Opportunities for Students (December 2025)

Published December 8, 2025

**Students: This December, give yourself the gift of opportunity.**

Throughout the last month of the year, City institutions, nonprofit organizations, universities, community partners, and City agencies like the New York Hall of Science, Endless Frontier Labs, Columbia University, Gotham Writers, and NYC Parks are seeking NYCPS students of all ages for free classes and workshops, contests, scholarship opportunities, and even paid internships that take place this month and beyond. From becoming a curator for the New York Public Library, to winning college scholarships from the Mas Family, NYC students have a chock-full of outstanding options to choose from this month!

So check out the following list of opportunities available for City students this month and beyond, and register/apply for them TODAY!

The Seeds of Fortune Economics Program provides high school students from traditionally underserved backgrounds with incredible virtual courses taught by Yale University economics professors! Check out Seeds of Fortune's program webpage to learn more! (Photo via Seeds of Fortune's webpage)

Opportunities for Students in December 2025

The opportunities listed below are ordered by their submission/registration deadline dates, with the most urgent deadlines listed first. For more information about any of these listings, please click through the corresponding links embedded in each entry.

Plant the "Seeds" to College and Career Success through the Seeds of Fortune Program

Submit Your Priority Application by December 9
Cost: Free; requires a non-refundable $75 "commitment fee" from final candidates
Contact: hello@seedsoffortune.org

The Seeds of Fortune Inc. Economics Program is a 10-month virtual education program for high school students from traditionally underserved backgrounds that is held by Seeds of Fortune in partnership with Yale University's Women in Economics organization. Through the program, students will take virtual courses led by Yale University economics professors and learn how to use the field of economics to shape and serve their dreams, families, and communities. In addition, students will learn how to build scholarship and college applications, prepare for interviews, and gain connections to top colleges and universities for potential admissions.

All majors of interest are welcome, and all genders and backgrounds are welcome to apply. For more information, visit Seeds of Fortune's program webpage, and submit your application by the Priority Application deadline on December 9, 2025, or the Regular Deadline by December 31, 2025.

Learn about the Science of Videogames at the NY Hall of Science

Registration Deadline: December 10
Cost: Free with registration
Contact: Danny Clase <dclase@nysci.org>

The New York Hall of Science is inviting City youth to STEM Night: Game On-The Science of Video Games, a free, in-person event dedicated to science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) and its impact on the videogame industry. Throughout the event, attendees will get the chance to network with industry professionals and fellow peers, explore hands-on activities and demos of games in development, and learn about career and education pathways in the gaming industry.

Visit the NY Hall of Science's official registration page to learn more about the STEM Night event and to reserve your spot. But hurry; registration closes on Wednesday, December 10, 2025!

Learn about Summer Internship, Programs, and Volunteer Opportunities for Teens!

Join the Queens Public Library's Teen Summer Opportunities Fair on Saturday, December 13, at the Queens Central Library in Jamaica to learn about the internships, programs, and volunteer opportunities available for teens this summer! QPL's College Readiness team will be available to help attendees create or review their resumes before they apply for their next summer job or internship!

Learn more about the fair by visiting QPL's official event page, and register your seat by December 13.

"Leave Your Mark" and Win Nearly $500 Worth of Prizes (and Bragging Rights) from Gotham Writers

Submit your Original Work by December 15
Cost: Free to participate
Contact: contact@gothamwriters.com

As part of its inaugural "Leave Your Mark" teen writing contest for 13–18 year olds, Gotham Writers is looking for talented young writers who can write compelling shorts. These shorts can be written in any form, including as short stories, songs, scripts, or poems, provided that the submitted works in question are comprised of 250 words or less.

The writer of the most original and compelling story will receive a $400 Gotham Writers class credit and a $50 gift certificate to Bookshop, and their winning piece will be featured directly on Gotham's website. Visit Gotham Writers' contest webpage to learn more about this opportunity, and submit your entry by Monday, December 15, 2025!

Develop Your Writing or Drawing Skills through Uptown Stories' Hands-On Workshops

Registration Deadline: ASAP
Cost: Pay-What-You-Can; no proof of income required
Contact: Dorkys Ramos dorkys@uptownstories.org

Expand your writing capabilities with Uptown Stories, an Uptown Manhattan-based nonprofit organization dedicated to offering afterschool and weekend-based creative writing and illustration workshops for children aged 8–18 years old. Available classes include: "Game for Poetry," a workshop dedicated to helping young poets learn how to find joy, magic, and mystery while playing with words; "The Elements of Fiction," where young writers between the ages of 8–12 can learn what it takes to develop great stories; and "Pop Culture Critic" a workshop for students who aspire to dive into pop culture, analyze it, and provide the world with their “hot takes” in sharp and memorable ways.

Uptown Stories' tuition is "Pay-What-You-Can," visit Uptown Stories' webpage to learn more about the workshops, and register for a class today, as seats are limited.

