Opportunities for Students (April 2026)

Published April 8, 2026

Cherry blossoms aren't the only things in bloom this month...

April is here, and with the arrival of the first full month of spring comes a whole harvest full of family-friendly activities, free workshops, and paid internships/jobs for NYCPS students! Hundreds of local organizations, City agencies, businesses, and community partners like the New York Yankees, Columbia University, and the Brooklyn Public Library are seeking to provide NYCPS students with outstanding learning and earning experiences over the next few months.

Whether its winning poetry contests, attending virtual lectures held by top cancer researchers, or helping to clean Staten Island's beaches for Earth Day, City students have a variety of options to apply for and participate in this month!

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

Now in its seventh year, the Yankees-Stonewall Scholarship celebrates the outstanding achievements of NYCPS high school students who have demonstrated impactful support of the LGBTQ community. Consider sharing your experiences with us for your chance to win $10,000 towards college, and apply for the scholarship by April 27, 2026! (Photo by John Brown, NYCPS)

Opportunities for Students in April 2026

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.

Preview the College Campus Experience through Columbia University's Summer Academy

Apply by April 12, 2026
Cost: Free to apply
Contact: ddc@columbia.edu

The Roger Lehecka Double Discovery Center (DDC) is seeking NYC high school students in grades 9 and 10 for its Summer Academy at Columbia University. This four-week program takes place at Columbia's Morningside Heights campus and provides enrollees with academic enrichment courses that emphasize reading, writing, and research skills, as well as wellness-focused workshops that provide socio-emotional support.

To qualify for the program, applicants must be enrolled in DDC, which requires students to be first-generation college students, reside in Manhattan's Harlem, Morningside Heights, Washington Heights, or Inwood neighborhoods, have a GPA of 80 and above, and meet the organization's low-income requirement. Visit DDC's Summer Academy webpage to learn more, and submit your application by Sunday, April 12, 2026.

Build Your Coding Skills Over the Summer with All Star Code

Apply by April 17
Cost: Free to apply
Contact: team@allstarcode.org

All Star Code's Summer Intensive program is a six-week virtual tehcnical training sprint designed for high school students who are seeking a career pathway into the tech industry. Students accepted into the program gain fluency in front-end web development, foundational AI literacy, and critical systems thinking while also receiving mentorship from tech professionals across a variety of career sectors. No prior coding experience is required to participate in this program.

Visit All Star Code's webpage to learn more about this program, and submit your application by April 17, 2026. Note that All Star Code is accepting applications on a rolling basis; early applications have a better chance of being accepted.

Use Your 'Voice for Change' through Poetry

Apply by April 24, 2026
Cost: Free to apply
Contact: Visit NYC Criminal Justice's 'Contact Us' webpage

The NYC Criminal Justice office is hosting a poetry initiative called, "Next Verse: Voices for Change" that explores the City's cultural and physical landscapes through the lens of public safety. They are accepting submissions this spring for poetry that explores what safety looks like, what safety feels like, and what safety smells like in NYC to you. Winners can receive up to $500 in cash prizes!

Visit NYC Criminal Justice's webpage to learn more, and submit your application by April 24, 2026.

Win the Yankees-Stonewall Scholarship

Apply by April 27, 2026
Cost: Free to apply
Contact: LGBTQ@schools.nyc.gov

NYC Public Schools, the New York Yankees, and The Stonewall Inn are proud to announce that applications are open for the 2026 Yankees-Stonewall Scholarship.

Now in the program's seventh year, Yankees-Stonewall Scholarships celebrate the achievements of five graduating seniors who have demonstrated impactful support of the LGBTQ community. All graduating seniors in an NYCPS school who are planning to attend a 2-year or 4-year college are eligible to apply online.

The application consists of one 500-word essay and a short answer section describing LGBTQ advocacy and leadership the applicant has displayed in either school or the community. Applicants must also submit a recommendation letter from a teacher or administrator at their school. One student from each borough will be selected, and each winner will receive a $10,000 scholarship for college. The Scholarship Committee will review all 2026 applications and name this year’s recipients in May 2026.

