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Free Programs for High School Students in California

Nichable lists 204 programs, internships, research programs, competitions and volunteer opportunities for high school students based in California. None of them lists a cost to take part, and 41 state outright that they're free. Each one is checked against the organization's own page.

Stanford STaRS Internship Program

Stanford Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
Research· Stanford, CA
Opening soon
Research· Paid· Torrance, CA
DeadlineFeb 19, 2027

Education Internships

Guadalupe River Park Conservancy
Internship· San Jose, CA
Opening soon

TRIO Upward Bound

Fresno City College
Program· Fresno, CA
Opening soon

Fresno State Upward Bound Programs

California State University, Fresno
Program· Fresno, CA
Opening soon

Volunteer Shifts

Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services
Volunteer· Sacramento, CA
Opening soon

Volun-teen Program

Fairytale Town
Volunteer· Sacramento, CA
Opening soon

Summer @ City Hall (S@CH)

City of Sacramento Department of Youth
Internship· Paid· Sacramento, CA
Opens Apr 1, 2027 · Due Apr 12, 2027

Volunteer Program

Santa Cruz SPCA
Volunteer· Santa Cruz, CA
Opening soon

Kern–UCLA Future Educators STEAM Summer Externship

UCLA x Kern K-16 Educational Collaborative (Kern County Superintendent of Schools)
Internship· Bakersfield, CA
Opening soon

CSUB Educational Talent Search

California State University, Bakersfield
Program· Bakersfield, CA
Opening soon

UC Riverside TRIO Upward Bound

University of California
Program· Riverside, CA
Opening soon

CSUSB Upward Bound

California State University
Program· San Bernardino, CA
Opening soon

Assemblymember Rhodesia Ransom District Office Internship

Office of Assemblymember Rhodesia Ransom (Assembly District 13)
Internship· Stockton, CA
Opening soon

Junior District Attorney Academy

San Diego County District Attorney's Office
Program· San Diego, CA
Opening soon

Student Volunteers

Children's Museum of Stockton
Volunteer· Stockton, CA
Opening soon

Teen Conservation Leaders

Monterey Bay Aquarium
Volunteer· Monterey, CA
Opening soon
Internship· Paid· Oakland, CA
Opens Nov 16, 2026 · Due Jan 8, 2027
Program· Bakersfield, CA
Opening soon

Advisory Council of Teens

Santa Cruz Public Libraries
Volunteer· Santa Cruz, CA
Opening soon

Santa Cruz County Youth Led Leadership Alliance

Santa Cruz County Office of Education
Program· Santa Cruz, CA
Opening soon

LJIdea Summer Internship

La Jolla Institute for Immunology
Research· Paid· La Jolla, CA
Opening soon

Sanford Burnham Prebys SPARK Regenerative Medicine Internship

Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute
Research· Paid· La Jolla, CA
Opening soon
Internship· San Diego, CA
Opening soon

Student Research Internship

Scripps Research Translational Institute
Internship· La Jolla, CA
Opens Nov 23, 2026 · Due Mar 30, 2027
Program· Santa Cruz, CA
Opening soon

Watsonville Teen Action Council

City of Watsonville Library and Parks & Community Services
Program· Paid· Watsonville, CA
Opening soon

High School Insider Summer Internship

Los Angeles Times (HS Insider)
Internship· Paid· Los Angeles, CA
Opening soon

Teens at Mingei

Mingei International Museum
Internship· Paid· San Diego, CA
Opening soon

MOCA Los Angeles Teen Program

The Museum of Contemporary Art
Program· Paid· Los Angeles, CA
Opening soon

LA Metro Transportation Career Academy Program

Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro)
Internship· Paid· Los Angeles, CA
Opening soon
Program· Bakersfield, CA
Opening soon

St. Joseph's Medical Center Volunteer Program (Dignity Health)

Dignity Health St. Joseph's Medical Center
Volunteer· Stockton, CA
Opening soon
Volunteer· Tracy, CA
Opening soon
Volunteer· Lodi, CA
Opening soon
Internship· Stockton, CA
DeadlineDec 1

Assemblymember Ransom's Young Legislators Program (Stockton)

Office of Assemblymember Rhodesia Ransom (Assembly District 13)
Program· Stockton, CA
Opening soon

Teen Volunteers

California Living Museum (CALM) Zoo
Volunteer· Bakersfield, CA
DeadlineRolling

Teen Volunteers

San Bernardino Public Library
Volunteer· San Bernardino, CA
Opening soon

Teen Leadership Program

San Bernardino County Library
Volunteer· San Bernardino, CA
Opening soon

Teen Volunteers

A.K. Smiley Public Library
Volunteer· Redlands, CA
DeadlineRolling
Volunteer· Corona, CA
Opening soon
Volunteer· Riverside, CA
Opening soon

Fontana Mayor's Youth Advisory Council

City of Fontana Community Services
Program· Fontana, CA
Opening soon

Healthy RC Youth Leaders

City of Rancho Cucamonga
Program· Rancho Cucamonga, CA
Opening soon

Teen Volunteers

Riverside County Library System
Volunteer· Riverside, CA
Opening soon

San Joaquin County High School Internship Program (with San Joaquin A+)

San Joaquin County Human Resources / San Joaquin A+
Internship· Stockton, CA
Opening soon

City of Modesto Student Internship Program

City of Modesto Human Resources
Internship· Modesto, CA
Opening soon
Internship· Paid· Bakersfield, CA
Opening soon

Summer Jobs Program

Boys & Girls Clubs of Kern County
Internship· Paid· Bakersfield, CA
Opening soon
Research· Paid· Loma Linda, CA
Opens Jan 1, 2027 · Due Mar 1, 2027

Teen Volunteer Opportunities

Fresno County Public Library
Volunteer· Fresno, CA
DeadlineRolling

Fresno County Summer Arts Academy

Fresno County Superintendent of Schools
Program· Fresno, CA
Opening soon
Program· Fresno, CA
DeadlineRolling

West Sacramento Home Run Paid Summer Internships

City of West Sacramento Home Run
Internship· Paid· West Sacramento, CA
Opening soon

Teen Advisory Board

Roseville Public Library
Program· Roseville, CA
DeadlineRolling
Program· Sacramento, CA
Opens Jan 5, 2027

High School Summer Internship Program

West Valley Water District
Internship· Paid· Rialto, CA
Opening soon

Youth Internship Program

Fresno Building Healthy Communities
Internship· Paid· Fresno, CA
Opening soon

Sacramento Youth Commission

City of Sacramento
Program· Paid· Sacramento, CA
Opening soon

Common questions

Are these programs really free for high school students in California?

None of these 204 listings names tuition or a required fee. Listings that charge say so in a cost line and are labeled "Costs money", so they aren't on this page. Smaller costs such as travel or materials can still apply, so confirm on the organization's page before you apply.

How do high school students apply to free programs in California?

Each listing is run by its own organization and you apply on that organization's site. A free Nichable account shows each listing's deadline and how to apply, and lets you save and track them.