Community Service Form 2025-2026 (Required)

Directions for students to submit their community service hours to receive credit toward the MERHS graduation requirement: Click here Community Service Form 2025-2026 and fill out the form with your community service hours and information. Ms. Carlson will transfer your data to your ASPEN account to ensure you are awarded credit for the hours you submit. The link to the form is also available on the high school website under Students & Families-Community Service and School & College Counseling-Resources.

Important - ONLY MERHS students with a MEAPPS email address can open the Community Service Form and enter and submit data. Family members, community service supervisors, etc. will not be granted access to the form per MERHS policy requiring student volunteers to be responsible for entering their own community service hours and information. 

Students can view their community service hours and information in ASPEN by going to “My Info” and clicking on the Community Service tab.

COMMUNITY SERVICE OPPORTUNITIES: 

Dates: Session 1: Mon-Friday, June 29th - July 17th (3 weeks) 8:45-12:15 (subject to change) /       Session 2: Mon-Friday, July 20th - August 14th (4 weeks) 8:45-12:15 (subject to change)
Category: Counselor-in-Training (CIT) Leadership Program at Manchester Summer Playground
Fee: Session 1- $100.00, Session 2- $120.00
Location: Manchester Memorial School
Contact: Molly Machain, Co-director, Manchester Summer Playground, Manchester by the Sea Parks and Recreation, 10 Central Street, Manchester, recreation@manchester.ma.us, 978-526-2019
Organization: Manchester Summer Playground
Are you a teenager under 16 looking to gain work experience and community service hours with children over the summer? Manchester Parks and Recreation will be offering two sessions for young teens including students who have completed 8th grade and are entering their freshman year of high school to participate in our Counselor-in-Training (CIT) Leadership Program at Manchester Summer Playground. The program helps teens build essential life skills such as leadership, communication, punctuality, and problem-solving. Participants learn how to care for younger children, collaborate with peers, and thrive in a fast-paced summer camp environment — all while having plenty of fun organizing and leading games and activities! Spaces are limited to 10 students per session. Program Flyer: (CIT) Leadership Program Flyer Registration link:  https://manchesterma.myrec.com/info/activities/program_details.aspx?ProgramID=30273

Date(s): Tuesdays - March 31 and May 19 (Election help in the afternoons/evenings) AND Thursdays - Ongoing after school until 6:30 pm (Office help)
Category: Election help for 2 elections this spring and Office help Thursdays after school
Contact: Christine Dixon, Town Clerk, dixonc@manchester.ma.us, 978-526-2040
Organization: Town Clerk, Manchester-by-the-Sea
Manchester-by-the-Sea Town Clerk Christine Dixon is looking for student volunteers age 16+ to help with two (2) elections this spring - a special state election Tuesday, March 31, and the annual town election Tuesday, May 19. Afternoon/evening election help is needed, and some office help as well on an ongoing basis after school Thursdays until 6:30pm. This is a great way for students who are interested in local government to get some hands-on experience! Please sign up using the link below and be sure to add in the additional comments section that you are a MERHS student.https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfwnlFOBlNLgL3n420JYLGseL-iXpASLguhr9uKvrIIjzc_nw/viewform?usp=header

Date(s): Saturday, April 11 9:00 am-12:00 pm
Category: BioBlitz, identify and record plants and animals to help researchers understand local biodiversity while exploring nature up close
Contact: Tracy X. Graham, Community Engagement Coordinator, Tracy.Graham@thetrustees.org, The Trustees of Reservations, 200 High Street, 4th FL I Boston, MA 02110
Organization: The Trustees of Reservations
We hope you’ll join us for a BioBlitz Volunteer Event at Appleton Farms in Ipswich on Saturday, April 11 from 9:00 am-12:00 pm for a morning of discovery, learning, and fun! A BioBlitz is a hands-on event where volunteers help identify and record as many plants and animals as possible. These events support community science, helping researchers understand local biodiversity while giving participants a chance to explore nature up close. Volunteers will explore plants and animals using iNaturalist, a free app that lets you take photos, log your observations, and see your contributions in real time. Please download the app before the event — no experience is required, just curiosity and an interest in the outdoors! Volunteers can join for part of the morning or the full event (9am-12pm). Shift options will be visible when signing up.
What to know / prepare:

• Smartphone with iNaturalist (download in advance; training provided on-site)
• Closed-toed shoes and clothing for variable weather
• Comfortable walking on uneven terrain
• Children 6+ welcome; under 16 must attend with an adult — this event is a great activity for families!
• Volunteers can participate individually, as families, or in small groups

Sign up: Volunteers can register via the QR code on these attached flyers BioBlitz April 2026 - Appleton Farms Flyers.pdf or this link: REGISTER HERE.

*Date(s): Sunday, April 19 10:00 am-12:00 pm
Category: Earth Day Coastal Clean Up at Crane Beach
Contact: Tracy X. Graham, Community Engagement Coordinator, Tracy.Graham@thetrustees.org, The Trustees of Reservations, 200 High Street, 4th FL I Boston, MA 02110
Organization: The Trustees of Reservations
We hope you’ll join The Trustees for Earth Day Coastal Clean Up at Crane Beach on Sunday, April 19 from 10:00 am–12:00 pm! It’s part of our quarterly cleanups at the Crane Estate (additional cleanups will take place in June, August, and October) and a great way to celebrate Earth Day while supporting coastal stewardship. Cleanups will be based at Crane Beach, though some teams may be asked to help at Castle Hill (Steep Hill, Cedar Point) if the volume allows. Bring your family, your friends, and classmates to help clean the beach. Volunteers should come dressed in layers for varying weather conditions, wear appropriate footwear, bring work gloves, hat, sunscreen, refillable water bottle and snacks. Learn more and sign up here: Coastal Clean Up - Crane Estate

Date(s): Ongoing
Category: Side Walkers/no horse experience necessary – assist the riders (some riders may need a Side Walker to hold on to them and some may need a Side Walker but not need the SW to hold on to them), Barn Coordinators/horse experience is required - taking care of horses, turn out & turn in, grooming, tacking, and feeding, Horse Handlers/horse experience is required - leading horses in therapeutic riding classes 
Contact: Caron King, Volunteer Manager, volunteer@windrushfarm.org, 978-682-7855, 479 Lacy Street, North Andover, MA 01845, windrushfarm.org
Organization: Windrush Farm
Windrush Farm in North Andover is the leading therapeutic riding center on the North Shore for helping children and people of all abilities and they are in dire need of volunteers for their therapeutic horse program. First and foremost, Side Walkers are needed to assist the riders. You do not need to have experience with horses to be a Side Walker, but you will receive training ahead of time. Some riders may need a Side Walker to hold on to them, while other riders may need the assistance of a Side Walker but not need the SW to hold on to them. Barn Coordinators and Horse Handlers are also needed, and horse experience is required for these volunteer positions. The minimum age for all volunteers is 14. Students and adults are welcome to volunteer. Please click here https://www.windrushfarm.org/volunteer/horse-handlers/ for more information on the website and to sign up to become a volunteer and part of our caring and positive community!

Date(s): Ongoing
Category: Boosters Club Canteen Volunteers
Contact: Vicki Donnellan Valade @ 978-985-5672 or vickidonnellan@comcast.net 
Organization: Manchester-Essex Boosters Club 
Help support the Manchester-Essex Boosters in raising funds for all the high school sports programs! If you need community service hours, we need volunteers to help sell concessions in the canteen during games. Please use this link to sign up for any slots you are available: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/508054FA9AA2EA75-58704476-boosters. Most students find it fun, especially if you bring a friend along to help!! Feel free to contact Vicki Donnellan with any questions. Thank you!!

Date(s): 4th Tuesday of the month 5:30-6:30pm (next meeting Tuesday, March 24, 2026)
Category: Teen Advisory Board (TAB)
Contact: Tom Russo, Young Adult Librarian, 978-526-7711, trusso@manchesterpl.org 
Organization: Manchester-by-the-Sea Public Library
Join the MBTS Public Library's Teen Advisory Board (TAB)!  Members of TAB help brainstorm and promote programs the library puts on. They give input on book ordering, play a big role in running the Haunted Library event for Halloween, and help stage the library's annual escape room program.

