Community Service
Community ServiceAt Pacific Collegiate School, community service is more than just a requirement – it's an incredible opportunity for personal growth and making a positive impact on the world. Through volunteering, students develop responsibility, empathy, and a deeper understanding of social justice and civic responsibility. We believe in fostering lifelong commitment to public participation and encourage partnerships with individuals, organizations, and schools. At PCS, we want students to find volunteer opportunities that excite them, shaping their future decisions and creating a culture of community support. Join us in making a difference and let's inspire change together!
Step into Service
Community Service Expectation:
We expect each student to engage in community service. Middle school students (7th and 8th grade) must complete a minimum of 10 hours per year, while high school students (9th - 12th grade) must complete a minimum of 20 hours per year.
Completing Service Hours:
Students have various options to fulfill their service hours:
- Volunteering at local non-profits or community organizations
- Participating in PCS activities and leadership opportunities
- Assisting family or community members in need
- Corresponding with isolated individuals
- Advocating for causes by contacting government officials
- Tutoring, or teaching music or art lessons
- Design your own service opportunities with PCS guidance
The following are no longer acceptable ways to satisfy Community Service requirements, since non-profit organizations are once again accepting student volunteers (post-COVID):
- Assisting family or community members in need
- Corresponding with isolated individuals
- Advocating for causes by contacting government officials
Documentation and Deadlines:
Email community service logs, signed by a parent/guardian, to get credit for completed community service hours. Annual community service hours are due on May 1st.
Email Community Service Coordinator, Gabe Kittle-Cervine
Community Service Opportunities
New Community Service Activity Request Community Service Log
Finding Good Volunteer Opportunities That Fit Your Interests
Here are a few of our favorites, linked for your convenience:
Boys & Girls Club
Come share your skills at the Club: we have needs that fit a huge variety of interests, including Academic Tutoring, Sports and Recreation, Arts, Music and Dance, Programming and Robotics, Chess, and Woodworking, as well as needs for help in Administration, Events, and Facilities. Visit www.boysandgirlsclub.info/volunteer/ for more information on how to sign up.
Camp Kesem
Are you interested in coordinating a donation drive for Camp Kesem at UCSC? Camp Kesem is an organization for children affected by a parent's cancer. They are in need of art supplies and are looking for students to make posters welcoming the students to camp too. If you are interested in helping with this, please email ucsc.volunteer@campkesem.org.
Coastal Watershed Council
Volunteers and interns are needed for various water-quality monitoring programs. Visit www.coastal-watershed.org or call 464-9200.
Environteers
Our mission is to provide easy access to the many rewarding environmental volunteer opportunities in our community and to promote the diverse and dedicated environmental organizations serving Santa Cruz County. Visit environteers.org to find a volunteer opportunity in climate, education, energy, farm & garden, forests, oceans, parks, recycling, transportation, water and wildlife.
Grey Bears
Contact Volunteer and Event Coordinator at (831) 479-1055 ext 226 or rosie@greybears.org
Habitat ReStore
It is a program of Habitat for Humanity and its primary mission is to provide additional funding to support our home building goals, provide quality materials at affordable prices, and to foster good stewardship of sustainable and reusable resources within the community of Santa Cruz. The Restore is open Wed 10am - 2pm, Thur, Fri and Sat from 9am to 5pm. We normally ask volunteers to work a shift i.e. 4 hrs, but we can make exceptions to accommodate student schedules. To volunteer or for more information email volunteer@habitatsc.org.
Homeless Garden Project
Volunteers needed on Saturday and Sunday (10am-4pm). Minors and a parent/guardian must sign a waiver, see below. Minors also must be accompanied by a chaperon the first time they visit the farm (although this does not have to be same person who signed the waiver). The farm is located on Shaffer Road at Delaware Ave. on the west side of Santa Cruz near Natural Bridges State Park and the Long Marine Lab. The 3 and 20 bus lines stop nearby. On Thursday and Friday, we are able to provide a hot lunch to volunteers. Rain cancels farm days. Students need to wear closed-toe shoes (required), as well as clothes they don't mind getting dirty, sun protection (hat + sunscreen), and layers, as the weather can often change quite a bit throughout the day.
