers provided with orientation, training & proper supervision. Opportunities include storytime assistant, shelving assistant, class assistants, tutoring & book repair. http://www.shastalibraries.org/volunteer/.

  • Anderson. 3200 West Center St. (530)365-7685.
  • Burney. 37116 Main St. (530)335-4317.
  • Redding. 11000 Parkview Ave. (530)245-7250.

Shasta Wildlife Rescue & Rehabilitation; Anderson. Nonprofit organization dedicated to the rescue, rehabilitation & release of sick, orphaned and injured wildlife in Northern California, caring for more than 1,000 lives each year. Volunteers age 15 and older are needed in varying roles, primarily Apr.-Aug. shastawildlife.org. (530)365-9453.

Turtle Bay Exploration Park Teen Volunteer Program; Redding. Provides teens with skills and learning opportunities that will build confidence and develop future career interests. Volunteers have the opportunity to participate in a variety of disciplines including art, science, history, forestry, horticulture & animal care. turtlebay.org/volunteer. 844 Sundial Bridge Dr. (530)242-3155.

Wild Horse Sanctuary; Shingletown. Needs reliable volunteers for a variety of roles, Wed & Sat. Both individual & group opportunities are available. Opportunity to be a docent at the Visitor’s Center where you’ll learn about the sanctuary to be able to greet visitors and answer their common questions. Volunteers are also needed to help with brush & trail clearing, grounds maintenance and painting. wildhorsesanctuary.org. 5796 Wilson Hill Rd. (530)474-5770.

Youth/Peer Court; Redding. Focuses on a restorative justice program rather than punishment. Shasta County youth ages 14-18 may volunteer as peer jurors & attorneys in Youth/Peer Court, where offenders’ cases are heard & sentenced. For the offender, after his/her sentence is successfully completed without reoffending while in the program, the offense record is cleared. Contact the Youth Violence Prevention Council to learn more. youthoptionsshasta.org. 1700 Pine St. Ste. 250. (530)244-7194.

SISKIYOU COUNTY

Clean & Safe Mt. Shasta. A community action group dedicated to cleaning up illegal trash dumping in the city of Mount Shasta & surrounding areas. Volunteers can assist with cleanup efforts, educating the community about the environment, local laws and reporting protocols. facebook.com/groups/220808035063420. Call Belinda at (530)859-3149.

College of the Siskiyous; Weed. Scholarship & grant opportunities. Full of informative resources about which grants to apply to & how to receive financial aid. siskiyous.edu/financialaid/grants.htm#bogw. 800 College Ave. (530)938-5209.

Eagle’s Nest Resale Shop; Weed. Volunteers welcome. Four hour shifts once a week, from receiving & processing merchandise to stocking the sales floor & assisting customers. siskiyous.edu/eaglesnest/#volunteer. 123 Main St. (530)938-4663.

Etna Farmers’ Market; Etna. operates and grows due to the generosity of our community volunteers. If you would like to become a part of this team, please contact Shirley Johnson. etnafarmersmarket.org/volunteering/. (530)598-3185.

Mount Shasta Bioregional Ecology Center; Mt. Shasta. A community of people sharing the common vision to honor, protect and restore Mount Shasta bioregion. Looking for volunteers who have some time & care about the mountain environment, specifically for those who have knowledge in fundraising, environmental science economics & sustainability, video, photography & web design. mountshastaecology.org/get-involved/. (530)926-5655.

Mount Shasta Trail Association; Mt Shasta. Connects people to nature and communities to one another in south Siskiyou County. Offers numerous volunteer opportunities to maintain beautiful areas in the region during the spring, summer and fall, to clean up trailheads, trim brush along trails and even construct new trails. mountshastatrailassociation.org.

Save The Rain; Mt. Shasta. Organization’s goal is to stop needless deaths by educating people in water-starved areas to use rain as a sustainable water supply. Find out ways you can volunteer. savetherain.org. 710 Monroe Way. (530)926-9999.

Siskiyou County Arts Council; Mt. Shasta. A 501(c)3 nonprofit focused on cultivating strong & creative communities. Committed to encouraging imagination, diversity, social justice & environmental protection through the arts. At the heart of the Siskiyou County Arts Council are its volunteers. Looking for volunteers to help. siskiyouarts.org/about/#volunteer. (530)918-8380.

Siskiyou County Museum; Yreka. Jobs for those who love history & are interested in preserving it are numerous & varied. General tasks include maintaining museum & grounds, cataloging and researching. co.siskiyou.ca.us/museum. SCMuseum@co.siskiyou.ca.us. 910 S. Main St. (530)842-3836.

Siskiyou County Public Library; Yreka & 12 branches throughout the county. Many opportunities for people to volunteer within the library, including shelving, book repair, cleaning, shelf reading, etc. Inquire with your local branch librarian to learn more about how you can help your public library. co.siskiyou.ca.us/library. 719 4th St. (530)842-8807.

  • Butte Valley. 800 West Third St. (530)397-4932
  • Dunsmuir. 5714 Dunsmuir Avenue. (530)235-2035.
  • Etna. 115 Collier Way. (530)467-3661.
  • Fort Jones. 11960 East St. (530)468-2383.
  • Happy Camp. 143 Buckhorn Rd. (530)493-2964.
  • McCloud. 300 East Columbero Dr. (530)964-2169.
  • Montague. 230 South 13th St. (530)459-5473.
  • Scott Bar. 27233 Scott River Rd. (530)496-3248.
  • Tulelake. 451 Main St. (530)667-2291.
  • Weed. 150 Alamo Avenue. (530)938-4769.

Siskiyou Humane Society; Mt. Shasta. Volunteer tasks include dog & cat socialization, daily animal care, fostering & grounds maintenance. Animals in the shelter receive on-going training, education & enrichment which results in them being happier, better behaved, healthier & more adoptable. siskiyouhumane.org. 1208 North Mt. Shasta Blvd. (530)926-4052.

Y.E.S.; Weed. Continually offers a variety of volunteer opportunities throughout the year including Superhero Runs and summer camps. Contact for more details. Partnered with CASA. yesiskiyou.org/1297-2/. 136 Main St. (530) 841-0844.

This page was last updated Mar-14-2024. For updates/corrections send us an email at frg@northstateparent.com and mention Volunteer Opportunities For Youth & Teens in the subject line.
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