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Saltzman Youth Panel
High school juniors and seniors in our Jewish community can learn about the philanthropic process and responding to Jewish and general community needs. Get more information.
Teen Volunteer Opportunities
Make a difference and volunteer! See below for a list of summer and ongoing teen volunteer opportunities. If you have questions, or know of others to add to this list, please call 216.593.2900, ext. 130 or e-mail ksteiger@jcfcleve.org.

Camp Gan Israel of Beachwood (cgibeachwood.com): Be a counselor or junior counselor this summer and chaperone trips, teach cooking, gardening, drama, gymnastics, tae kwan do, music or science. Contact Rivky Friedman at 216.402.8853 or camp@cgibeachwood.com.

Cleveland Clinic Junior Ambassador Program: Greet and escort patients and families from all over the world; deliver flowers, magazines and mail to hospitalized patients; assist with wheelchair transport; enter data; visit or read to patients; or volunteer with special projects or at special events. To learn more, fill out an online contact form or call 216.445.6986 or 800.223.2273, ext. 56986.

Cleveland Foodbank (clevelandfoodbank.org): Sort and repack donated food and prepared meals for distribution. Must be 12 or older (under 16 must be with an adult). Monday-Saturday, varied hours. Contact Alan Fratus: 216.738.2053, afratus@clevelandfoodbank.org.

Council Gardens (councilgardens.org): Volunteer opportunities for teens who are highly responsible and interested in education. Tutor tenants in English under the supervision of a program coordinator. Varied hours. Contact Jackie Feldman: 216.382.8625, jfeldman@councilgardens.org.

Friendship Circle Of Cleveland (friendscleveland.com): June 27-August 12, 10 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. Volunteer to be a Kiddie Care counselor for preschool children or mentor a teen with special needs. Contact Estie Marazov at estie@friendscleveland.com.

The Gathering Place (touchedbycancer.org): Volunteers 16 and over can volunteer with Animal Camp and childcare. Contact Liz Krantz at 216.595.9546

Geauga Humane Society's Rescue Village (geaugahumane.org): Volunteer with cat care, morning prep cat care, and/or dog care. Volunteers ages 12-15 must be part of Parent & Me Program. Contact Laura Nealy Burks at 440.338.4819, ext. 18 or volunteer@geaugahumane.org.

Great Lakes Science Center Camp Counselors (glsc.org/summercamps2011.php): Help facilitate camp operations and activities at the Great Lakes Science Center in downtown Cleveland and Laurel School. Applications and additional information on camps are available on www.GreatScience.com

Judson at University Circle (judsonsmartliving.org): Volunteer as an activities assistant, friendly visitor, computer instructor, escort, provide musical entertainment, or help out at the expressive arts center or Eden (animal, plant and children’s activities). Call Volunteer Services at 216.791.2359 or e-mail LTemplar@JudsonSmartLiving.org.

Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation International (JDRF) (jdrfneo.org): Volunteer at Cleveland’s annual JDRF Walk to Cure Diabetes on Sunday, September 18, 2011 at the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo. Help with face painting, greeting guests and handing out snacks. Call 216. 524.9319 or e-mail hreed@jdrf.org.

Kosher Food Bank at Semach Sedek Synogogue: Pack food, deliver food bags, stock shelves, pick up food donations, take inventory. Contact Devorah Alevsky 216.382.1878 or Rabbi Yossi Freedman 216.544.3689.

The Mandel JCC (mandeljcc.org): Triathlon time keepers, book festival event volunteers, Kid’s Day face painters, arts and crafts. 2-4 hours in October, November, February and August. Contact Deborah Bobrow: 216.593.6278, dbobrow@mandeljcc.org.

Menorah Park (menorahpark.org): Work with elderly residents in a variety of ways. Must be 12 or older. Varied hours. Contact Vicki Snyder: 216.831.6500, vsnyder@menorahpark.org.

Montefiore (montefiorecare.org): Work with elderly residents in various ways including office support/clerical functions. Must be 12 or older. Varied hours. Contact Mary Kate Hageman: 216.910.2566, mhageman@montefiorecare.org.

The Nature Center at Shaker Lakes

  • Summer Camp Assistant: Work with children ages 3-11. Assist naturalist staff to manage and educate camp attendees with hands-on activities and educational games and crafts.
  • Stewardship: Be outside this summer doing outdoor work in land management. Typical duties include invasive species management, native species cultivation, landscaping and trail maintenance.
Fill out an on-line volunteer application or e-mail henneman@shakerlakes.org.

Orange Community Programs (For teens currently in 7th grade or older – school year ending 2011)
  • Early Childhood Camp Counselors
    Learn about responsibility, teamwork, safety, and child supervision techniques while assisting the youngest campers.

  • Safety Town Volunteers
    August 1-5, 8:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. and/or 12:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m. plus training session on July 27.
    Be a part of the Safety Town team. Work with area police officers and Safety Town staff to teach kindergarten children about safety. Volunteers are required to attend the training session and work the full Safety Town week.
Volunteer applications are available on www.orangerec.com or call 216.831.8601 to find out more.

Federation’s Public Education Initiative (PEI) : Assess and code donated books to be used for the PEI literacy tutoring program in the Cleveland Metropolitan School District. Work will be done at the Jewish Federation’s Mandel Building. For more information, contact Jessica Semel at 216.593.2900, ext. 263 or jsemel@jcfcleve.org.

Severance Hall (clevelandorchestra.com): Middle and high school students are needed to join the Junior Volunteer Corps to assist at family-friendly concerts (mostly daytime performances and during the weekend). Contact aclemens@clevelandorchestra.com or 216.231.7425.

Solon Recreation Blue Ribbon (solonrec.org): Teen volunteers needed to serve the special needs population ages 5 and up in sports, life skills, special events and fitness. Varied hours. Contact Kimberly English: 440.248.5747, ext. 2114, kenglish@solonohio.org.

The Temple-Tifereth Israel (ttti.org): Help with a garage and basement clean-out, Religious School and High Holy Days mailings or accounting. Contact Chris Fox at cfox@ttti.org or 216.831.3233.

University Hospitals Teen Scene Volunteer Opportunities: Volunteer opportunities include: Clerical/Reception, Activity/Book Cart, Atrium Gift Shop, Reach Out and Read, and Wheelchair Recovery Team. Complete an application and e-mail it to Dominique.Hafley@UHhospitals.org.

Youth Ability (jfsa-cleveland.org): Engage young adults with disabilities in volunteer experiences that are tailored to meet the needs of the Youth Ability participant. A program of the Jewish Family Service Association. Contact Heidi Solomon: 216.378.3434, hsolomon@jfsa-cleveland.org.