KSQD Community Radio
Students are invited to write 240 words about a topic of their choosing. They then can come to the studio to record it and be involved in the editing process. The final product will be aired on KSQD 88.9FM twice on a date to be determined in the future.
Monterey Bay Aquarium - Teen Programs
High School and middle school students from the Central Coast area can explore the Monterey Bay - from both above and below the water - through our award-winning Teen Programs. See community service board for details or email Teen Programs at teenprograms@mbayaq.org
Native Plant Society
Volunteer as a part of the habitat restoration team or the plant propagation group. Other opportunities are also available. Visit www.cruzcnps.org.
PCS On Campus Opportunities
Help clean our campus during lunch for community service hours. Please see Mr. G in the library to sign up. 7th/8th students may complete all their hours on campus, high school students can do half. Campus work days count too!
Produce for Health
Looking for volunteers to help with Saturday food distribution and preparing for market. Provides families with members battling cancer free organic produce. Ongoing volunteer opportunities. Contact information: produceforhealth@gmail.com or call (831) 475-3327 produceforhealth.org
Reading Buddies Project
Reading tutors are paired with children in grades K- 2nd to help improve their reading skills and develop their love of reading. Each tutor will serve as a role model and have a positive influence on the lives of these early learners! The Reading Buddies Project is now recruiting volunteer tutors for Alianza Charter School in Watsonville. Contact ys@scvolunteercenter.org to learn about the next Reading Buddies training and how to get involved as a leader and/or tutor!
Red Cross Opportunities
For more information email wilson@redcross.org.
Ride A Wave
Ride a Wave's mission is to give children with special needs the chance to feel the thrill of riding a wave and experience a safe, fun-filled day at the beach, whether they are physically, developmentally or economically challenged. Click here for more information and to sign up to help: http://www.rideawave.org/volunteer.php
Santa Cruz Children's Museum of Discovery
Do you have an interest in…working with children? Early childhood development? PR, marketing, and outreach? Exhibit design? Then spending some time volunteering at the Santa Cruz Museum of Discovery is the right fit for you! We are a new local non-profit organization geared toward the advancement of children 0 to 12 years old. We offer themed exhibits and classes that teach children about STEM, agriculture, marine environments, and more! We would love to have you on the team to expand ideas and coordinate with YOU! We are flexible and are willing to work around your schedule! Come spend some time with us today learn valuable employment-like experience and gain new skills to put on a resume or college applications! Go to http://www.sccmod.org/get-involved/volunteer/ for a link to the application.
Santa Cruz County Animal Shelter
Do you enjoy working with animals? We are looking for committed, youth volunteers (at least 13 years old) who have a passion for animals to volunteer at the Santa Cruz County Animal Shelter. Get hands on experience and learn to care for animals while getting community service hours! There is currently no wait list! Orientation and trainings are required. If you're interested, contact ys@scvolunteercenter.org for more information.
Santa Cruz Outdoor School, Cabin Leader at Science Camp
Volunteer and earn community service hours and gain valuable leadership skills while taking care of elementary students. Contact Elizabeth Lewis at (831) 291-3997 or cabinleaderinfo@santacruzcoe.org for more information. Hope to see you there!
Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History
Positions available at the museum include tidepool collectors, gardeners, and docents For museum tours and outdoor education programs. For information, visit www.santacruzmuseums.org or call 420-6115.
Santa Cruz State Parks
Volunteer as a campground host, trailworker, student intern, or docent at one of Santa Cruz's beautiful state parks including Big Basin, Henry Cowell, Natural Bridges, Santa Cruz Mission, Wilder Ranch, and more. Visit www.santacruzstateparks.org or call the park you are interested in directly.