To learn more about this year's scholarship, visit the Yankees-Stonewall Scholarship's official application webpage, and submit your application by Monday, April 27, 2026.

Gain a Better Appreciation of NYC Parks throughout Spring Thanks to 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 free family-friendly "Kids Week" events throughout Spring Recess, free archery and axe throwing lessons, organized tours of historic landmarks and monuments, and Earth Day/Arbor Day-related activities that are taking place in April. Sign up directly for your desired events through NYC Parks' Urban Park Rangers webpage.

The Roger Lehecka Double Discovery Center's (DDC) Summer Academy program provides select NYC high school students in grades 9 and 10 with the complete commuter college experience absolutely FREE! Check out the DDC's Summer Academy webpage to learn more, and apply by April 12, 2026! (Photo by the Roger Lehecka Double Discovery Center )

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, weekend-based, and summer creative writing and illustration workshops for children aged 8–18 years old. Available classes include: "Art in the City," a week-long workshop for students interested in exploring uptown Manhattan's art hotspots in Washington Heights and Inwood; " The Elements of Fiction," where young writers between the ages of 8–12 can learn what it takes to develop great stories; and " Zine Machine" a workshop for students who are interested making "zines" the old-fashioned way: by hand! Once students lay out their first zines, they'll then mass-produce them by using a relic of the twentieth-century known as a "photocopier!"

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.

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: 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 May 2, 2026; visit the Morgan's related family 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 May 5, 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.

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.

Are you a teenager who often serves as your family's in-house tech support? Want to make a difference in your community? Consider volunteering for the Brooklyn Public Library's Teen Techies program, and gain valuable work and leadership experience! (Original photo by Kampus Production can be found on Pexels.)

Participate in Scientific Enrichment Month at Columbia University

Register by June 19, 2026
Program runs July 1–29, 2026
Cost: Free to register
Contact: The Scientific Enrichment Month Team <canceredu@cumc.columbia.edu>

Columbia University's Scientific Enrichment Month (SEM) program is a free virtual program that takes place in July for high school students and interested middle school students. This month-long program focuses on cancer education, scientific enrichment, and professional development, and it provides students with the opportunity to learn how to develop hypotheses, understand cancer research, identify health inequities, and better understand public health. Additionally, students may also join public health working groups that are focused on particular topics and populations.

Visit Columbia's SEM webpage to learn more about the program and to register your spot by June 19, 2026. Note that this is not an application, but rather a registration—once you submit a completed registration form, you will be accepted into the program.

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

Enroll anytime at AMNH's Member Desk between 10:00AM and 4:30PM
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 10:00AM and 4:30PM 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!

Become a Teen Techie at the Brooklyn Public Library

Rolling Application; Join Today
Cost: Free to apply
Contact: (718) 230-2406 or TeenTechies@bklynlibrary.org

Do you love technology and your library? Want to make a difference in your community? Looking to build your resume and gain valuable work and leadership experience? Apply to BPL's Teen Techies program!

Participants attend a two-week summer technology workshop. After completion of the summer workshop, teens volunteer a minimum of three hours per week for at least 6 months assisting library patrons and staff members. Teen Techies also have the opportunity to attend two Volunteer Forums during the year to discuss challenges and successes experienced, exchange tips on coaching, and socialize with their program peers.

Learn more and complete an online application to join the Brooklyn Public Library Teen Techie volunteer program. You can also complete a print application to become a Teen Techy (PDF) and mail it to:

Teen Techies
Volunteer Resources
Grand Army Plaza
Brooklyn, NY 11238

We hope these opportunities inspire you and your family this month! For more posts like these, including our overview of all the services City libraries can provide our college-bound students, check out The Morning Bell every month during the remainder of the 2025–26 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 fantastic April!

Banner/teaser photos by Samara Hammer. Original photo by Samara Hammer can be found on Pexels.

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