Get Involved: Youth & Students

Youth & Teen Guide to Local (Municipal) Government

The City of Santa Barbara welcomes and encourages young members of our community to get involved in local government and/or the community. Your voice matters! 

Here are some links, resources, and information to help you get started.

“How can young people participate in local government today?”

• Show up & speak up: Check the Public Meeting Calendar and pick a meeting that matches your interests. Some examples of meetings you’ll find on the City’s calendar: City Council, Youth Council, Ordinance Committee, Parks & Recreation, Planning Commission, Historic Landmarks, Fire & Police Commission, Harbor Commission, and more!  Visit the Boards & Commissions page for information about all of the available boards, commissions, and committees that will appear on the City’s calendar.
• Watch or join virtually: City Council, Ordinance Committee, and the Finance Committee meetings all stream live and are broadcast live on City TV (Channel 18). Here are links to the City Council Meetings page and meeting participation instructions.
• Submit written comments: Email Clerk@SantaBarbaraCA.gov before the meeting; comments become part of the record.
• Report issues & ideas any time: Use SB Connect to report street, park, or neighborhood concerns from your computer or smartphone.
• Contact the City Council: You are always welcome to share your thoughts, concerns, or questions directly with the Mayor and Santa Barbara City Council by sending them an email at SBCityCouncil@SantaBarbaraCA.gov.  

Advisory Boards & Commissions - Early Leadership Opportunities

• Youth Council - Youth Council promotes and encourages youth interest and participation in community affairs. SBYC makes recommendations to City Council, various departments, and agencies, and suggests changes in procedures, policies and/or legislation pertinent to youth in Santa Barbara. 
• Apply to serve — In addition to Youth Council, the City has 40+ advisory groups covering a broad scope of topics and issues including Arts, Airport, Parks & Recreation, Harbor, Architectural Review, Sister Cities, and more. Many advisory groups require members to be 18 years or older, but some welcome younger participants to provide input on specific projects. Click here for more information about current Youth Council and Advisory Group vacancies, and details about the application process.
• Pick teen-friendly topics & meeting times: Visit the Boards & Commissions page for the extensive list of boards, commissions, advisory groups, and committees. There you'll find links to their descriptions, meetings times, and locations.

Volunteer & Community Service (City & Partners)

• City volunteer hub — There are plenty of volunteer opportunities within the City and its partners, including Adopt-A-Block, Parks Volunteer Program, Library volunteering, and more.  For more information, visit Volunteer (City of Santa Barbara)
• Library Teen Advisory Board (TAB) & weekly teen volunteer hours — Opportunities for those looking to gain leadership, service hours, and have a voice in teen programming. Links for more information: Teen Services & Volunteer Opportunities (SBPL) • Volunteer at the Library (overview)
• Looking Good Santa Barbara - Join monthly neighborhood cleanups, adopt a beach, or plan a group or independent cleanup. Supplies are provided and service hours verified. Youth groups can even earn up to $500 for eligible projects. Pitch in and help your block shine. Explore Looking Good volunteer opportunities.
• OG Readers tutoring (ages 16+) — train in the Orton-Gillingham approach; weekly one-on-one reading support for elementary students (service hours provided). Teen page for OG Readers • Program background and information
• Waterfront cleanup & civic action — Teens can join community efforts like Harbor Operation Clean Sweep (next event listed on Waterfront/Harbor pages). Waterfront Department (events & mission) • Harbor Commission (events list)
• Youth philanthropy (partner) — Youth Making Change boards (ages 13–19) grant funds to youth-led projects countywide. Youth Making Change
   

Part‑time & Seasonal City Jobs (great first jobs)

• Available Positions – To learn more about the City’s part-time and seasonal job openings and their requirements, visit this link: Employment Opportunities (City HR)
• Lifeguard & aquatics jobs — City pools (e.g., Los Baños del Mar) hire year round‑, and are most popular in summer. Job description & wages are posted on the City’s careers site. 
• Summer camps & recreation roles — This list includes positions such as Recreation Leaders/Assistants, Inclusion Specialists, Swim Instructors, Event Facility Monitors; seasonal hiring begins in spring.  Summer Job Opportunities (positions list)
• Specialty camp leadership — Example: Skateboarding Camp Director (hourly). Skateboarding Camp Director (Hourly Jobs)
   

Internships & Early Career Pathways (City + local partners)

• City Police Department (paid internships) — Social Media & Recruitment Intern roles for college students (creative content, outreach, analytics). SBPD Social Media/Recruitment Intern (Job Bulletin)
• SBCC Career Center feed — Highlights City and local internships (e.g., City social media/recruitment, tech startups, conservation groups). SBCC Featured Internships
• County Youth Career Services (WIOA) — job readiness, paid work experiences, training support for 14–24. Youth Career Services (County Workforce Board)
   

Waterfront & Harbor: Jobs, Boards, and Pathways

• What the Waterfront Department does — Manages Harbor/Stearns Wharf, parking, public safety coordination, events, and coastal policies—good exposure to maritime, operations, and public service careers. Waterfront Department overview
• Harbor Commission — monthly public meetings; learn how fees, leases, capital projects, and coastal programs are set (great policy experience for teens in marine, business, or policy tracks). Harbor Commission (functions & schedule) • Harbor Commission page