Is your teen ready to lend a helping hand to the community? Whether it’s out of the goodness of his heart or to fill community service requirements for school, options abound. When calling for details about these programs, remember to say you found the information in MetroFamily Magazine.

(Parents: Read here about the benefits of teen volunteering in this article by frequent contributer, Lisa Marotta, Ph.D.)

Catholic Heart Work Camp
Workers will help renew needy neighborhoods and the facilities of some of the Metro’s social service agencies and work with homeless shelters and the Oklahoma Regional Food Bank. Teens from around the country will be housed at Bishop McGuinness Catholic High School. July 6-10. For details, visit HeartWorkCamp.com.
 
City Arts Center
Teens 14 and over are needed May 27-August 16, 8am-5pm (days and shifts vary). Volunteers will help with administrative duties, check in campers, serve as lunch monitors, greet guests, sell snacks, and assist camp instructors. Open interviews held April 12, 10-noon. E-mail Laura Sullivan at lsullivan@cityartscenter.org or call 405-951-000 ext. 14 for an application or details.
 
Edmond Fine Arts Academy
Teacher assistants age 14 and over are needed during summer camps. Teens will provide hands-on help. Call Genevieve at 405-340-4481 or e-mail Genevieve@edmondFineArts.com.
 
Edmond Parks & Recreation Department
Teen Club at the MAC helps teens build leadership and teamwork skills. Participants, ages 13-18, choose from various options, including volunteering at special events and programs and serving as junior counselors at spring and summer camps. Call 405-359-4630 for details.
 
Infant Crisis Center
Teens selected will process donations, stock shelves, sort clothes, and help clients and other volunteers for six 4-hour shifts (10am-3pm). Applications for teens ages 13-17 are due by May 2; volunteer program begins June 2. Fill out application online at InfantCrisis.org or e-mail bethlykins@infantcrisis.org.
 
Metropolitan Library System
Summer Library Volunteers register kids for reading programs, maintain reading program files, shelve children’s books, award prizes, and straighten the children’s area. Volunteers receive a free T-shirt and end of summer party. June 1-July 31; flexible schedules. Call your local branch for details.
 
Oklahoma Children’s Theatre
Volunteer activities include assisting summer camp instructors with rehearsals, setting up special events, and designing and producing performance programs. Monday-Friday, 8:45am-4:15pm; volunteers, ages 13-18, must commit to one full week. Contact Rozz Grigsby or Mollie Reid at 405-606-7003 or e-mail assistant@oklahomachildrenstheatre.org.
 
Oklahoma City Zoo
Teens in the Junior Curator program, for ages 14-18, work with keepers and staff to see what it takes to keep the Zoo running. Applications available June 1-30. Attend an open house June 3 at 6pm in the Rosser Conservation Education Center to learn more. For details, call 405-425-0275.
 
Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History
Teen volunteers learn about the work of the museum, get a thorough understanding of Oklahoma’s history and ecology, gain experience working with the public, and receive information on the special exhibition “SuperCroc Featuring Nigersaurus” and in the museum’s new Paleozoic Gallery, both opening May 31. Applications are now being accepted for ages 13-15 who will have completed sixth grade by June 1, 2008. Training begins June 2. To request an application, call 405-325-1652 or email volunteer@snomnh.ou.edu. Applications due May 5.