Volunteer Opportunities for Students
in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan
and Northern Wisconsin
Volunteering offers a great opportunity for individuals, be it a parent, high school students, or anyone who wishes to contribute to their community and enhance their experience. In the Upper Peninsula of Michigan and Northern Wisconsin, there are numerous volunteer options for students, allowing them to cultivate new abilities, enrich their extracurricular involvements, and positively impact their locality.
According to the Corporation for National and Community Service, in 2020, 28.8% of adults in Michigan volunteered, contributing over 202 million hours of service. In Wisconsin, 33.8% of adults volunteered, contributing over 152 million hours of service.
These statistics demonstrate the importance of volunteering in these states and the potential impact that student volunteers can have. In this article, we will showcase the top volunteer opportunities for high school students, along with the advantages they offer.
Top volunteer opportunities for high school student
Volunteer work for student opportunities in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan and Northern Wisconsin can be easily found through VolunteerMatch. With this website, you can search for volunteer opportunities by location, cause, and age group, making it easy to find opportunities that are relevant to you. However, before you start volunteering, you must consider your interest, skills and what kind of work you enjoy doing. These will help you make the right choice that is a good fit for you. Below are some examples of available student volunteer work in this region.
Habitat for Humanity
Habitat for Humanity is a non-profit organization dedicated to assisting low-income families in building and repairing their homes, and high school students have the opportunity to participate by volunteering at construction sites, aiding in home construction, or supporting fundraising events.
According to Habitat for Humanity International, there are 64 Habitat affiliates in Michigan alone. In Wisconsin, there are 29 affiliates, including Habitat for Humanity of Northern Wisconsin. This implies, you can contribute to the community and assist those in need, which can be an immensely fulfilling and rewarding project for your experience. This chance offers students a chance to cultivate their abilities in teamwork, construction skills and problem-solving.
Animal Shelters
For students seeking to acquire experience working with animals and making a positive change in their community, volunteering at animal shelters is an excellent option. Duties here can include feeding and watering animals, cleaning cages and litter boxes, as well as providing exercise and socialization to the animals. This volunteer for students can help them develop their animal care skills and empathy for animals and cultivate their compassion towards animals.
Hospitals and Nursing Homes
Volunteer assistance is regularly required at several hospitals and nursing homes located in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan and Northern Wisconsin to help with patient care, delivering supplies, and providing administrative support. These hospitals and clinics often have volunteer programs that provide students with the opportunity to pursue careers in healthcare. Among the healthcare facilities in the region that offer volunteer programs include:
Bellin Health System
UP Health System
Aspirus Iron River Hospital & Clinics
Dickinson County Healthcare System
Participating in the health sector can be an excellent opportunity for volunteer students to gain valuable experience working in a professional environment and learn more about healthcare.
Food banks
Non-profit organizations that gather and distribute food to those in need are referred to as food banks. Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin and The Salvation Army of Ashland are two organizations in Northern Wisconsin that provide volunteer opportunities for individuals interested in contributing to food distribution. Volunteering at a food bank is a great way for students to help those who are less fortunate by organizing food drives, sorting food donations, distributing efforts, and more.
Environmental Organizations
Students who are passionate about the environment can find great volunteer opportunities with environmental organizations in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan and Northern Wisconsin while exploring some of the beautiful natural areas in the region. These organizations can help you develop leadership skills, environmental awareness, and community engagement. Some environmental organizations in the region include:
The Nature Conservancy of Michigan
The Superior Watershed Partnership
Friends of the Land of Keweenaw
Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
These organizations offer a range of volunteer opportunities, including trail maintenance, invasive species removal, and conservation education programs.
Benefits of volunteering for high school students
Skills development
Volunteering provides an opportunity to learn new skills or develop existing ones that may not be available in a traditional classroom setting. For example, when you volunteer yourself a hospital, you end up spending a lot of time interacting and cooperating with others, helping build better skills such as communication, teamwork, and problem-solving skills.
Gaining experience
Volunteering allows students to gain practical experience in a field that interests them. In this way, you could find yourself developing a passion for your volunteer activities and this can be particularly helpful when trying to decide on a career path or when applying to college or for jobs after graduation.
Enhancing their resume
Having volunteer experience on a resume can demonstrate to potential employers that the student is well-rounded, with a diverse range of experiences. Such as leadership skills, community involvement, and a commitment to service.
Making connections
Lack of exposure is the biggest barrier to success, says Marie Schwartz. Certainly, exposure to opportunities, networks, and experiences can be crucial for success, especially in certain fields where visibility and connection matter. Therefore, volunteering for students is one way to expose and meet people who share similar interests or who work in the field you're interested in pursuing. These connections can be valuable for networking and for gaining insight into potential career paths.
Making a difference
Volunteering allows students to give back to their community and make a positive impact on the world around them. This can be a rewarding experience that can help students develop a sense of purpose and meaning in their lives.
Thus, if you're a student who is struggling with schoolwork, you can also consider using the service of essay writers online. These professionals can help you with essays, research papers, and other assignments, freeing up time for you to get involved in volunteering.
According to research writers at ABC Action News, volunteering can also be beneficial to students' mental and emotional health. It can help reduce stress, anxiety, and depression, and increase self-esteem and fulfilment. By participating in volunteer work for students, high school students can gain valuable work experience, and develop a sense of responsibility, and social awareness.
In conclusion
Student volunteer opportunities in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan and Northern Wisconsin are a great way to make a positive impact in your community while gaining valuable experience and skills. Whether you're interested in healthcare settings, animal care, or community service, there are plenty of opportunities available. So, get out there and make a difference!
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