If you’re an ambitious high school student interested in computer science and looking to build a portfolio, consider exploring volunteering opportunities! Volunteering can be a highly rewarding experience, allowing you to gain real-world experience in computer science.

While traditional volunteering opportunities like working at an NGO or participating in an environmental awareness campaign are well-known, it can be challenging to find tech-specific volunteer roles. Fortunately, many organizations worldwide are leveraging technological advancements to improve society.

Volunteering offers a win-win situation: you contribute in your free time, and the organization benefits from your skills. Additionally, the right volunteer opportunity can enhance your college application if it aligns with your future goals.

In this blog, we discuss 10 computer science volunteering opportunities for high school students.

1. Langley Student Volunteer Program

The Langley Student Volunteer Program (LSVP) provides unpaid, study-related work experience for students enrolled in high school, trade school, technical or vocational institutes, junior colleges, colleges, universities, or other recognized educational institutions.

If you are keen on computer science, you could join the Science Directorate (SD) at NASA Langley Research Center. Here, you will delve into data collection and analysis in fields such as Atmospheric Composition, Air Quality, Earth’s Energy Budget, and Lidar Remote Sensing.

This program offers an opportunity to experience the Federal work environment and understand the missions and responsibilities of NASA Langley. Additionally, you will be paired with a student mentor who will provide guidance, work experience insights, and support in your early career exploration.

Location: NASA Langley Research Center or virtual, depending on the student’s location

Time Commitment: 13 weeks during the summer or 13 weeks in the spring of 2025

2. NASA Climate Change Research Initiative (CCRI) Internship

The NASA Science Mission Directorate’s Climate Change Research Initiative (CCRI) program offers an interdisciplinary opportunity for high school students interested in computer science and analytics to engage in real-world projects that support policymakers in making science-based decisions regarding climate change. Students will have the chance to contribute to the following projects:

• Characterizing the Urban Land Surface Temperature

• Analyzing Land Surface Temperature using Satellite and Remote Sensing Technologies

• Examining Extreme Climate Events through Climate Models and Measurements

• Monitoring and Studying Lakes from Space in a Changing Climate (with an offline session at CUNY City College of Technology in New York City)

• Investigating Climate Change in the Hudson Estuary

• Exploring SnowEx and the Role of Snow and its Measurements

Location: Virtual and some visits to the Goddard Institute for Space Studies (GISS), New York, NY

Time Commitment: Two months during the summer

3. Volunteer at the Marine Debris Monitoring and Assessment Project MDMAP of the NOAA

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) offers a comprehensive database of opportunities for students at all educational levels, from kindergarten through high school, undergraduate and graduate studies, to recent graduates. Many of these opportunities are focused on climate change research and include practical fieldwork.

One such ongoing project is the Marine Debris Monitoring and Assessment Project (MDMAP), which is ideal for students interested in computer science and data science. This project involves cataloging marine debris and updating a national database. Students can volunteer by mapping data in their region and participating in data analysis projects related to marine debris.

Location: Virtual 

Time Commitment: Varies according to the region of data collection

4. Become a Mentor at Science Buddies

Science Buddies is a non-profit organization offering resources for K-12 science education. To volunteer, you must be at least in the 10th grade with prior experience in science exhibitions or projects. You should also possess a strong understanding of scientific principles and have good grades in science and math courses (A’s or B’s).

As a volunteer, you will mentor and guide students in their science projects and answer general scientific questions through the 'Ask an Expert' online forum. You can also share your project ideas, including those on computer science, and directly engage with others on the forum. Outstanding mentors are eligible for a cash prize.

Location: Virtual 

Time Commitment: 30 minutes per week, from September through May

5. Contribute to The Ocean Project

The Ocean Project is an organization dedicated to promoting collective action for a healthy ocean and stable climate. Its goal is to actively involve the public, especially the youth, as well as government and corporate bodies in ocean conservation efforts. Since 2009, the organization has initiated youth engagement programs to support local aquariums, zoos, and museums in raising conservation awareness.

They offer volunteer internships year-round in various fields, including data collection, data cleaning, and analysis. Students interested in applying their computer science skills in real-world scenarios can contact the team to be assigned a relevant project, which may involve collecting data points or maintaining an online library.

Location: Virtual 

Time Commitment: At least 10 hours/week, and internship durations can vary

6. CDC’s Student Worksite Experience Program – Volunteer Service

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is the national public health agency of the USA. In healthcare, big data plays a vital role, and the CDC actively employs computer science techniques in its research.

The CDC offers valuable opportunities for students, such as the Student Worksite Experience Program – Volunteer Service program. This program allows students to volunteer at selected Charitable Incorporated Organisations (CIOs).

Volunteers typically work on projects that teach them about data collection and analysis, and how this data is used to improve public health. Additionally, students can earn academic credit for their work at the CDC.

Location: Virtual/ Depends on the project you are allowed

Time Commitment: 6 Months 

7. Changing The Present

Changing The Present is a non-profit organization engaged in charitable work across the USA. They utilize gift cards to fund their operations, allowing recipients to donate to any of the select charities partnered with Changing The Present.

The organization offers year-round volunteer opportunities and recruits high-achieving students as volunteer interns in areas such as Computer Science, Data Analytics, Business Analytics, Google Analytics, and related fields.

Location: Virtual

Time Commitment: 4 to 40 hours per week, and the volunteering duration is flexible

8. Volunteer with Statistics Without Borders (SWB)

Statistics Without Borders (SWB) is a volunteer outreach group of the American Statistical Association (ASA), founded in 2008. The organization provides pro bono statistical and data science services to improve human life. They welcome volunteers year-round, primarily experienced professionals, but also high school students.

Volunteers with sufficient knowledge can contribute to data science projects by exploring various analysis methods, depending on the project's needs.

Location: Virtual

Time Commitment: Will be discussed upon project assignment

9. Stanford Young Investigators

The Stanford Doerr School of Sustainability offers a summer internship program for high school students, where they can work in research groups and laboratories focusing on oceanography, Earth and planetary sciences, energy, and the social sciences. This program is exclusively available to students residing within a 25-mile driving radius of the San Francisco Bay Area campus.

Students can choose from various projects, with the Geology program notably emphasizing data science and data analysis. Participants are expected to have a strong foundation in mathematics, physics, and computer programming. Past projects have included building databases for forest fires and analyzing government data on electricity generation from natural gas and oil. For more information on previous projects, you can visit their blog.

Location: Stanford University, Stanford, CA 

Time Commitment: Third Tuesday of June to First Thursday of August

10. Girls Who Code

Girls Who Code is an organization dedicated to encouraging high school girls to pursue education in computer science and data science. They offer various summer programs and a college program that fosters a supportive community for students studying computer science at the college level. High school students can volunteer by participating in school-level clubs.

Many schools already have Girls Who Code clubs that host regular seminars and fun coding activities. If your school doesn't have a club, you can apply to start one directly on their website. In these clubs, you can share your data science expertise with middle school students, typically after school hours or on weekends.

Location: One of the Girls Who Score clubs or your high school

Time Commitment: Flexible and depends on you

If you’re looking to build unique projects in the field of AI/ML, consider applying to Veritas AI! 

Veritas AI was founded by Harvard graduate students, and through the programs, you get a chance to learn the fundamentals of AI and computer science while collaborating on real-world projects. You can also work 1-1 with mentors from universities like Harvard, Stanford, MIT, and more to create unique, personalized projects. In the past year, we had over 1000 students learn data science and AI with us. You can apply here!

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