Date(s): Ongoing
Category: Museum volunteers
Contact: Matthew Swindell, 978-526-7230, director@mbtsmuseum.org, 10 Union Street, Manchester-by-the-Sea, MA 01944, www.mbtsmuseum.org
Organization: Manchester-by-the-Sea Museum
Help support Manchester-by-the-Sea's museum. Looking for passionate people interested in history, with various roles available in education, archives and visitor engagement. Come to the Museum for an introductory tour and meeting.

Date(s): Ongoing
Category: Library - children’s books, organization, assorted projects
Contact: Tom Russo, Young Adult Librarian / trusso@manchesterpl.org  / 978-526-7711
Organization: Manchester Public Library
Seeking student volunteers to assist with keeping the children's book collection organized and to help with other projects. This is an ongoing/major need. 

Date(s): Ongoing/year-round
Category: Library - general volunteer tasks
Contact: Carla Christensen, Library Director
Organization: T.O.H.P. Burnham Public Library, Essex MA
Seeking helpers for ongoing community service tasks. Always happy to have students join the team as teen volunteers. Please use this link to complete the Teen Volunteer Form and the Library Director will be in touch with you.

Date(s): Ongoing
Category: daily gallery help, assist with children’s programs, assist with public events
Contact: Margaurita Spear, Museum Educator, margaurita.spear@wenhammuseum.org
Organization: Wenham Museum
The Wenham Museum is seeking high school student volunteers to help reset the play interactives in their galleries to keep them ready for children and families visiting the next day, assist with children’s programs on Wednesday afternoons, and assist at their special public programs for elementary school children. For more details, please visit the museum website at Wenham Museum Volunteer Opportunities for Students. If interested in volunteering, please email Museum Educator, Maugaurita Spear at margaurita.spear@wenhammuseum.org.

Date(s): Various dates for upcoming events
Category: Annual Community Events
Contact: Heather DePriest, Program Director, depriesth@manchester.ma.us
Organization: Manchester Parks and Recreation
Looking for volunteers to assist with annual community events. Email Heather DePriest to set up an informal interview to make sure you are the best fit.

Date(s): Ongoing / year-round
Category: Land conservation, event assistance, guides / other
Contact: Volunteer@TheTrustees.org
Organization: The Trustees of Reservations (MA)
Volunteerism has been a cornerstone of The Trustees since 1891 in conserving land for all people to enjoy. As a volunteer, you’ll have opportunities to explain to visitors who we are and what we do while participating in various projects and events. Contact Volunteer@TheTrustees.org if you have questions. 
Register to be a volunteer here: VOLUNTEER
Calendar of volunteer opportunities here: CALENDAR

Date(s): Ongoing, Monday – Thursday afternoons starting at 2:00 pm
Category: Office help
Contact: Deborah Cunningham, Administrative Clerk / conservation@essexma.org / 978-768-2509
Organization: Essex Conservation Commission, Essex MA
Looking for students to help in the office. No matter how many hours you need, there is always something that needs to be done!

Date(s): Ongoing / year-round
Category: Soup kitchen
Contact: https://mybrotherstable.org/get-involved / 781-595-3224
Organization: My Brother’s Table (99 Willow Street, Lynn MA)
My Brother’s Table, the largest soup kitchen on the North Shore, is always in need of volunteers. Please consider volunteering whenever you can.

Date(s): 2nd Thursday of every month from 6:30 pm-8:00 pm
Category: Monthly Dinner - serving meals, table cleanup, veterans, elderly
Contact: Sylvia Kirker  / sylvia.kirker@verizon.net
Allen M. Kirker, Commander / amkirker@gmail.com / 978-380-0029
Organization: Manchester American Legion
Seeking MERHS student volunteers to help at monthly dinners (Thursdays) serving and clearing tables from 6:30-8:00 pm. Students are welcome to volunteer when available and don’t have to sign up every dinner. Email the Kirkers in advance to let them know you’re coming.