Teen Service Program

Empowering teens to become changemakers through progressive leadership experiences that inspire lifelong community impact.

What Opportunities Are Available for Teens?

Our programs are specifically designed with teens in mind! After years of developing a love of volunteering through Generation SERVE’s family volunteering and programming opportunities, teens asked for the opportunity to become more involved in Generation SERVE. We listened and worked with our teens to create the Teen Advisory Board (TAB) and Teen Service Days. Our newest addition to teen programming is our partnership with I Live Here I Give Here – See Teens Give.

Five teens in turquoise shirts smile while volunteering in a Texas youth program.

Teen Service Days

Teen Service Days give youth ages 13–18 the chance to support Austin-area nonprofits while building leadership and teamwork skills alongside their peers—without a parent or guardian present. These independent volunteer opportunities help teens explore community needs and gain valuable hands-on experience through service.

Launched by our Teen Advisory Board, Teen Service Days were created to expand volunteer opportunities specifically for teens. Each Teen Service Day is led by a member of the Teen Advisory Board or a trained Teen Activity Leader, in collaboration with Generation SERVE’s wonderful non-profit partners.

These are the only activities on our calendar that allow for teen drop-off, and we ask that parents ensure timely pick-up at the end of the event. To find Teen Service Day opportunities, click the button below and use the Program filter on the left hand side of the calendar by selecting “Teen Service Day” to find any available spots.”

See Our Calendar

Teen Activity Leaders & Co-Leaders

Generation SERVE activities are facilitated by dedicated volunteers in two key positions. Activity Leaders (16+ years) coordinate service experiences, with roles filled by qualified teens and adults who have completed comprehensive training. Activity Co-Leaders (typically 13-15 years) shadow more experienced leaders while developing their facilitation skills. This progressive leadership pathway ensures high-quality volunteer experiences while providing teens valuable leadership development opportunities. Learn more about our two key positions of Teen Activity Leader and Co-Leader Opportunities to help coordinate service experiences with comprehensive training.

Teen Advisory Board

Generation SERVE’s Teen Advisory Board (TAB) is a group of highly motivated teen leaders who want to make a difference and offer their voices as leaders for Generation SERVE. The members of the board act as ambassadors and deputies of the parent organization in support of our mission: to spark a love for volunteering that inspires youth to grow into community-minded leaders.

TAB Membership is open to teens ages 13-18 who are passionate about volunteering and want to dedicate a significant portion of their extra curricular time to the Generation SERVE organization. The applications open in late May and close at the beginning of August each year. For more information and application details, please follow the link below.

How to Get Involved

If your family is new to Generation SERVE and your teen is ready to get involved in our Teen Service Program, the first step is for a parent or guardian to register your family. Even if your teen only plans to participate in Teen Service Days, household registration must be completed by an adult. Please do not register an account using only a teen’s information — it will delay your access to programming.

If you are already registered with us, log in and explore upcoming Teen Service opportunities on our activity calendar — and be sure to use the program filter or look for “Teens Only” to find Teen Service Days.

New to Generation SERVE?
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Returning Volunteer?
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Hear From Generation SERVE Youth & Families

TAB has been such an important constant for me in high school! I have learned so much about volunteering and effective leadership through running Teen Service Days, working with the Fundraising Committee, and being an officer. I appreciate that this organization helps high schoolers get so much hands-on experience with volunteering and is also a great way to form valuable friendships!
​-Allison H

[After volunteering together], we now have conversations regularly about helping those in need. He includes being a volunteer when he describes himself in school projects. Volunteering is now a part of who he is.

-Volunteer Parent

Frequently Asked Questions

With a variety of ways for teens to get involved, we’re sure you have questions—and we have answers! Check out our FAQ today.
  • What are the requirements to RSVP for a Teen Service Day (TSD) activity?

    Only teens ages 13-18 who are a part of a registered Generation SERVE household can RSVP for Teen Service Days.

  • What does “drop-off” mean?

    Parents / guardians should not stay for the service activity, but drop-off teens at the start of the activity and pick them up after it ends.

  • Can we bring a friend or someone outside our immediate family to a Generation SERVE activity?

    Registered friends or relatives may attend activities that they have RSVPd for in advance. If you have a special circumstance to consider, email contact@generationserve.org at least 48-72 hours in advance of the activity, so that we may attempt to assist your family if possible.

  • What information should I include when requesting verification of my Generation SERVE volunteer hours?

    Most organizations accept a printed volunteer history from your Generation SERVE dashboard, which appears on official letterhead. Click here for instructions on how to access your volunteer history.

    If your school uses an automated verification system (like GivePulse or 2xVOL), use contact@generationserve.org and 512.358.6943 as the primary contact. This ensures the request reaches the first available staff member and avoids delays from staff absences.

    Please note: We cannot verify SERVE at Home hours until your submissions have been processed and appear in your account. Be sure to wait for confirmation before requesting verification.

  • Can you sign my school’s form or other document to verify service hours?

    Most organizations accept a printed volunteer history from your Generation SERVE dashboard, which appears on official letterhead. Click here for instructions on how to access your volunteer history.

    We are happy to provide a signature as needed for documentation of community service hours with Generation SERVE if that extra level of verification is expected of him/her at school or by other organizations. We will sign up to two requested forms per year without a processing fee, so be sure to request signatures strategically. Please allow 5-7 days for us to complete any needed forms, and send those documents to contact@generationserve.org.