Teen volunteers provide services to kids while fulfilling high school requirement in Santa Barbara
SANTA BARBARA, Calif. - Danny Lorenz is a student at Santa Barbara high.
And he’s spending his summer vacation volunteering at a skate camp in Santa Barbara.
“I like to help the little kids out … have their fun at camp …. helping them learn how to skate and try to get better and enjoy what they do," said teen volunteer Danny Lorenz of Santa Barbara Parks and Rec Department.
Organizers of summer camps throughout the city say these teen volunteers are vital to making some of these activities for kids possible.
“It means a lot to get the older youth out here with the younger ones especially the two year gap from COVID … it’s important to connect all age levels," said director and creator Joseph Evers of Lobster Jo’s Beach Camp.
At the same time, the teen volunteers are fulfilling a graduation requirement.
"I really like skating and I also need to do community service hours so why not have fun skating teaching all these kids how to skate and then also get community service hours for it," said teen volunteer Noah Burgess, Santa Barbara Parks and Rec Department.
Even though these volunteers are here to fulfill their high school requirement, most say they’re having so much fun, and plan to return next summer.
"I mean it’s really great I love just like you know training people for the better get them into what they like … I mean it feels good," said teen volunteer Noah Burgess of Santa Barbara Parks and Rec Department.
Some of the venues the teens are providing services for include Junior Guard, the Santa Barbara Natural History Museum, and Lobster Jo’s, among others.
"Getting them to understand …Keep being involved in your community … I think being involved with your community is a really important thing … definitely brings more love to the place where you’re living," said Evers.
Organizers of summer camps throughout the city say these teen volunteers are vital to making some of the activities for kids possible.
“It means a lot to get the older youth out here with the younger ones especially the two year gap from COVID … it’s important to connect all age levels," said Evers.
At the same time, the teen volunteers are fulfilling a graduation requirement.
"I really like skating ... and I also need to do community service hours ... so why not have fun skating teaching all these kids how to skate ... and then also get community service hours for it," said Burgess.
Even though these volunteers are here to fulfill their high school requirement, most say they’re having so much fun and plan to return next summer.
"I mean it’s really great ... I love just like you know training people for the better ... get them into what they like … I mean it feels good," said Burgess.