Save Our Shores
For a list of upcoming events click here: http://saveourshores.org/calendar/list/
Second Harvest Food Bank Santa Cruz County
Food sorting, M-F, 8-1 for 15yrs of age and older, and on some Saturdays, 8-12, for 8 years and older (those below 15 need to be accompanied by an adult). If interested, please contact Rosario Valerio, Volunteer Services Coordinator, 722-7110 x205 / rosario@thefoodbank.org Additionally there are food distributions throughout Santa Cruz County through our Passion For Produce program. They consist of setting up the produce, farmers market style, nutrition education class, food distribution, and clean up. These are throughout the week and throughout Santa Cruz County, from Felton to Watsonville. The time of the distribution/class also varies from mornings to evenings—none on weekends. If interested, contact Crystal Cerda at 722-7110 x218 / crystal@thefoodbank.org
Senior Tech Days
RSVP to Desiree at ys@scvolunteercenter.org or 831-427-5066.
Seymour Center at Long Marine Lab
Volunteer as a docent, gardener, aquarist, school programs instructor or apprentice guide. School Programs Instructor Training begins in September. For information, visit seymourcenter.ucsc.edu or call 459-3854.
Surfrider Beach Clean Ups
For more information- see http://santacruz.surfrider.org/get-involved/volunteer/
Teen Peer Court
For more information contact Celeste Gutierrez at cgutierrez@santacruz.k12.ca.us.
UCSC Arboretum
Opportunities are available for interested volunteers in the many areas including events, education tours, propagation and nursery, and more. Visit arboretum.ucsc.edu or call 427-2998.
YMCA Camp Campbell
Interested in being a camp counselor at science camp in Boulder Creek? Volunteers need to be 16 years old, a sophomore in high school and in good academic standing. See Ms. Musal in the Library for more information.
Education Consortium Institute
The Education Consortium Institute (ECI) is a non-profit exchange student program that's been operating in the Santa Cruz area since 1996. Almost every year ECI invites Japanese, Spanish, Italian and German exchange students to attend PCS for either Fall Semester or a full year. During their say, ECI connects them with a host family for the duration of their stay, and they're always looking for welcoming and responsible host families! Interested in hosting?
For more information, you can contact Janice Coury [janice@eci-ca.org] or Yuko Knight [yuko@eci-ca.org] or visit their website at www.eci-ca.org
Santa Cruz Shakespeare at The Grove
We have a variety of projects that students can support, from front of the house ushering during performances in the summer, to helping physically set the theater up this spring (aka right now!) All projects qualify for community service hours, but right now the biggest need is for individuals who can help us get the outdoor venue and stage setup. We have regular volunteer sessions every Saturday from 10am-2pm until June, so there are lots of opportunities for end-of-year service credit!
Additionally, volunteers who join for two shifts (each shift is around 4 hours) can receive a free ticket to any of our shows this summer! Interested participants can read more and apply online at our website: https://santacruzshakespeare.
APRIL 2024
Senior Yard Clean Up Day – Saturday, April 20th
Join us for a clean up day at Portola Heights Mobile Home Park in Watsonville on Saturday, April 20th.
We'll be helping seniors clean up their yards after the wet and windy winter. Wear comfortable clothes and come prepared to weed, trim, rake, sweep and clean up outdoor spaces. We'll meet at the clubhouse at 9:30 and break up into teams to help throughout the park.
If you're under 18 and plan to attend without your parent or guardian, please complete the Youth SERVE Permission Waiver. If you have questions contact Johnny at (831)427-5070 or jshamoun@scvolunteercenter.org
Food Packing with Second Harvest Food Bank – Monday, April 22nd
We need volunteers to help us pack and sort the food that goes out to 65,000 people in our county each month! You’ll sort fresh produce and dry goods, and help pack bags and boxes of food for our partner agencies and clients.There will be lifting that includes stacking and restacking produce bags and dry goods boxes, up to 25 lbs. Please let us know if you will need an accommodation.
