Meaningful Work

The pay may be modest. The work is important. The satisfaction is incredible. Whether working in soup kitchens or family shelters, teaching and inspiring at-risk or disadvantaged youth, empowering the mentally ill, building houses for the poor, assisting the elderly or helping the fight against hunger, you'll find your options in this channel.

Your efforts may not immediately change the world or solve deep-rooted problems, but will serve as an ongoing commitment to helping others in need while promoting the integrity of creation. If you have a passion for service and are willing to go the extra mile to help a good cause, it's time to start making a difference—the world needs you!

More to Explore
• Check out the Camp Jobs or Wilderness Therapy Jobs channels for more meaningful work programs!

Join a team of engaging and empowering individuals ready to create a nourishing learning environment inside and outside the classroom for students!

With five campuses across south central Pennsylvania, Yellow Breeches Educational Center offers an innovative approach to education that seamlessly integrates experiential learning with adventure. By tailoring teaching methods, dedicated educators actively engage, encourage, and empower students. This approach fosters their academic, social, and personal growth both within and beyond the classroom walls.

• Adventure Specialists collaborate with other program teachers to develop and execute an adventure education curriculum and imparts essential skills in the core adventure disciplines (multi-pitch rock climbing, white water canoeing, skiing and snowboarding, or scuba diving) through a blend of classroom instruction and weekly adventure trips.
• Through a blend of classroom instruction and adventure education, Experiential Teachers instruct a core subject 3-4 days per week as well as assist with weekly adventure/experiential trip and high-end adventure trips throughout the school year.
• Additional positions include Student Support Counselors who build rapport with students throughout various aspects of programming and Vocational Instructors who prepare students for technical field careers through large-scale construction projects.

Positions follow a typical school year schedule from mid-August through early June. All staff enjoy traditional school holidays and a paid summer break. Compensation starts at $40,000/year plus a comprehensive benefits package and a fun and engaging work environment with opportunities for growth. If you have a passion for experiential/adventure education, a desire to make a difference, and are ready to work collaboratively to shape the lives every student, learn more at YellowBreeches.org.

• Yellow Breeches Educational Center is a unique blend of in class instruction and adventure activities in an effort to help students with emotional support needs thrive and meet their fullest potential. Join a team of engaging and empowering individuals ready to create a nourishing learning environment.

Spend a year developing yourself — discover your deeper purpose and share your life and gifts in a thriving intentional community with Camphill!

Camphill is dedicated to creating communities where the recognition of each individual’s gifts and contributions offer a model of renewal for the wider society. Live-in Volunteers live with and engage alongside children, youth and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities in one of twelve rural communities throughout the U.S. (California, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New York, Pennsylvania and Vermont) and Canada (British Columbia). Community living may mean providing human support and caregiving, learning or teaching an artisan craft, helping on the farm or garden, cooking wholesome food, engaging in the healing arts, or celebrating seasonal festivals together.

Volunteers grow faster than they imagine possible, build deep, lasting relationships, and develop practical and creative skills that open doors for the rest of their lives. This is a great chance to master new skills and carry them forward into your future. Biodynamic farming. Artisan baking. Woodworking. Leadership and cooperative collaboration. Mindfulness. Through a mix of structured training and hands-on practice under the guidance of mentors, you dive right in, and by the end of your year, you're not only comfortable with them, but you’re also leading others in learning. In addition to college loan support program, the community ensures that every volunteer's basic living needs are covered. This means you receive a monthly stipend, a private room in a beautiful environment, wholesome, mostly organic meals, medical coverage, and other essentials—from toiletries to use of community cars.

Unpause Your Life. A one minute peak into Camphill life.

• Learn more about a Camphill Communities California Volunteer who found his place to help, change, and influence the lives of others while being submerged in a culture of genuine acceptance, love, caring, thought, idea and action.

