Volunteering is a great way for high school students to build leadership skills, give back, and explore their interests, all while earning community service hours. And now, with so many online options, you can make a real impact without leaving home. Whether you’re passionate about climate change, education, or animal welfare, there are meaningful virtual opportunities to fit your schedule and goals. From digital projects to global collaborations, online volunteering helps you grow, gain experience, and contribute to important causes around the world. Rustic Pathways has gathered a list of accessible online volunteer opportunities to help you get started. Scroll down to explore and find the one that’s right for you!
Quick Navigation: Climate Leaders Fellowship: An Opportunity for Young Climate Activists Rustic Pathways Virtual Volunteering Opportunities Make Pouches for Rescue Joeys How to Get Involved in Online Volunteer Opportunities For High School Students Support Options External Virtual Volunteer Opportunities View The Full List Of External Virtual Volunteer Opportunities
Climate Leaders Fellowship: An Opportunity for Young Climate Activists For a high school student passionate about climate change and local community action, Rustic Pathways offers the Climate Leaders Fellowship program. This transformative 12-week leadership development program connects students from around the world to identify and solve local climate challenges through innovative community projects. Working in collaboration with the Stanford University Deliberative Democracy Lab, fellows design and implement volunteer projects while earning service hours and potentially qualifying for the Presidential Volunteer Service Award. Learn More About The Climate Leaders Fellowship
Rustic Pathways Virtual Volunteering Opportunities The Rustic Pathways Foundation is the nonprofit organization arm of Rustic Pathways. As a 501(c)3 nonprofit, it amplifies the impact of Rustic Pathways’ community development work worldwide. New research in the Journal of Happiness Studies suggests that young adults not only help their communities when they volunteer, they also experience a positive bump in mental health. High school students and others can earn volunteer hours through these activities:
Research: Assist with research efforts that contribute to global development and social impact Outreach: Help spread awareness of important causes and initiatives to a wider audience Website Development: Use technical skills to improve online presence of organizations SEO Work: Assist nonprofits with search engine optimization to increase their visibility Digital Creative Services: Apply design skills to create graphics, videos, and content for nonprofit campaigns Volunteer With Rustic Pathways Foundation
Make Pouches for Rescue Joeys One hands-on project for high school volunteers involves sewing rescue wildlife pouches for joeys (baby kangaroos). This opportunity allows students to support wildlife rehabilitation centers while earning community service hours. Please read instructions carefully and make items to the specifications. Ship completed pouches to: Rustic Pathways 6082 Pinecone Drive Mentor, OH 44060 Once received, the joey pouches will be distributed to the three wildlife rehabilitation centers that we support. Please confirm you have sent the pouch with a tracking number by emailing foundation@rusticpathways.org to receive community service hours.
How to Get Involved in Online Volunteer Opportunities For High School Students Sign up directly with any listed organization to start volunteering online. Most opportunities require just a few hours weekly. Support Options Volunteer: Dedicate a few hours weekly to earn volunteer hours through community service projects. Donate: Financial contributions fund essential humanitarian services for underserved communities. Spread Awareness: Share virtual volunteer opportunities with your network. Discover The Best Service Trips For Teens
External Virtual Volunteer Opportunities The sites below offer additional virtual volunteer opportunities. Please note that Rustic Pathways cannot validate service hours for external online volunteers. Here are organizations offering online volunteer opportunities: American Red Cross: Support disaster relief efforts, health services, and humanitarian initiatives through virtual volunteering opportunities with a major international organization. Learn More → Be My Eyes: Assist blind or vision-impaired individuals by providing virtual help with everyday tasks. Learn More → Best Buddies: Make a difference in ending the social, physical, and economic isolation of 200 million individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). Learn More → DOROT: Connect with older adults via virtual programs to offer companionship and reduce isolation. Learn More → EmpowerWork: Provide peer counseling to individuals experiencing stress, career challenges, or personal issues. Learn More → Feeding America: Help distribute food to at-risk communities across the United States. Learn More → InfiniteFamily: Volunteer virtually as a mentor to underserved youth in South Africa, helping them navigate education and life challenges. Learn More → Mapping Prejudice: Contribute to mapping historical racial restrictions and uncovering social injustice. Learn More → Meals on Wheels: Meals on Wheels delivers nutritious meals to homebound seniors and disabled individuals. Learn More → OpenStreetMap: Edit maps to support development work in underserved regions, helping to create accurate maps for humanitarian purposes. Learn More → Smithsonian’s Scientific Collection: The world’s largest museum and research complex gives high school students a chance to help make the collections more accessible by volunteering online to transcribe historical documents Learn More → Tarjimly: Connect with refugees and asylum seekers to provide real-time translation services, helping individuals facing adversity and humanitarian crises. Learn More → Translators Without Borders: Use language skills to provide translations for medical texts, crisis communications, and educational materials to support life-saving initiatives worldwide. Learn More → United Nations Volunteers: Participate in volunteering online on projects related to human rights violations, disaster relief, and education for underserved populations. Learn More → Upchieve: Volunteer online to tutor low-income students in subjects such as math and science, helping them with their homework and improving their academic performance. Learn More →