Join the fun at 800 Ohlone Parkway Watsonville, on Mon, April 22, 9 AM - 12 PM. To sign up for a volunteer position, follow the link here: https://
MAY 2024
Cultivating Hope / Cultivando Esperanza – Saturday, May 4th
United Way of Santa Cruz County is hosting this free event, welcoming all individuals aged 14-18. Cultivating Hope is more than just an event—it's a platform where youthful discussions and engaging activities focus on mental well-being, healing, and a sense of hope. We're collaborating with community partners to offer activities that encourage self-care, self-expression, reflection, and the development of self-love habits. Learn more here: http://unitedwaysc.org
Queer Youth Leadership Awards – Saturday, May 11th
Help us make this year’s QYL awards run smoothly! We are looking for volunteers to help with many aspects of the event. Volunteers are needed all day and even into the night. Some shifts are as short as one hour and many are longer—help us a little or a lot! The greatest need is for volunteers to help with dinner from 5:30pm-7:30pm or for clean-up from 8:30pm-10:30pm.
See the list of volunteer shifts and sign up here: https://qyla.org/volunteer/
As a special thank you to day-of-the-event volunteers who take on two or more shifts, we will give you a FREE QYLA ticket! (Volunteers will be seated together unless otherwise specified.) If you have any questions, please contact Joe Cosentino, 2023 QYLA Volunteer Coordinator, at volunteer@QYLA.org or contact the QYLA Info Line, (831) 427-4004.
All Santa Cruz County Clean Up Day – Saturday, May 11th
We are looking for individuals, groups and organizations to organize their own cleanups or join an existing cleanup. To volunteer for a cleanup near you,click on link below, there's over 20 organizations committed to hosting cleanup events: https://
SantaCruzCountyCleanupDay.aspx
She.is.Beautiful Race Fundraiser for WAFWC – Saturday, May 11th
Volunteers are needed on Saturday, May 11th from 7:15am-11am along West Cliff Drive in Santa Cruz (specific locations assigned race week). Volunteers will help direct runners and cheer them on! All volunteers will receive a hat, morning treats and extra good energy being sent their way. Minors are permitted and can receive volunteer hours for their participation.
We would love your help with the She.Is.Beautiful race. SIB is Saturday, May 11 this year. Walnut Ave is the longtime charity partner with SIB. You can help by volunteering to support runners and walkers during She.Is.Beautiful 5k and 10k as they empower themselves + raise funds for WAFWC!
This is a really fun opportunity for individuals, families, and/or work teams to help out! The race happens on West Cliff Drive, so the view can’t be beat and the energy of the morning is fantastic!
Email Natasha Mingay (nmingay@wafwc.org) with any questions! Volunteers, please sign up by May 1.
River Health Day with CWC – Saturday, May 18th
Volunteer and make a difference in the San Lorenzo River ecosystem!
Join us for our River Health Day and plant and maintain native seedlings along the banks of the San Lorenzo River to increase biodiversity and revitalize the river ecosystem.
We will meet on the east riverbank between the Soquel Ave and Laurel Street bridges. Free parking is available in the CWC parking lot at 107 Dakota Ave. We recommend that all volunteers dress in comfortable gardening clothes, including long pants, socks and sturdy closed-toe shoes. Bring layers, sun protection and a reusable water bottle. Gloves, tools and light refreshments will be provided. All ages and abilities welcome. Volunteers under the age of 18 must be accompanied by an adult. Call (831) 464 9200 x104, or email CWC River Ecologist Kaiya Giuliano-Monroy (kgiuliano@coastal-watershed.
Homeless Garden Project – Sunday, May 19th
Help harvest, plant and care for crops on the farm, make products for the downtown store locations, and learn skills in managing sustainable agricultural work and gardening. The project connects volunteers and employed houseless people through community service and environmental stewardship. Located on Natural Bridges Farm, a 10 minute walk from PCS, they're open for drop in volunteering Tuesdays-Sundays. Volunteers under 16 years old must be accompanied by a parent/guardian while volunteering at the farm. In addition, a parent/guardian must sign the initial volunteer waiver form for volunteers under 16 years old. A delicious organic hot lunch is also provided. Click here to fill out a volunteer application:
https://