Get to Know the Natural Side of NYC this Fall through the Urban Park Rangers

Since 1979, NYC Parks' Urban Park Rangers have helped New Yorkers and visitors of all ages discover and explore the City's natural world through environmental education, outdoor recreation, wildlife management, and active conservation.

Check out the Urban Park Rangers' Events webpage to learn about events happening at City parks near you, including events taking place throughout December and January in celebration of the holiday season and the start of winter—including wreath making, bird watching, and stargazing. Sign up directly for your desired events through NYC Parks' Urban Park Rangers webpage.

This Midwinter Recess (February 16–20, 2026), City high school students can participate in the New York Public Library's Teen Curators Program and focus on one of two exhibitions currently on display at NYPL's Stephen A. Schwarzman Building in Manhattan: "¡Wepa! Puerto Ricans in the World of Comics" and "Niyū Yūrk: Middle Eastern and North African Lives in the City." (Photo courtesy of NYPL)

Take Your Grades to the Next Level with a Tutor from Columbia University

Get Help Understanding Your Schoolwork Today
Cost: Free

Columbia University’s Sci-Inspire, a student-led, volunteer-based organization made up of Columbia undergraduates, is offering free one-on-one tutoring services to the City’s middle and high school students. City students can receive tutoring across a wide range of subjects, ranging from pre-calculus to college application writing. All sessions will take place weekly via Zoom.

Visit Sci-Inspire’s webpage to learn more about the program, and register your interest today by filling out Sci-Inspire’s Student Intake Form.

Stop By the Morgan Library for Family First Saturdays

Get Tickets for Museum Admission at the Morgan Library
Cost: Free access with museum admission; admission free for children 12 and under
Contact: Talia BarNoy <familyprograms@themorgan.org>

Explore the historic Morgan Library for an outstanding hourlong family program geared towards children! Family First Saturdays provide City families with inspired picture book read-alouds and related tours of the Morgan's impressive collections.

The next scheduled Family First Saturday will take place on January 3, 2026; visit the Morgan's related event webpage to learn more.

Level Up Your Arts Skills at the Guggenheim During Teen Tuesdays

Make a Reservation for Teen Tuesdays at the Guggenheim
Reservations Recommended. Next Event on January 6, 2026.
Cost: Free (includes museum admission, snacks, MetroCards and learning materials)
Contact: teenprograms@guggenheim.org

Teen Tuesdays are free programs held at the iconic Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum in Manhattan that provide teenagers with the space and opportunity to expand their art-making skills while taking inspiration from the museum's current exhibitions. Participating teens will also get the chance to watch live performances and connect with other teen artists. No experience is needed to participate in Teen Tuesdays; just bring in your curiosity and imagination!

Teen Tuesdays are part of the Guggenheim's free Teen Circle Membership. Learn more about the next Teen Tuesdays event by visiting the Guggenheim's official webpage and reserving your spot for one or more sessions.

Become a Teen Curator for NYPL

Apply by January 12, 2026
Cost: Free to apply and participate
Contact: youngadultservices@nypl.org

The New York Public Library is inviting NYC teens to learn from expert professional curators and make creative work inspired by two exhibitions currently on display at the Stephen A. Schwarzman Building. This intensive, week-long program will also provide participating students the chance to explore the Library's research collections and curatorial career paths. Students who successfully complete the Teen Curators program will receive a $400 stipend.

Visit NYPL's official Teen Curator webpage to learn more about this opportunity, and register by January 12, 2026.

Spend Midwinter Recess Exploring Careers in the Arts through the New York City Center Externship Program

Apply by January 15, 2026
Cost: Free
Contact: skutnowsky@nycitycenter.org

The New York City Center Externship Program is offering City students, 14–18 years old, the opportunity to participate in its weeklong “Inside the Rehearsal Room: Creative Careers” seminar during Midwinter Recess (February 17–20, 2026). Participating students will take on the roles of “Director,” “Music Director,” and “Choreographer” and learn what it takes to bring a musical stage production to life.

Visit NYC Center’s Externship Program webpage to learn more about the Creative Careers seminar, and submit your application online by Thursday, January 15, 2026.

Win the Jewish Museum's Teen Photo Contest

Submit Your Photo by January 30
Cost: Free to participate
Contact: Jamie Auriemma <jauriemma@thejm.org>

The Jewish Museum is inviting the City's middle and high school students to capture and submit their own original photographs that tie into the theme of "renewal." This theme is open to interpretation; perhaps you'd like to capture the creation of a new family or local tradition? Or maybe you'd like to document someone's personal transformation or a community's collective shift? Whatever your subject, this "renewal" prompt is open to your own creative and artistic interpretation.

Students may submit up to three distinct photographs for consideration, and the photographs MUST be students' own original works and free from copyright restrictions. Visit the Jewish Museum's contest webpage to learn more, and submit your photo by Friday, January 30, 2026!

