Anyone who has a teenager, or has ever been a teenager, probably knows the teenage years can be a bit self-absorbed. This is normal for this time of life when they are experiencing changes in their hormones, bodies and relationships — and all with social media at their fingertips.
We know all of this, but as parents, we still hope to help our children learn to look beyond their circumstances to others in their school, home and community. We want to try our best to instill in them that the world does revolve around them.
So, how do we help our children begin to look beyond themselves and out at the world around them? One way is to encourage your tweens and teens to volunteer. This can be done individually, with friends or as a family. Volunteering has many benefits for teens, including skill development, personal growth, development of a strong work ethic, an increase in patience, respect for others, leadership, a better understanding of diverse cultures and communities, and a remarkable reduction in risky life behaviors and substance abuse.
If this all sounds great to you, then here are some local places you and your tween, teen, or family can begin to look into. Hopefully, you will find something that works for you!
The Cincinnati Zoo
The ZooTeen program is perfect for kids ages 13 and older who are passionate about nature, animals and conservation. ZooTeens dive into a world of adventure, build knowledge and gain hands-on experience while connecting with people. They develop leadership and professional skills while working with others in education programs, engaging with Zoo visitors, collecting community science data, and getting involved in the community. Applications for the summer 2025 session can be found on their website and are open from December 1 to January 31. A program fee of $50-$75 is requested. Applicants will need to attend a group interview and two orientations. The summer volunteer period will be from May 26-August 15, 2025.
SPCA Cincinnati Junior Service Program
The Junior Service Program is an opportunity for kids ages 12-18 to volunteer at the SPCA Cincinnati and participate in activities that directly benefit the well-being of the animals at the SPCA Cincinnati Shelter, as well as the animals of the surrounding communities through the Chow Now Pantry program. Volunteering kids will be provided with a brief orientation, an animal experience, opportunities to build animal enrichment, an opportunity to help bag pet food for our Chow Now Pet Food Pantry, and a facility tour. Children ages 12-16 must be accompanied by a supervising adult (who must also sign up), who will also be asked to participate in the program as well.
Pack Away Hunger
Every day, people in every corner of the globe go to sleep on empty stomachs, including millions of malnourished children. Pack Away Hunger fights this reality by providing a hands-on way to create meals for families around the corner and around the globe. Their meal packing programs are a fun and inspiring way to make a tangible difference in the fight against hunger. This is also a great opportunity for families to serve together. You can visit their website to find out when the next local public pack is happening, and get your family signed up today.
Adopt a Family for the Holidays
With the holidays around the corner, you and your family may consider adopting a family in need. Contact your school, local food bank, or church, to see if they know of any families that are in need of being adopted for the holidays. In addition to adopting families, many churches, schools and food banks also host annual food drives and clothing drives at different times throughout the year.