Through direct service youth programs and highly regarded training programs for adults, Ramapo serves children and young adults with social, emotional and learning differences, ADHD and/or autism spectrum disorders—enabling them to succeed in the classroom, at home and in life. RamaYear offers recent college graduates an opportunity to dedicate 12–15 months of their early careers to a comprehensive and transformative work experience focused on leadership and service. Participants will reside on Ramapo’s 240-acre campus in Rhinebeck, NY, receive extensive training in the Ramapo Approach, and serve a diverse group of young individuals and adults annually. RamaYears work in one of two tracks:

Retreats Facilitator Track RamaYears work with groups of youth and educators on outdoor adventure-based activities designed to enhance teamwork, communication, social-emotional development, and relationship-building skills. Responsibilities include leading icebreakers, facilitating ropes courses, building campfires, and guiding participants through leadership development exercises.

Direct Support Professional Track RamaYears work closely with staff assistants (young adults with social, emotional and learning differences) to facilitate programming, support participants in vocational training, and provide ongoing coaching.

Compensation includes a $27,000/year salary, semi-private housing, meals, fitness area, access to Ramapo's beautiful 250-acre campus (with hiking trails, fields, and corral with sheep, goats, and chickens), health, dental, vision, and life insurance, 401k (matching) after 1 year of employment, education reimbursement, professional development, and vacation, holiday, and sick time. Ideal applicants are looking to join a community of passionate, caring people, all while gaining invaluable professional experience in education, social work, and human services. Applications are reviewed and accepted on a rolling basis or contact Sophie Yolowitz for more information.

View Matthew's RamaYear story »

• Join RamaYear—a Launch-Year Program! Dedicate a part of your early career to a unique service leadership experience in Rhinebeck, NY. RamaYear staff have a wide range of backgrounds and college majors, but all share a desire to engage in meaningful work and make a difference in the world!

Come join the Bend-Redmond Habitat for Humanity family and help create safe, stable, and energy efficient affordable housing while being a community leader and learning new skills! Now seeking four Habitat-AmeriCorps members to serve as Construction Crew Leaders on residential new construction sites. Responsibilities include assisting with day-to-day construction activities, helping maintain a safe and efficient work environment, understanding local and sustainable building methods, and gaining the skills and confidence needed to lead groups of volunteers. Construction experience is not required. Leaders serve full-time for 10½ months, TU-SA, 8am-4pm. Ideally looking for new members to begin work this August and October. Exact start dates are based on organization needs, construction project schedules, housing availability, and availability of the applicant.

Members receive $20,400 for the year and receive an education award of $7,395 following successful completion of service. Members also have access to free medical care, food assistance, school loan deferrals, and subsidized housing in Habitat's newly constructed 1-bedroom rental units during their service year. In your free time, Deschutes County is a mecca for outdoor enthusiasts with easy access to skiing, mountain biking, running trails, rock climbing, kayaking and paddle boarding, road biking, mountain climbing, fishing, snowshoeing, and pretty much anything under the sun. If you have a willingness to learn, a positive attitude, a bias to action, are a good listener, resilient, passionate about helping others, and interested in personal and professional development through hands-on instruction and leadership, send your resume to Linda Rhine or apply online.

• Build sustainable community solutions. Gain valuable real-world experiences. Prepare for your future. Habitat for Humanity AmeriCorps National Construction Crew Leaders play an integral part in building more homes and serving more families in the Bend/Redmond, Oregon region.

Located in Texas between Houston and Austin, Camp For All works in partnership with other non-profits to enrich the lives of children and adults with challenging illnesses or special needs and their families throughout the year. From wide, wheelchair friendly sidewalks to a zero entry pool to a tree house anyone can enter, Camp For All turns can't do into CAN DO with their barrier free approach to the camp site, facilities and programming.

Program Instructors play a vital role in helping campers discover life through effective and fun programs. Job tasks include hosting campers, volunteers, guests and groups, teaching a wide variety of program activities, planning and implementing programs in team building & challenge courses, facilitating epic night activities, maintaining program areas and equipment, and supporting the Program Leadership team. A primo Instructor staff training covers a variety of topics and activities, including Lifeguard certification, challenge courses, team building, fishing, canoeing, archery, nature, sports and photography. Positions are available during the spring (February to May), summer (May to August), and fall (September to mid-November). Instructors will typically work 5 days on and 2 days off. Compensation starts at $350-$375/week, plus housing, meals when groups are onsite, and WiFi access. If you have a desire to work with the special needs population, previous experience working with children in a camp environment, at least 18 years of age, and are hardworking, outgoing, creative, self-directed, and an all-around rad individual, view current job openings or contact the Program Manager for more info.

