As the warmer weather returns to New York, many opportunities are becoming available for students to get environmentally involved in their communities though outdoor volunteer work, helping meet their yearly service hour requirements along the way.

“Outdoor volunteering often slows during the winter months, so spring is an especially important time to help restore our parks and green spaces after harsh weather,” said Jessica Quinones, the Chief Program officer for New York Cards, a non-profit organization offering environmental volunteer opportunities for teenagers aged 14-17.  “As the season changes, volunteers can get back outside to plant, clean up debris, and help bring these spaces back to life,” she said.There are also many volunteer opportunities local to Townsend Harris High School taking place this year. These include volunteering at farms and many stewardship events that will be hosted at local parks such as Flushing Corona Park and Queens Botanical Garden.

“Spring projects…fill up quickly, so be sure to register early,” said Ms. Quinones. Students can check for updates using the event calendars for the organizations they are interested in volunteering with.

Students can also get involved in volunteering through their own environmental passion projects. For example, The Veggie Nuggets is a youth-led climate group that focuses on environmental restoration and gardening.

Abderrahmane Labdi, a freshman at Columbia University who co-founded The Veggie Nuggets in late 2019, said, “our team, [The Veggie Nuggets, has] plenty of opportunities to volunteer and help out with our garden,” mentioning the organization’s annual gardening event in May. He said, “We could definitely use a couple of hands to help us plant everything, water the garden, and apply mulch as we give our garden that annual makeover.”

Junior Lillian Parrella, co-president of THHS’s Green team and five-year member of The Veggie Nuggets, said that environmental volunteering made her “really passionate about it” and that “it was just an amazing experience.”

“[Environmental volunteering has] become such a huge part of my life, and I’ve learned so much about it just in the past 6 years,” said Lillian. “I’ve learned so much about being involved in my community and making an impact, and I really love that.”

Additionally, Lillian also recommended working with NYC’s campaign finance board and participating in events with THHS’s Green Team, a school club that focuses on environmental efforts.

Other clubs at THHS also partake in climate-focused events where Harrisites can become more environmentally involved and informed.

For instance, THHS’s Key Club attended an Earth Day event on April 19 where volunteers were able to explore the Earth Day 2026 Festival at NYC Union Square and show their support for climate action and environmental justice.

Junior Sherry Chen, one of THHS Key Club’s Event Committee Heads, said, “It’s important for students to be involved in outdoor volunteering because with the weather getting nicer, it’s a nice way to get out of the house while also helping our community.” 

Harrisites who spoke to The Classic highlighted their interest in environmental volunteering as a way to enjoy the weather and make a difference.

“I would be interested in environmental volunteering because I believe it will be a good way to get off of my device,” said freshman Nathan Fu. He said it would “be a good way to explore and learn more about the world around us.”

Sophomore Urja Shrestha said that she would recommend other students to do “something like picking up trash [to make areas] cleaner, which not only makes the environment look nicer, but [also] improves health because people won’t live in filth.”

Sherry said that “The increasing temperatures also help to relieve stress and establish an overall happier mood. Additionally, outdoor events consist of removing waste, replanting trees, etc., which are all beneficial in protecting our ecosystem and making our community cleaner.”

 “Be brave, you’ve got what it takes to be an amazing volunteer. Bring a friend along and show up with your best energy. You are part of the solution,” said Ms. Quinones.