Help keep NYC's beaches and pools safe this summer by becoming an NYC Parks Lifeguard! Learn what it takes to get through NYC Parks' rigorous Lifeguard Training Program before becoming a full-time lifeguard earning $22 per hour! (Photo by @nycparks via Instagram)

Win Money for College through the Mas Family Scholarship Fund

Apply for the scholarship by January 31, 2026
Contact: Elizabeth Morin <contact@masfamilyscholarships.org>

Since 1996, the Mas Family has offered talented Cuban and Cuban-American high school students with college scholarships. Eligible students must have a 3.5 GPA or higher, be Cuban or of direct Cuban descent, demonstrate leadership and community involvement, and have financial need.

Visit the Mas Family Scholarship webpage to learn more about the scholarship and to apply.

Learn How to Become a Leader through the UN's Global Youth Excellence and Leadership Program

Apply for the United Nations' Global Youth Excellence and Leadership Program
Cost: $0–$5,500, depending on need
Contact: Robert L. Sventova <rob@un.gyel.org>

The United Nations' Global Youth Excellence and Leadership Program (GYEL) provides talented and aspirational middle and high school students of all backgrounds with high quality leadership training and mentorship designed to bring out their very best for college and beyond. GYEL seeks to inspire and support future medical researchers, mathematicians, computer scientists, and Nobel Peace Prize, Pulitzer Prize, and Academy Award winners whose breakthroughs can uplift entire communities and completely redefine what is truly possible for future generations.

Learn more about GYEL, including its Needs-Based Assistance program, by visiting its official website.

Learn How to Start Your Own Business in Science and Technology through the EFL Young Ambassadors Program

Submit Your Application by February 17, 2026
Cost: Free
Contact: Stella Miao <cjm739@nyu.edu>and Matt Myers <mdm9816@stern.nyu.edu>

Endless Frontier Labs' (EFL) Young Ambassadors Program provides high school students with the opportunity to learn directly from business school students, science and technology startups, and EFL mentors about how to start and run their own businesses.

Visit EFL's official Young Ambassadors Program webpage to learn more about this opportunity, and submit your application by Tuesday, February 17, 2026.

Receive a Free "Discoverer" Membership to the American Museum of Natural History

Enroll anytime at AMNH's Member Desk between 10:00 AM and 4:30 PM
Contact: membership@members.amnh.org or (212) 769-5606

Are you currently enrolled in New York State's Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)?

If so, you're eligible to receive a free one-year Discoverer Membership from the world-class American Museum of Natural History (AMNH)! To enroll, simply stop by the museum's Member Desk between 10:00 AM and 4:30 PM and speak with a representative about enrolling—you'll then receive a digital membership card that you'll be able to begin using right away.

In addition to free general admission to AMNH, you'll also be able to gain free entry to one ticketed exhibition on every visit, and you'll be able to take advantage of the museum's extended operating hours for members, among other benefits.

Visit AMNH's official "Discoverer" membership page to learn more about these free memberships!

Join a Youth Action 50 Group and Start Making an Impact on Your Community

Rolling Application; Join Today
Cost: Free to participate
Contact: Stuart Davis <stdavis@cityhall.nyc.gov>

Youth Action 50 is a citywide leadership program that empowers City public high school students to take action on the issues that matter most to them and their communities. Students meet regularly with peers and adult facilitators to build leadership skills, plan community service projects, and make their voices heard. YA50 members will gain hands-on experience in civic engagement, community organizing, and teamwork—while earning community service hours and contributing to positive change in New York City.

Apply now to join a YA50 site and become part of a citywide network of young leaders! Visit the YA50 program webpage for more information.

Become an NYC Parks Lifeguard

Are you ready to rise to the challenge and help keep New Yorkers safe this summer by keeping a close watch on our City’s pools and beaches

Consider becoming an NYC Parks Lifeguard!

Qualified candidates are placed into NYC Parks' Lifeguard Training program, where you'll strengthen your swimming technique and endurance, learn crucial lifesaving techniques, and receive certification to become an NYC Parks Lifeguard. Candidates who successfully complete the training program will then be offered full-time positions at City beaches and pools this summer for $22 per hour.

To learn more, visit NYC Parks' "Become an NYC Parks Lifeguard" webpage, and brush up on your swimming skills at one of their Swim Prep sessions before signing up for a qualifying test.

Prepare for a Life of Public Service During Civic Leadership Day

Apply by March 1
Cost: Free
Contact: Anika Rahman <civics@thetownhall.org>

The Town Hall is inviting high school students across the City to its Civic Leadership Day event at Fordham University’s Lincoln Center campus. During the event, students will strengthen their leadership skills and discover how they can actively participate in civic life. After the event, students will spend four weeks identifying an issue in their community and work on a solution, which will then be presented during a showcase at the Lincoln Center campus on May 27.

Visit the Town Hall event webpage to learn more, and submit your application by Sunday, March 1, 2026.

For more opportunities like these, check out The Morning Bell every month during the school year—and don't forget to share this post with your friends, family, and colleagues!

On behalf of NYC Public Schools, we wish all of our students and families a cozy, warm, and fun December!

Banner/teaser photos by Karola G. Original photo by Karola G can be found on Pexels.

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