Why work at Camp For All? See what campers & program staff have to say about the experience!

• More than 11,000 campers come to Camp For All each year to enjoy a wide array of activities that are universal in design and provide many opportunities for the growth in self-confidence. It is a unique place where there is understanding and acceptance.
• Working as a staff member is fun, challenging, a learning opportunity, and life-changing for you and the campers.

Innisfree Residential Volunteers are motivated, passionate, and conscientious individuals seeking a new way of life in service to others and dedicated to community living with adults with intellectual disabilities.

Set in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, near Charlottesville, Virginia, Innisfree Village is a residential, lifesharing community with adults with intellectual disabilities. Residents (known as coworkers in the village), volunteers, and staff live, work, and play together on a 550-acre therapeutic farm emphasizing empowerment, interdependence, and mutual respect of all community members.

As a Residential Volunteer, individuals will experience the joys and challenges of a lifesharing community. At the core of the volunteer experience is the building of genuine connections with the coworkers as well as other community members. Volunteers live with coworkers in family-style homes, providing support for their daily personal care, overall health, and emotional needs. Engagement in the therapeutic workstations is a part of daily community life. In the art studio, bakery, community kitchen, farm, herb and vegetable gardens, pottery, weavery, and woodshop, volunteers provide guidance and support, encouraging coworkers to pursue their creative passions and skill development, while having the unique opportunity to develop and learn new practical and creative skills for themselves. With a broad demographic of life experiences, personal backgrounds, and cultural traditions, volunteers enrich the community through their gifts, talents, and individuality. Fully participating in the events of daily life, along with special gatherings and social events, offers unique opportunities to develop connections that can last a lifetime. A monthly stipend, private room, meals, and plentiful benefits are provided. Applicants must be patient, empathetic, flexible, and positive, at least 18 years of age, and able to commit to a year of service. To learn more, explore InnisfreeVillage.org.

People from all over the world come to Innisfree Village to share their time and talents. Get to know current Innisfree Village volunteers and staff and the experiences that make their time at Innisfree so special.

Are you interested in rural community living with the opportunity for meaningful service to individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities? Residential Volunteers experience the give and take of a home and work environment, sharing life alongside other volunteers, staff, and residents with disabilities.
Read more about the volunteer experience at Innisfree Village.

Are you passionate about inspiring the next generation of environmental leaders?

YMCA Earth Service Corps (YESC) is an innovative youth-led program that empowers students to take a hands-on role in creating a healthier environment in their schools, communities and region while nurturing a respect for diversity within the natural world.

Based at the Cascade People’s Center in Seattle, Program Instructors serve with 5-6 middle or high school environmental service clubs over the course of the school year by facilitating environmental and service experiences, mentoring youth, fostering relationships, connecting with volunteer Club Advisors, and recruiting teen participants. Responsibilities also include planning and facilitating regional environmental projects (habitat restoration and outdoor activities such as day hikes, snowshoeing, and kayaking as well as educational field trips that foster strong connections between youth and the natural world) and collaborating to plan four large-scale regional events including two 150+ person environmental conferences and two overnight eco-retreats. YESC is seeking to fill multiple AmeriCorps community service positions from September 2nd, 2025 through July 15th, 2026. Compensation includes extensive paid training, experience and professional development, a living stipend of $2,438/month, student loan forbearance, monthly food assistance, health insurance, transit pass/mileage reimbursement, YMCA membership, and a $7,395 AmeriCorps education award upon successful completion of service. Applicants must be at least 21 years old and a U.S. citizen to qualify. If you are passionate about youth agency and voice, advocating for environmental justice, and willing to be flexible and adaptable to accommodate the needs of youth, fill out the online application or contact Chelsey Wheeler for more information.

• Working with over 30 school-based environmental clubs in the Greater Seattle area (and 1,400 youth each year!), YESC programs range from short-term projects like making beeswax wraps or upcycling t-shirts to long-term projects like starting a composting or recycling program at their school, advocating for environmental legislation, or getting solar panels installed at their school.
• Leadership through environmental service. View the YESC experience »

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