San Francisco Youth Programs

Looking for Youth Programs? Check out these paid and volunteer programs for high schoolers in San Francisco! If you’re looking for summer programs, click here.

Community Youth Center (CYC) of San Francisco is a non-profit youth organization with the following programs. Applications can be found HERE.
- CYC’s Racial Justice Cohort will prepare students to be Equity Facilitators by growing their analytical and facilitation skills related to social justice issues, while providing tools to explore and understand their own personal identities and community history. Students will learn how to build multiracial solidarity through workshops and events. Participants will engage in community conversations, create curriculum, and facilitate cultivating agency and awareness in their peers. CYC’s Racial Justice Cohort will run from October 2025 - May 15th, 2026. Meetings will be held every Tuesday and Thursday from 5-6:30pm. To apply, fill out the Application or reach out to Senior Program Coordinator, Nijah: nijahl@cycsf.org
- Asian & Pacific Islander Youth Leadership Council (APIYLC) aims to build leadership qualities within Asian Pacific Islander youth and empower them so they can bring change in the Asian community. youth will have opportunities to engage in volunteer work, civic engagement, and community service related to issues that they care about. This year, APIYLC is adding an environmental justice component. CYC’s APIYLC program will run from September 2025 - May 2026. Workshops are held Tuesdays and Thursdays from 5pm - 6:30pm. To apply, fill out the application or reach out to the Program Coordinator, Sean Uy: seanu@cycsf.org
- Clementine Collective is a leadership program for API LGBTQIA+ high schoolers and their allies. Clementine Collective participants learn about Asian, Pacific Islander, and LGBTQIA+ identity, history, and culture, while building a supportive environment with their peers. Participants are paid via stipend. CYC’s Clementine Collective program will run from September 2025 - May 2026. Meetings will be held every Tuesday and Thursday from 5-6:30pm. To apply, fill out the application or reach out to Program Coordinator, Casey: caseyh@cycsf.org
- The Mentorship, College & Career Access program supports API high school sophomores and juniors in their transition to college and careers by pairing them with an adult mentor for monthly 1:1 guidance and support. The program will run from October 2025 - May 2026. Meetings will be held every Tuesday & Thursday from 5-6:30pm. To apply, fill out the application or reach out to the Program Coordinator, Mindy Tran: mindyt@cycsf.org
- Young Asian Women Against Violence (YAWAV) is a school year-long program that is committed to train and educate youth leaders on gender-based violence topics and prevention skills. It will run from September 2025 - May 2026. Meetings will be held every Tuesday and Thursday from 5-6:30pm. To apply, fill out the application or reach out to Senior Program Coordinator, Connie Liu: conniel@cycsf.org
Mission Bit: Free after school in-person and online coding classes are available in the Fall, Spring and Summer. You can learn Web Design, Python coding, game design, and virtual reality. For Fall 2025, Mission Bit is offering free online Python and Game Design classes for San Francisco high school students. Registration deadline is August 31. https://missionbit.org/programs/classes/
ICA (Institute of Contemporary Art San Francisco) SF Teen Program empowers teens to think critically, learn about creative careers and arts leadership, create with purpose, and share their perspectives with the world. The program is open to high school students aged 15-18 who reside in the San Francisco Bay Area. Any level of experience with art is welcome! The cohort will meet twice a month on Saturdays, 1-3:30 pm, from September 20 - November 15, 2025. Students who attend all five sessions will be given a $150 honorarium. Applications are due September 4th and can be found here. For more info, visit their website https://www.icasf.org/education/teen-program.
Oasis for Girls. Applications for the Fall 2025 cycle are due on September 7th. Apply at www.oasisforgirls.org/apply. Oasis for Girls has 3 programs including CREATE: Arts & Activism, RISE: Life Development (Social Justice, Wellness, Leadership), and ENVISION: Career Exploration
- Participants are paid a $400-$600 stipend and can do each program one time. In Fall and Spring, the program runs Tues, Wed, Thurs 4:30-6:30 and over the summer from 2-6pm at their office at 7th/Mission near the Civic Center BART/MUNI stop
Youth Art Exchange: Free art classes for SFUSD high school students with some paid spots for non-SFUSD students. There are Fall, Spring, and Summer sessions and classes include animation, architecture, photography, hip hop dance, music production, mural painting, and printmaking. https://www.youthartexchange.org/
I-YEL is a paid program w/the Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy. Design multimedia projects to support social and environmental justice challenges, plan events, and develop art and media skills. You also get to participate in outdoor activities and camping trips. Applications are typically due late Sept/early Oct and commitment includes weekly after school meetings and Saturdays. Leran more at https://www.parksconservancy.org/iyelapp
Mission Youth in Action! Be part of a year-round youth leadership activation program at MEDA for SFUSD high school students. It starts in September and runs once a week. http://bit.ly/missionyouthinaction

Chinatown CDC Youth Leadership Program offers intensive involvement in community issues and gives youth the opportunity to apply what they learn to become effective future community leaders. Learn more at https://www.ccdcyouth.org/

First Exposures: Want a year full of photography, field trips, and friendship? In this free photography mentorship program where participants learn Digital Photography or Darkroom Film Photography. It takes place on Saturdays throughout the entire school year. https://www.firstexposures.org/

Greenager Program is a program run by SF Parks and Recreation for high school students who live in or attend a school in the Southeast Sector of San Francisco (Excelsior, Portola, Bayview, Hunter’s Point, Visitation Valley, Crocker Amazon, or Potrero Hill) or Northeast Sector of San Francisco (Western Addition, Tenderloin and Chinatown); the Tenderloin (Tenderloin Chinatown, Western Addition, Fillmore, and Treasure Island), or you must be referred to us by one of our direct partners. This youth leadership and stewardship program, run by the San Francisco Recreation and Park Department @sfrecpark in partnership with @s_port, takes place from February to August. Participants will have the opportunity to lead and inspire their community by enhancing the city’s green spaces, developing place-based projects, and enjoying exciting team-building adventures. Applications are usually due in early September. https://www.sfrecpark.org/1669/Greenager-Program